Iljinhoe (一進會) was a prominent pro-Japanese organization of the Korean Empire period, founded in August 1904 by Song Byeong-jun, Yun Si-byeong and Yu Hak-ju of the Independence Club, and Lee Yong-gu of the Donghak religion, among others.
Founded~Dissolved Aug 18, 1904 ~ Sep 26, 1910Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:51 PM
On 18 August 1904, Song Byeong-jun, backed by the Japanese army, organized the "Yushinhoe" in Hanseong; on 20 August he renamed it "Iljinhoe." In September of that year, it bought out and absorbed the "Jinbohoe" organized by Lee Yong-gu, who had led the remnants of the Donghak movement, and merged it into Iljinhoe. Afterwards, under the leadership of the chairman Lee Yong-gu and Song Byeong-jun, it acted as a tool of Japanese aggression and annexation, under the covert control of the Japanese military or the Japanese Residency-General, until the Korean Empire was forcibly annexed by Japan in 1910.
The name Iljinhoe means "an association in which Korea and Japan advance as one," and the "一進" in the name means that Korea and Japan are one. Some people, because it was a pro-Japanese organization, mistakenly write the name as 日進會 (Iljinhoe), but this is an incorrect Chinese character rendering. In fact, it is known that an organization using this character existed, the Iljinhoe, which was formed by Korean independence activists and patriots for anti-Japanese purposes.
Overview
Founding
Song Byeong-jun, who had been persecuted by the Min family of the royal in-laws and had lived in exile in Japan for more than ten years, returned to Korea as a military interpreter accompanying Major General Otani Kikuzo of the Japanese army when the Russo-Japanese War broke out. As the political situation developed in Japan's favor, Song sought political activity backed by the Japanese army, and after frequent contacts in Hanseong with Yun Si-byeong and Yu Hak-ju, both former members of the Independence Club, he organized the "Yushinhoe" on 18 August 1904 and nominated Yun Si-byeong as provisional chairman. On 20 August he held a special meeting, renamed the organization "Iljinhoe," and again nominated Yun Si-byeong as chairman and Yu Hak-ju as vice chairman. At that time the Korean Empire government, by imperial decree, ordered Police Chief Shin Tae-hyu to dissolve them, but Japanese gendarmes blocked this, and even threatened to detain police constables of the Gyeongmucheong, thereby protecting their assembly.
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Iljinhoe, upon its founding, put forward four principles, the content of which is as follows:
To make people respect the Imperial House and consolidate the foundation of the state
To make people protect their lives and property
To make the government carry out improvement policies
To make military and finance administration orderly
Although Iljinhoe aimed at reforming the state affairs in response to the wicked governance it cited in its founding principles and purpose, in September of that year it rushed to adopt civilization and enlightenment, such as cutting topknots and wearing Western clothing, as the urgent task and symbol of the members' unity. However, on 22 October of that year it held a council of commissioners and resolved that the purpose of Iljinhoe did not hinder Japanese military strategy in any way. On that day, the official letter delivered to the commander of the Japanese army in Korea, General Hasegawa Yoshimichi, the gendarmerie commander Takayama, and the Japanese minister to Korea Hayashi Gonsuke, openly revealed a pro-Japanese stance, supporting Japanese aggression, contrary to the superficial aims of state reform and cutting of topknots that it pursued. This was nothing more than a stereotyped slogan, inconsistent in substance and form, that ran in parallel with the direction of Japan's aggression against the Korean Empire. At that time, various social organizations were active only in Hanseong and did not have nationwide local organizations; Iljinhoe's activities likewise were confined to Hanseong, and it lacked any mass base, barely maintaining its existence under Japanese protection. Around this time, Lee Yong-gu and others gathered the remnants of the Donghak movement and organized the "Jinbohoe" in late September of that year. Noting that the Jinbohoe had a nationwide base, though its principles and purpose called for state reform and the Gapjin Enlightenment Movement, Song Byeong-jun pushed for a merger of the two organizations. As a result, on 2 December of that year, Iljinhoe bought out and absorbed the Jinbohoe and merged it into Iljinhoe.
Organization
Lee Yong-gu, under the pretext that most local branch members were Jinbohoe members, was placed in the post of chairman of the General Assembly of the Thirteen Provinces, while Song Byeong-jun, who had secretly controlled Iljinhoe, took office the following year as chairman of the Commissioners' Council. Responding to the crafty schemes of the Japanese, Song Byeong-jun kept Yun Si-byeong at a distance and bought over Lee Yong-gu; at the general assembly on 22 December 1905, Lee Yong-gu was elected chairman, Yun Si-byeong vice chairman, Song Byeong-jun chairman of the provincial general assembly, and Hong Geung-seop chairman of the Commissioners' Council. Iljinhoe employed Japanese as advisers and secretly received support from the Japanese army in its activities. Iljinhoe had about 300 members at its founding; after merging with the Jinbohoe it soon had tens of thousands of members, and after the annexation of Korea by Japan it raised the slogan of "one million members," though in reality it had about 100,000. Affiliated outer and peripheral organizations linked to Iljinhoe were also organized, and through the instigation and bribery of Japan and Iljinhoe they repeatedly formed and dissolved, carrying out acts as tools of Japanese aggression. Iljinhoe, centered on Hanseong and barely maintaining its existence under Japanese army protection, rose from a small organization with a weak structure to a nationwide organization with extensive local branches, supported by Japan.
Operations
According to the rules of Iljinhoe concerning the raising of its operating funds, it was stipulated that funds would be collected through membership dues, but in practice regular dues collection was not very significant, and there were almost no stable sources of income. From the beginning, Song Byeong-jun ran the organization with secret military funds of the Japanese. As Iljinhoe increasingly openly displayed its treasonous conduct, the Empire of Japan secretly provided 50,000 won to use it and gave it special protection. During the Russo-Japanese War, Iljinhoe members received from the Japanese army a total of 89,940 won for transport, reconnaissance and labor for the Japanese army; after the war ended, from the Residency-General it received 2,000 won per month in secret subsidies for half a year starting January 1907; on 15 May of that year it received 100,000 won from the Japanese Army Ministry; and in August of that year it received 260,000 won as a subsidy from Resident-General Itō Hirobumi. Moreover, judging from letters sent by Song Byeong-jun to Itō Hirobumi and to Japanese Foreign Minister Katsura, and letters sent by Itō to Katsura, it is certain that Iljinhoe occasionally received money and goods from Japanese authorities such as Itō and Katsura and committed treasonous acts. In the end, it was closely tied to the special intelligence agencies of the Japanese army and the Residency-General and received financial support from the Japanese. Although the rules of Iljinhoe did not provide for advisers, considering that Japanese advisers operated behind Iljinhoe, in reality the advisers, composed of Japanese dispatched especially by the Japanese military, controlled it from behind.
Activities
Active implementation of Japanese aggression policy
From around the time of Iljinhoe's founding until its dissolution, Japanese ultranationalists and ronin each served as behind-the-scenes manipulators or advisers, transmitting schemes for Japanese aggression and Iljinhoe's treasonous conduct, and Iljinhoe members were preoccupied with putting those schemes into practice. First, it directly cooperated in carrying out Japan's aggression policy. Immediately after the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan concluded the Korea–Japan Protocol with the Korean Empire on 23 February 1904, and on 22 August of that year the First Japan–Korea Agreement, establishing the so-called "advisory government system" and advancing the colonial plan. Accordingly, Iljinhoe, as an active collaborator with the Japanese authorities, transported military supplies for the Japanese army for the war effort through the Bukjin Transport Corps (10 June 1905 – 20 October 1905); moved in and out of the region from Hamgyeong to Gando, spying on Russian army movements; and when Japan hastily pushed the construction of the Gyeongui Line railway (October 1904 – September 1905), Iljinhoe members voluntarily mobilized some 200,000 members for the construction as nearly unpaid laborers, and even suffered over 100 casualties, sparing no great sacrifice. After the war ended in Japan's favor, and while maintaining an international balance and face with the great powers such as Britain and the United States, the Taft–Katsura agreement was secretly concluded with the United States in July 1905, the Second Anglo-Japanese Alliance was concluded with Britain in August 1905, and in September 1905 the Treaty of Portsmouth was concluded with the Russian Empire; as a result, the balance of power in East Asia came to be dominated by Japan.
As rumors spread that the Korean Empire would be turned into a protectorate, and while the Korean court and public remained on guard, Iljinhoe, in order to seize the initiative, revised a document drafted by a Japanese adviser and on 6 November 1905 issued the so-called "Iljinhoe Declaration," advocating the transfer of diplomatic rights. It stated that, "in order to receive Japan's protective guidance, internal administration and diplomatic rights must be entrusted entirely to Japan." Issued about ten days before the Eulsa Treaty was forced upon Korea, this declaration publicly revealed the nature of Iljinhoe's treasonous conduct. On 17 November Japan forcibly concluded the Eulsa Treaty, and the Korean Empire was completely stripped of its diplomatic rights; in February of the following year the Japanese Residency-General was established in Hanseong, and Itō Hirobumi, the principal author of the treaty, became the first Resident-General. Thus the Korean Empire became the first step toward Japanese colonization. Moreover, Iljinhoe, which had until then been under the protection of the army, severed that relationship and came under the control of the Japanese adviser Uchida Ryohei under the Residency-General, and entered even further into the role of a tool of treasonous conduct. While the indignation of the entire nation toward the "Iljinhoe Declaration" and the Eulsa Treaty reached its peak, Iljinhoe members, in return for their collaboration with Japan, were appointed county magistrates right after the treaty was concluded, and within half a year were promoted to provincial governors (prefectural governors); eventually Song Byeong-jun became Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry in the Yi Wan-yong cabinet (later promoted to Minister of Home Affairs).
Japan sought to smoothly carry out its aggression policy by using Iljinhoe. Meanwhile, Iljinhoe published the organ newspaper Gukminsinbo and through it actively defended Japan's aggressive acts. In July 1907, taking advantage of the Hague Secret Emissaries Incident, Song Byeong-jun colluded with Yi Wan-yong, cooperated with Japanese authorities, and coerced and threatened Emperor Gojong to abdicate, while at the same time having Iljinhoe members stage demonstrations urging abdication, until Emperor Gojong finally abdicated. On 24 July 1907 Japan concluded the Third Japan–Korea Agreement, legitimizing the Residency-General's interference in internal affairs, and moreover caused the Korean Empire government to promulgate the Newspaper Act on 24 July 1907 and the Security Act on 27 July, imposing restrictions on the legitimate expression of Korean public opinion, anti-Japanese movements and the Enlightenment Movement. The Daehan Jaganghoe, an enlightenment organization that had directly confronted Iljinhoe, was dissolved first. Then, when the Korean army was disbanded and righteous armies rose up nationwide against Japan, Japan deployed massive forces and military equipment and carried out merciless slaughter; Iljinhoe, under the direction of advisers Uchida Ryohei, Takeda Hanshi1 and others, organized so-called "Jiwidan" self-defense corps to suppress the righteous armies and took the lead in suppressing them, even regarding the righteous armies as "bandits." Such treasonous conduct of Iljinhoe drew great outrage from the righteous armies at that time; from July 1907 to May 1908, the damage suffered by Iljinhoe members at the hands of the righteous armies amounted to 9,260 killed, 10 wounded, 360 houses burned, and property losses of 50,501 won and 31 jeon. From this it can be seen that countless Iljinhoe members suffered damage at the hands of the righteous armies. In October 1907, when Crown Prince Yoshihito of the Empire of Japan (later Taishō Emperor) visited Korea, Iljinhoe, under the direction of its Japanese advisers, erected a welcoming gate, presented local products and held lantern processions to receive him. Iljinhoe repeatedly held speeches and lectures across the country, and given their nature, these originated from efforts to incite the people and manipulate public opinion. Meanwhile, the outer organizations of Iljinhoe, the organ newspaper Gukminsinbo company, the Sicheongyo church, and the charitable women's association, sided with Iljinhoe. Also, peripheral organizations such as the Jahye Women's Association, the East Asian Patriotic Women's Association, and the Daehan Sinmun company carried out the role of tools of Japan's aggression against Korea.
Propaganda role and manipulation of public opinion
Subsequently, Iljinhoe played the major role of Japanese propaganda, attempting to guide domestic public opinion toward the so-called "direction of annexation." Whenever major political events occurred, Iljinhoe carried out treasonous acts such as drafting "declarations," giving speeches and holding lectures. In 1909 Japan concluded the Giyu Agreement, seizing judicial power and prison affairs, and it committed various repressions, including abolishing the military. Furthermore, following the seizure of police power, on 26 March 1909 it also promulgated the Publication Act, brutally suppressing Korean freedom of expression. At this time, Itō Hirobumi withdrew from the post of Resident-General, and Vice Resident-General Sone Arasuke became Resident-General, but was soon removed for incompetence; in May of the following year Terauchi Masatake became Resident-General. In accordance with the "Policy on the Implementation of Korean Annexation," Resident-General Terauchi drafted a "Plan for Handling the Annexation" in July and had it approved through Iljinhoe's cabinet meeting. Now only one measure remained for Japan: the public proclamation of the so-called "annexation." However, on 26 October 1909, Itō Hirobumi was assassinated in Harbin by An Jung-geun. Regarding Itō's death, Iljinhoe organized the "Apology Corps" and the "Dong-A Chanyeonghoe," trying to gain favor with Japanese authorities and the Residency-General on this occasion. At the same time, Japan's "hardline faction on Korea," including Katsura and Yamagata, together with their advisers Uchida Ryohei, Takeda, and Sugiyama Shigemaru, fabricated Iljinhoe's annexation proclamation. The series of so-called "annexation statements" of Iljinhoe, announced on 4 December 1909, stated, about eight months before the Gyeongsul National Humiliation, that "for the happiness and welfare of the Korean people, Korea and Japan must be annexed." Given their nature, it was all too clear that Iljinhoe's statements were a means of public opinion manipulation fabricated by Japan, and they aroused the indignation of the Korean people and became the target of denunciation and condemnation. On this basis, the Daehan Maeil Sinbo not only harshly criticized it throughout its pages as the "Traitors' Assembly Declaration" (奴會宣言), but also Speaker of the Chūtsuin Kim Yun-sik and others even petitioned the government for the execution of Song Byeong-jun and Lee Yong-gu, but this was suppressed under Japanese protection. Cornered, Iljinhoe saw many leaders and members among its executives and members withdraw, reaching over 90 within only a few days, and Lee Yong-gu and Uchida Ryohei had to have their personal safety protected by the Japanese gendarmerie. However, Lee Yong-gu and other Japanese lackeys, together with the adviser Uchida, colluded to instigate and bribe more than ten nominal organizations, including the outer organizations of Iljinhoe such as the Hanseong Bosinsa, the Daehan Sangmu Johap-su, and the Gukmin Donji Chanseonghoe, to support Iljinhoe's annexation statement, and carried out treasonous acts without hesitation to justify Japan's annexation. Meanwhile, the Japanese authorities, having realized through the reaction to Iljinhoe's statement the breadth and depth of opposition, were able to carry out the final wrap-up work for the so-called annexation, forcibly implemented the following year, with ease. Thus, on 22 August 1910, the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was concluded, and one week later, on 29 August 1910, the sovereignty of the Korean Empire was completely usurped.
Dissolution
Iljinhoe, through the Austro-Hungarian Compromise and the Ausgleich (Kiegyezés), the compromise between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Austrian Empire during the formation of the Austria-Hungary, mistakenly believed that, with the Korea–Japan annexation, Korea would establish a federal system equal to Japan, just as Hungarians and Germans (Austrians) enjoyed equal rights. Iljinhoe served as Japan's tool to the utmost for Japan's annexation of Korea, but on 26 September 1910, when all social organizations were dissolved, Iljinhoe too was dissolved by Resident-General Terauchi Masatake, receiving 150,000 won as dissolution money; at that time it was a voluntary dissolution with a formal one-week grace period. At the time, the Iljinhoe leadership, including Lee Yong-gu, demanded 3 million yen from Japan as funds for a merger petition and for migration to Gando, and Prime Minister Katsura made the false promise that he would provide even 30 million yen. Among the main executives of Iljinhoe, as rewards for their services, Song Byeong-jun was granted the title of viscount as a Korean noble, while Lee Yong-gu was merely given 100,000 won.
Kim Sam-ung (1 July 1995). Chiniljeongchi 100nyeonsa [A Hundred-Year History of Pro-Japanese Politics]. Seoul: Donpung. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-89-86072-03-7.
Im Jong-guk (1 February 1991). Sillok Chinilpa [The True Record of the Pro-Japanese Faction]. Edited by the Institute for the Study of Anti-National Problems. Seoul: Dolbegae. pp. 76–79. ISBN 89-7199-036-8.
Hanguk Dongnip Undongsa Sajeon [Dictionary of Korean Independence Movement History], by the Independence Hall of Korea.
On 18 August 1904, Song Byeong-jun, backed by the Japanese army, organized the "Yushinhoe" in Hanseong; on 20 August he renamed it "Iljinhoe." In September of that year, it bought out and absorbed the "Jinbohoe" organized by Lee Yong-gu, who had led the remnants of the Donghak movement, and merged it into Iljinhoe. Afterwards, under the leadership of the chairman Lee Yong-gu and Song Byeong-jun, it acted as a tool of Japanese aggression and annexation, under the covert control of the Japanese military or the Japanese Residency-General, until the Korean Empire was forcibly annexed by Japan in 1910.
The name Iljinhoe means "an association in which Korea and Japan advance as one," and the "一進" in the name means that Korea and Japan are one. Some people, because it was a pro-Japanese organization, mistakenly write the name as 日進會 (Iljinhoe), but this is an incorrect Chinese character rendering. In fact, it is known that an organization using this character existed, the Iljinhoe, which was formed by Korean independence activists and patriots for anti-Japanese purposes.
Overview
Founding
Song Byeong-jun, who had been persecuted by the Min family of the royal in-laws and had lived in exile in Japan for more than ten years, returned to Korea as a military interpreter accompanying Major General Otani Kikuzo of the Japanese army when the Russo-Japanese War broke out. As the political situation developed in Japan's favor, Song sought political activity backed by the Japanese army, and after frequent contacts in Hanseong with Yun Si-byeong and Yu Hak-ju, both former members of the Independence Club, he organized the "Yushinhoe" on 18 August 1904 and nominated Yun Si-byeong as provisional chairman. On 20 August he held a special meeting, renamed the organization "Iljinhoe," and again nominated Yun Si-byeong as chairman and Yu Hak-ju as vice chairman. At that time the Korean Empire government, by imperial decree, ordered Police Chief Shin Tae-hyu to dissolve them, but Japanese gendarmes blocked this, and even threatened to detain police constables of the Gyeongmucheong, thereby protecting their assembly.
Iljinhoe, upon its founding, put forward four principles, the content of which is as follows:
To make people respect the Imperial House and consolidate the foundation of the state
To make people protect their lives and property
To make the government carry out improvement policies
To make military and finance administration orderly
Although Iljinhoe aimed at reforming the state affairs in response to the wicked governance it cited in its founding principles and purpose, in September of that year it rushed to adopt civilization and enlightenment, such as cutting topknots and wearing Western clothing, as the urgent task and symbol of the members' unity. However, on 22 October of that year it held a council of commissioners and resolved that the purpose of Iljinhoe did not hinder Japanese military strategy in any way. On that day, the official letter delivered to the commander of the Japanese army in Korea, General Hasegawa Yoshimichi, the gendarmerie commander Takayama, and the Japanese minister to Korea Hayashi Gonsuke, openly revealed a pro-Japanese stance, supporting Japanese aggression, contrary to the superficial aims of state reform and cutting of topknots that it pursued. This was nothing more than a stereotyped slogan, inconsistent in substance and form, that ran in parallel with the direction of Japan's aggression against the Korean Empire. At that time, various social organizations were active only in Hanseong and did not have nationwide local organizations; Iljinhoe's activities likewise were confined to Hanseong, and it lacked any mass base, barely maintaining its existence under Japanese protection. Around this time, Lee Yong-gu and others gathered the remnants of the Donghak movement and organized the "Jinbohoe" in late September of that year. Noting that the Jinbohoe had a nationwide base, though its principles and purpose called for state reform and the Gapjin Enlightenment Movement, Song Byeong-jun pushed for a merger of the two organizations. As a result, on 2 December of that year, Iljinhoe bought out and absorbed the Jinbohoe and merged it into Iljinhoe.
Organization
Lee Yong-gu, under the pretext that most local branch members were Jinbohoe members, was placed in the post of chairman of the General Assembly of the Thirteen Provinces, while Song Byeong-jun, who had secretly controlled Iljinhoe, took office the following year as chairman of the Commissioners' Council. Responding to the crafty schemes of the Japanese, Song Byeong-jun kept Yun Si-byeong at a distance and bought over Lee Yong-gu; at the general assembly on 22 December 1905, Lee Yong-gu was elected chairman, Yun Si-byeong vice chairman, Song Byeong-jun chairman of the provincial general assembly, and Hong Geung-seop chairman of the Commissioners' Council. Iljinhoe employed Japanese as advisers and secretly received support from the Japanese army in its activities. Iljinhoe had about 300 members at its founding; after merging with the Jinbohoe it soon had tens of thousands of members, and after the annexation of Korea by Japan it raised the slogan of "one million members," though in reality it had about 100,000. Affiliated outer and peripheral organizations linked to Iljinhoe were also organized, and through the instigation and bribery of Japan and Iljinhoe they repeatedly formed and dissolved, carrying out acts as tools of Japanese aggression. Iljinhoe, centered on Hanseong and barely maintaining its existence under Japanese army protection, rose from a small organization with a weak structure to a nationwide organization with extensive local branches, supported by Japan.
Operations
According to the rules of Iljinhoe concerning the raising of its operating funds, it was stipulated that funds would be collected through membership dues, but in practice regular dues collection was not very significant, and there were almost no stable sources of income. From the beginning, Song Byeong-jun ran the organization with secret military funds of the Japanese. As Iljinhoe increasingly openly displayed its treasonous conduct, the Empire of Japan secretly provided 50,000 won to use it and gave it special protection. During the Russo-Japanese War, Iljinhoe members received from the Japanese army a total of 89,940 won for transport, reconnaissance and labor for the Japanese army; after the war ended, from the Residency-General it received 2,000 won per month in secret subsidies for half a year starting January 1907; on 15 May of that year it received 100,000 won from the Japanese Army Ministry; and in August of that year it received 260,000 won as a subsidy from Resident-General Itō Hirobumi. Moreover, judging from letters sent by Song Byeong-jun to Itō Hirobumi and to Japanese Foreign Minister Katsura, and letters sent by Itō to Katsura, it is certain that Iljinhoe occasionally received money and goods from Japanese authorities such as Itō and Katsura and committed treasonous acts. In the end, it was closely tied to the special intelligence agencies of the Japanese army and the Residency-General and received financial support from the Japanese. Although the rules of Iljinhoe did not provide for advisers, considering that Japanese advisers operated behind Iljinhoe, in reality the advisers, composed of Japanese dispatched especially by the Japanese military, controlled it from behind.
Activities
Active implementation of Japanese aggression policy
From around the time of Iljinhoe's founding until its dissolution, Japanese ultranationalists and ronin each served as behind-the-scenes manipulators or advisers, transmitting schemes for Japanese aggression and Iljinhoe's treasonous conduct, and Iljinhoe members were preoccupied with putting those schemes into practice. First, it directly cooperated in carrying out Japan's aggression policy. Immediately after the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan concluded the Korea–Japan Protocol with the Korean Empire on 23 February 1904, and on 22 August of that year the First Japan–Korea Agreement, establishing the so-called "advisory government system" and advancing the colonial plan. Accordingly, Iljinhoe, as an active collaborator with the Japanese authorities, transported military supplies for the Japanese army for the war effort through the Bukjin Transport Corps (10 June 1905 – 20 October 1905); moved in and out of the region from Hamgyeong to Gando, spying on Russian army movements; and when Japan hastily pushed the construction of the Gyeongui Line railway (October 1904 – September 1905), Iljinhoe members voluntarily mobilized some 200,000 members for the construction as nearly unpaid laborers, and even suffered over 100 casualties, sparing no great sacrifice. After the war ended in Japan's favor, and while maintaining an international balance and face with the great powers such as Britain and the United States, the Taft–Katsura agreement was secretly concluded with the United States in July 1905, the Second Anglo-Japanese Alliance was concluded with Britain in August 1905, and in September 1905 the Treaty of Portsmouth was concluded with the Russian Empire; as a result, the balance of power in East Asia came to be dominated by Japan.
As rumors spread that the Korean Empire would be turned into a protectorate, and while the Korean court and public remained on guard, Iljinhoe, in order to seize the initiative, revised a document drafted by a Japanese adviser and on 6 November 1905 issued the so-called "Iljinhoe Declaration," advocating the transfer of diplomatic rights. It stated that, "in order to receive Japan's protective guidance, internal administration and diplomatic rights must be entrusted entirely to Japan." Issued about ten days before the Eulsa Treaty was forced upon Korea, this declaration publicly revealed the nature of Iljinhoe's treasonous conduct. On 17 November Japan forcibly concluded the Eulsa Treaty, and the Korean Empire was completely stripped of its diplomatic rights; in February of the following year the Japanese Residency-General was established in Hanseong, and Itō Hirobumi, the principal author of the treaty, became the first Resident-General. Thus the Korean Empire became the first step toward Japanese colonization. Moreover, Iljinhoe, which had until then been under the protection of the army, severed that relationship and came under the control of the Japanese adviser Uchida Ryohei under the Residency-General, and entered even further into the role of a tool of treasonous conduct. While the indignation of the entire nation toward the "Iljinhoe Declaration" and the Eulsa Treaty reached its peak, Iljinhoe members, in return for their collaboration with Japan, were appointed county magistrates right after the treaty was concluded, and within half a year were promoted to provincial governors (prefectural governors); eventually Song Byeong-jun became Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry in the Yi Wan-yong cabinet (later promoted to Minister of Home Affairs).
Japan sought to smoothly carry out its aggression policy by using Iljinhoe. Meanwhile, Iljinhoe published the organ newspaper Gukminsinbo and through it actively defended Japan's aggressive acts. In July 1907, taking advantage of the Hague Secret Emissaries Incident, Song Byeong-jun colluded with Yi Wan-yong, cooperated with Japanese authorities, and coerced and threatened Emperor Gojong to abdicate, while at the same time having Iljinhoe members stage demonstrations urging abdication, until Emperor Gojong finally abdicated. On 24 July 1907 Japan concluded the Third Japan–Korea Agreement, legitimizing the Residency-General's interference in internal affairs, and moreover caused the Korean Empire government to promulgate the Newspaper Act on 24 July 1907 and the Security Act on 27 July, imposing restrictions on the legitimate expression of Korean public opinion, anti-Japanese movements and the Enlightenment Movement. The Daehan Jaganghoe, an enlightenment organization that had directly confronted Iljinhoe, was dissolved first. Then, when the Korean army was disbanded and righteous armies rose up nationwide against Japan, Japan deployed massive forces and military equipment and carried out merciless slaughter; Iljinhoe, under the direction of advisers Uchida Ryohei, Takeda Hanshi1 and others, organized so-called "Jiwidan" self-defense corps to suppress the righteous armies and took the lead in suppressing them, even regarding the righteous armies as "bandits." Such treasonous conduct of Iljinhoe drew great outrage from the righteous armies at that time; from July 1907 to May 1908, the damage suffered by Iljinhoe members at the hands of the righteous armies amounted to 9,260 killed, 10 wounded, 360 houses burned, and property losses of 50,501 won and 31 jeon. From this it can be seen that countless Iljinhoe members suffered damage at the hands of the righteous armies. In October 1907, when Crown Prince Yoshihito of the Empire of Japan (later Taishō Emperor) visited Korea, Iljinhoe, under the direction of its Japanese advisers, erected a welcoming gate, presented local products and held lantern processions to receive him. Iljinhoe repeatedly held speeches and lectures across the country, and given their nature, these originated from efforts to incite the people and manipulate public opinion. Meanwhile, the outer organizations of Iljinhoe, the organ newspaper Gukminsinbo company, the Sicheongyo church, and the charitable women's association, sided with Iljinhoe. Also, peripheral organizations such as the Jahye Women's Association, the East Asian Patriotic Women's Association, and the Daehan Sinmun company carried out the role of tools of Japan's aggression against Korea.
Propaganda role and manipulation of public opinion
Subsequently, Iljinhoe played the major role of Japanese propaganda, attempting to guide domestic public opinion toward the so-called "direction of annexation." Whenever major political events occurred, Iljinhoe carried out treasonous acts such as drafting "declarations," giving speeches and holding lectures. In 1909 Japan concluded the Giyu Agreement, seizing judicial power and prison affairs, and it committed various repressions, including abolishing the military. Furthermore, following the seizure of police power, on 26 March 1909 it also promulgated the Publication Act, brutally suppressing Korean freedom of expression. At this time, Itō Hirobumi withdrew from the post of Resident-General, and Vice Resident-General Sone Arasuke became Resident-General, but was soon removed for incompetence; in May of the following year Terauchi Masatake became Resident-General. In accordance with the "Policy on the Implementation of Korean Annexation," Resident-General Terauchi drafted a "Plan for Handling the Annexation" in July and had it approved through Iljinhoe's cabinet meeting. Now only one measure remained for Japan: the public proclamation of the so-called "annexation." However, on 26 October 1909, Itō Hirobumi was assassinated in Harbin by An Jung-geun. Regarding Itō's death, Iljinhoe organized the "Apology Corps" and the "Dong-A Chanyeonghoe," trying to gain favor with Japanese authorities and the Residency-General on this occasion. At the same time, Japan's "hardline faction on Korea," including Katsura and Yamagata, together with their advisers Uchida Ryohei, Takeda, and Sugiyama Shigemaru, fabricated Iljinhoe's annexation proclamation. The series of so-called "annexation statements" of Iljinhoe, announced on 4 December 1909, stated, about eight months before the Gyeongsul National Humiliation, that "for the happiness and welfare of the Korean people, Korea and Japan must be annexed." Given their nature, it was all too clear that Iljinhoe's statements were a means of public opinion manipulation fabricated by Japan, and they aroused the indignation of the Korean people and became the target of denunciation and condemnation. On this basis, the Daehan Maeil Sinbo not only harshly criticized it throughout its pages as the "Traitors' Assembly Declaration" (奴會宣言), but also Speaker of the Chūtsuin Kim Yun-sik and others even petitioned the government for the execution of Song Byeong-jun and Lee Yong-gu, but this was suppressed under Japanese protection. Cornered, Iljinhoe saw many leaders and members among its executives and members withdraw, reaching over 90 within only a few days, and Lee Yong-gu and Uchida Ryohei had to have their personal safety protected by the Japanese gendarmerie. However, Lee Yong-gu and other Japanese lackeys, together with the adviser Uchida, colluded to instigate and bribe more than ten nominal organizations, including the outer organizations of Iljinhoe such as the Hanseong Bosinsa, the Daehan Sangmu Johap-su, and the Gukmin Donji Chanseonghoe, to support Iljinhoe's annexation statement, and carried out treasonous acts without hesitation to justify Japan's annexation. Meanwhile, the Japanese authorities, having realized through the reaction to Iljinhoe's statement the breadth and depth of opposition, were able to carry out the final wrap-up work for the so-called annexation, forcibly implemented the following year, with ease. Thus, on 22 August 1910, the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was concluded, and one week later, on 29 August 1910, the sovereignty of the Korean Empire was completely usurped.
Dissolution
Iljinhoe, through the Austro-Hungarian Compromise and the Ausgleich (Kiegyezés), the compromise between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Austrian Empire during the formation of the Austria-Hungary, mistakenly believed that, with the Korea–Japan annexation, Korea would establish a federal system equal to Japan, just as Hungarians and Germans (Austrians) enjoyed equal rights. Iljinhoe served as Japan's tool to the utmost for Japan's annexation of Korea, but on 26 September 1910, when all social organizations were dissolved, Iljinhoe too was dissolved by Resident-General Terauchi Masatake, receiving 150,000 won as dissolution money; at that time it was a voluntary dissolution with a formal one-week grace period. At the time, the Iljinhoe leadership, including Lee Yong-gu, demanded 3 million yen from Japan as funds for a merger petition and for migration to Gando, and Prime Minister Katsura made the false promise that he would provide even 30 million yen. Among the main executives of Iljinhoe, as rewards for their services, Song Byeong-jun was granted the title of viscount as a Korean noble, while Lee Yong-gu was merely given 100,000 won.
Kim Sam-ung (1 July 1995). Chiniljeongchi 100nyeonsa [A Hundred-Year History of Pro-Japanese Politics]. Seoul: Donpung. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-89-86072-03-7.
Im Jong-guk (1 February 1991). Sillok Chinilpa [The True Record of the Pro-Japanese Faction]. Edited by the Institute for the Study of Anti-National Problems. Seoul: Dolbegae. pp. 76–79. ISBN 89-7199-036-8.
Hanguk Dongnip Undongsa Sajeon [Dictionary of Korean Independence Movement History], by the Independence Hall of Korea.