Independence Club

Overview

The Independence Club was a reformist and enlightenment society and political organization founded on July 2, 1896, and active until its dissolution in December 1898. It initially began as a joint government-civilian group for the construction of the Independence Gate and Independence Park, but gradually developed into a modern political movement that demanded opposition to foreign concessions, guarantees of citizens' freedoms and rights, and the establishment of a parliament, through debates and the Mass Assembly (Manmin Gongdonghoe), a popular rally.

Background

Seo Jae-pil, who had fled to the United States after the failure of the Gapsin Coup, returned to Korea at the end of 1895 and, with government support, launched the Korean-language newspaper The Independent (Dongnip Sinmun) on April 7, 1896. After the Russian Legation Residence incident, as foreign powers intensified their encroachment on concessions, government officials and reform-minded intellectuals pursued the construction of a symbolic monument to show both at home and abroad that Joseon was an independent state.

Founding and Early Activities

According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, the Independence Club held its founding general meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Oebu) on July 2, 1896, and enacted regulations of 21 articles. Seo Jae-pil was elected adviser, An Gyeong-su chairman, and Yi Wan-yong head of the committee; the early leadership was centered on the so-called Jeongdong faction of officials, including Yi Wan-yong, Min Sang-ho, Yi Chae-yeon, Hyeon Heung-taek and Yi Sang-jae.

• On November 21, 1896, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Independence Gate was held near the site of Yeongeunmun, where Qing envoys had been received. The Independence Gate was completed in November 1897.
• Modhwagwan was remodeled into the Independence Hall (Dongnipgwan), and on November 30, 1896, the club published its organ, the Daejoseon Dongnip Hyeophoe Hoebo (Bulletin of the Great Joseon Independence Club).
• Beginning August 29, 1897, debates were held weekly at the Independence Hall to spread modern political and social consciousness among members and the public.

Mass Assembly and Political Movement

In 1898 the Independence Club shifted toward a political movement for national salvation. On February 21, Yi Sang-jae and others submitted a memorial denouncing foreign interference in domestic affairs, and when Russia demanded a lease of Yeongdo in Busan, a protest rally was held at the Independence Hall on February 27.

On March 10, 1898, the first Mass Assembly was held in Jongno, Seoul, with more than 10,000 people, demanding the withdrawal of Russian financial advisers and military instructors. Ultimately, on March 19 the government dismissed the Russian advisers and instructors, and the Russo-Korean Bank closed. The evaluates this as an important event in which national sovereignty was defended by the power of the people.