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Korea and the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence

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Korea and the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence Korea and the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence Symposium, Prague, April 24th, 2019 Proceedings George Hays II. and Milada Polišenská (Eds.) Prague, 2020 1 This publication is published with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Contents in the Czech Republic and the Korean Association in the Czech Republic. The work and views expressed in the individual articles belong to the author of the article Foreword from the Editors ...................................................................................................................................5 and may not necessarily reflect the positions of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Anglo ‑American University, or the Editors. Welcome Speech of H. E. Ambassador of Republic of Korea Mr. Seoung­‑Hyun Moon ..........................6 The papers in the proceedings have undergone language and general editing. Welcome Speech of the President of Anglo-American University doc. Lubomír Lízal, PhD ................7 Charles Pergler – Spurned Patriot .........................................................................................................................8 Pictures on the front cover Ivan Dubovický Members of the Korean Provisional Government (1919). Picture provided by the Independence Hall of Korea. The Legitimacy of Regimes in Exile ................................................................................................................... 27 Jan Polišenský T. G. Masaryk signing the Declaration of Common Aims of the Mid-European Nations in Philadelphia on 26 October, 1918. Provisional Korean Government in Exile and the Czechoslovak Legion in the Far East ..................... 31 Milada Polišenská Pictures on the back cover Opposing Empire to Forge a Nation: A Comparison of the Czechoslovak and Korean Members of the Korean Provisional Government in Chongqing, China right before their return Declarations of Independence at the end of World War I ........................................................................... 48 to Korea (1945). George Hays II Picture provided by the Independence Hall of Korea. Politics of Recognition: A Study on the Propaganda Activities of the Korean Provisional T. G. Masaryk escorted by the Czechoslovak Legions on Wenceslas Square after his arrival in Prague, Government around WWI ................................................................................................................................... 56 21 December, 1918. Jong‑Chol An The Impact of the Japanese Annexation on Korean Society and Post­‑war Policy ............................... 64 Alex Švamberk Works on Korea by Czech Independent Scholars (1990-mid-2019) ......................................................... 76 Jaroslav Olša, jr. Appendix 1 ...........................................................................................................................................................100 Appendix 2 ...........................................................................................................................................................102 Appendix 3 ...........................................................................................................................................................104 Published by Anglo ‑American University, Prague Appendix 4 ...........................................................................................................................................................106 Typesetting by Venice Praha Anglo ‑American University / Anglo ‑americká vysoká škola, z.ú. Editors: George Hays II, Milada Polišenská Technical editor: Jindřiška Kotrlová Prague, 2020 ISBN 978‑80‑907602‑1‑9 2 3 Foreword from the Editors The symposium Korea and the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence was organized to mark the centennial of the 1918/1919 period, which was such an important time for both countries. Although the Korean Peninsula and Central Europe seem distant, distinct, and isolated from each other (especially a hundred years ago), this work aims to highlight the unexpected similarities shared between these two peoples struggling for independence from foreign imperial domination. A central theme running throughout this work is why and how the Czechoslovaks managed to gain independence and international recognition a hundred years ago, while the Korean people have had to struggle much longer through many more conflicts. Both had active governments in exile. Both had proud expatriates spread throughout the world supporting the return of sovereignty to their respective homelands. Both shared in the revolutionary spirit of the times, seeking to put an end to imperialism and war through the very declaration of their independence. Though far from providing a complete account, the following papers try to shed light on both the uncommonly similar origins as well as the tragically diverging paths of the Koreans and the Czechs. It is a great honor to present the proceedings from the symposium Korea and the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence, which took place in April 2019, at Anglo ‑American University. We would like to express our deep gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Prague, especially H. E. Ambassador Seoung–Hyun Moon for initiating this event. We would also like to thank the Embassy Consul, Mr. Dong Gyu Lee and the Embassy Researcher, Ms. Jieun Park. Without their efforts, as well as the financial support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, neither the symposium nor this publication would have been possible. George Hays II and Milada Polišenská December 2019 4 5 Welcome Speech of H. E. Ambassador Welcome Speech of the President of Republic of Korea of Anglo -American University Mr. Seoung -Hyun Moon doc. Lubomír Lízal, PhD Good morning, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Guests, Thank you very much for coming to symposium “Korea and It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome you to Anglo‑ the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence.” ‑American University at the symposium entitled “Korea and the Czech Republic: Retracing the Path to Independence.” This is actually already As the year of 2018, the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia, was very memorable to the second event on Korean history hosted recently at AAU. Czech people, so is this year to Koreans in another sense. March 1st, 1919, 100 years ago, Korean I am an economist and not a historian, and thus it is not surprising that I have very people expressed their strong desire for independence in a peaceful manner, which ultimately limited knowledge of the topics that are going to be covered during this symposium. I expect led to the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government in China in the same year. I will learn many new facts myself. Yet I am persuaded that we both – the Czechs and the Though we did not gain independence at that time, we have set the path for the independent Koreans – share a common theme, a common historical experience of fighting for freedom, Republic since then, through various means including diplomacy as well as military struggle. self ‑governance, and independence that occurred at a similar time, but on almost opposite Before preparing for this symposium, I wondered why Czech succeeded in gaining sides of the globe. independence while Korea failed to do so in around 1918. We, of course, were under a different This history is one hundred years old, and I am too young to have any personal situation, but I do believe that there are some lessons for Korea to learn from Czech in that connection with these events. Yet I would like to share a personal recollection that is related to regard. This is one of the reasons for this symposium to be organized. the symposium with you. Interestingly, there were some interactions between Korea and Czech sides around About 12 years ago, I took part in a visit to South Korea organized by the Korean 1920 when Czechoslovakia army in Vladivostok sold their advanced weapons to the Korean Foundation for young European leaders. During that visit, we also took a trip to Panmunjom. independence army. With that help, Korea could beat the Japanese imperial army in the Battle I do remember how moved I was at that moment – since it reminded me of a more distant of Cheongsanri. Today, in this conference, I hope that I can hear more of such stories, which past when I was still a small child. I remembered how my parents and I had visited the natural indicated how Korea and Czech interacted each other, directly or indirectly, in their journey to preserve of moorland lakes in south ‑west Bohemia, which was close to the Iron Curtain at the independence. time. There were the moorlands and there were also armed soldiers several kilometers before Since I came to Prague as Ambassador in November 2016, I have tried to find out the Iron Curtain, making sure citizens of Czechoslovakia would not go further to the border. similarities between our two countries. Both countries are strategically located, suffered from Then, in South Korea, on the other side of yet another Iron Curtain, I remembered this almost neighboring powers, sometimes invaded and occupied, but proudly maintained its own forgotten experience from my early age. I had remembered the times when I was a child and identity and industrial strength. On top of that, they also shared values. I believe that the bond lived behind the Iron Curtain. based on universal values is the strongest indicator
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