Yi Dae-wi

Yi Dae-wi (李大爲, 1878 – 17 June 1928) was a Korean anti-Japanese independence activist. He was born in Gangseo, South P'yŏngan Province.

Life

Born in Gangseo (江西), South P'yŏngan Province, he graduated from Sungsil Middle School (崇實中學校), a Christian school, and then emigrated to the United States for the purpose of studying abroad.

Independence struggle in America

In September 1903, in San Francisco, he together with Ahn Chang-ho (安昌浩) and Chang Kyung (張景) and others founded the Chinmokhoe (親睦會), the forerunner of Korean organizations in America, and while focusing on contact and friendship among compatriots, he carried out a movement to improve the living conditions of the Korean community. In April 1905, together with Ahn Chang-ho and others, he organized the Gongnip Hyeophoe (共立協會), the first national movement organization in America, and carried out activities aimed at anti-Japanese struggle and mutual love among fellow Koreans. Meanwhile, in April 1906 he founded the Sanghang Korean Methodist Church (桑港韓人監理教會), and carried out relief work for Korean compatriots, educational enlightenment activities, and job placement. After graduating from Portland Academy in Oregon in June 1908, in December of the same year he published the weekly bulletin "Daedobo" (대도보) at the Sanghang Korean Methodist Church, the forerunner of Korean-language publishing in the United States, which conveyed news of the home country and the world each week, and contributed to the Christian evangelical mission and the education of overseas Koreans. Also, from October of that year, together with Ch'oe Chŏng-ik (崔正益) and others, he discussed unifying the Korean organizations in Hawaii and on the American mainland, and in February 1909 he attended as a representative of the Gongnip Hyeophoe in America and played a leading role in founding the Korean National Association (大韓人國民會), the only unified Korean national movement organization in America. Then, while enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, in February 1910 he was elected vice chairman of the North American Regional General Assembly of the Korean National Association. In July of that year, when Japan's annexation of Korea became a reality, he convened representatives of each regional branch under the name of the North American Regional General Assembly of the Korean National Association, organized the Patriotic Alliance Corps (愛國同盟團), and, appointed as translator, sent together with the Hawaii Regional General Assembly a joint letter to the Japanese emperor strongly opposing the annexation of Korea. He also worked to establish independent army training schools in each region and to secure the funds needed for them to restore national sovereignty, and devoted himself as spokesman to providing personal guarantees and handling immigration procedures for patriots and students newly arriving in the United States. In 1911, at the invitation of the Sanghang Korean Methodist Church, he took office as its senior pastor, and organized the Worship, Fellowship and Service Society, transforming the church into a center of patriotic and political activity among compatriots. In November 1912, when the Central General Assembly of the Korean National Association, the highest unified organization of overseas Koreans, was formed, he attended as a representative of the North American Regional General Assembly and endeavored to perform the role of a provisional government.