Chapter 3. Rhee and His Political Career
3.3 Christian Spirit in the Provisional Government of the R.O.K
During Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910–1945), Syngman Rhee was invited to be the first president of the Provincial Government of Korea in Exile in Shanghai, China.44 The
government was formed on April 13, 1919, and Rhee served for six years until 1925. The government’s motto was "Long Live Korean Independence!" (대한독립만세!). Since it was a government-in-exile outside Japanese rule, the allied nations who had signed a peace treaty with Japan did not recognize Rhee’s government as a formal governing body.
On the surface, there was nothing unusual about Korean government besides the fact that it was a government-in-exile. However, the constitution and the lyrics of the national anthem (Aegukga; 애국가) have unique Christian spirit embedded by Syngman Rhee and his Christian leadership like Howard Leigh (이중혁), Sang-jae Yi (이상재), and Kuk-son An (안국선).
Including Rhee, seventy percent of the Korean activists and the key members who founded Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea were also devoted pastors, elders, and deacons
44 Shanghai was the capital-in-exile in China (1919-1932), but was later moved to Chongqing (1940-1945).
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of Korean church community. A substantial portion of the funds that had been collected from Koreans in Hawaii and elsewhere in the United States was funneled to China.45 One source estimates that over $200,000 had been contributed by approximately 7,000 Koreans in the United States and Mexico for patriotic causes at this time, or roughly 30 dollars per person, one month's income.46
The Provisional Constitution of the Korean Government in Exile was established:
[Provisional Constitution of the Korean Government in Exile]
By the will of God, the people of Korea, both from Seoul and the provinces, have united in a peaceful declaration of the independence of the Korean capital, and for over a month have carried on their demonstrations in over three hundred districts. A provisional government, organized in complete accord with popular faith, proclaims a provisional constitution that the provisional council of state has adopted in order to pass on to our posterity the blessings of sovereign independence,
PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE KOREAN REPUBLIC I. The Korean Republic shall be a democratic republic.
2. A provisional government shall govern the Korean Republic in accordance with the decision of a provisional legislative council (imsi Üijöngwön).
3. There shall be no class distinction among the citizens of the Korean Republic, and men and women, noble and common, rich and poor, shall have complete equality.
4. The citizens of the Korean Republic shall have personal and property rights including the freedoms of faith, speech, writing, publishing, association, assembly, and dwelling.
5. A citizen of the Korean Republic, unless disfranchised, shall have the right to vote or to be elected.
6. The citizens of the Korean Republic shall be subject to compulsory education, taxation, and military conscription.
7. The Korean Republic shall join the League of Nations in order to demonstrate to the world that its creation has been in accord with the will of God and also to make a contribution to world civilization and peace.
45 Kim, The Korean Independence Movement in the United States, 5.
46 Choy, Koreans in America, 158
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(transl. Kim Han-Kyo, in: Lee 1996: 435f.)
The Provisional Constitution was essentially democratic and progressive.47 According to the Constitution, the government existed due to 'will of God and the people of Korea.’ The constitution begins with: “By the will of God, the people of Korea, both from Seoul and the provinces, have united in a peaceful declaration of their independence in the Korean capital...”
According to Chapter 7, it was also by the will of God and in order to make allegiance for the world peace that the Korean government decided to join the League of Nations.
In April 22, 1919, the National Council of the Korean Government in Exile issued a statement to inform the world of the aim and purpose of this government. In this statement, once again, the founders of the government in exile mentioned that the Korean Government in Exile existed based on “the will of God,”
The world knows that Japan has violated the sworn treaties of the past and is robbing us of the right of existence. We, however, are not discussing the wrongs done us by the Japanese in the past, nor considering their accumulated sins; but, in order to guarantee our rights of existence, extend liberty and equality, safeguard righteousness and humanity, maintain the peace of the Orient, and respect the equitable welfare of the whole world, do claim the independence of Korea.
This is truly the will of God, motivation of truth, just claim, and legitimate action. By this the world's verdict is to be won, and the repentance of Japan hastened.
The present Republic of Korea’s Constitution of 1948, with Amendments from 1987,
47 See McKenzie, Korea's Fight for Freedom, 305
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says “upholding the cause of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government born during the March First Independence Movement of 1919.” Even the latest version of Korean national anthem, Aegukka (애국가) was influenced by Christian faith.
[Verse 1]
Until that day when Mt. Baekdu is worn away and the East Sea's waters run dry,
May God preserve our country, our long-living homeland!
Such use of words signifies that the members of the first National Assembly agreed that the Christian spirit of the founding members was fundamental in developing the Provisional Government. Here is the Preamble of the Constitution of R.O.K:
We the people of Korea, proud of a resplendent history and traditions dating from time
immemorial, upholding the cause of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government born of the March First Independence Movement of 1919 and the democratic ideals of the April Nineteenth Uprising of 1960 against injustice, having assumed the mission of democratic reform and peaceful unification of our homeland and having determined to consolidate national unity with justice, humanitarianism and brotherly love...