The Spirit of Independence: A Primer of Korean Modernization and Reform

326 Pages·2000·1.541 MB·English

by  Syngman Rhee

The Spirit of
Independence
Syngman Rhee dressed for a meeting with President Theodore
Roosevelt, 1905
Syngman Rhee
The Spirit of
Independence
A Primer of Korean Modernization
and Reform
Translated, Annotated, and
with an Introduction by
Han-Kyo Kim
University of Hawai‘i Press
Honolulu
and
The Institute for Modern Korean Studies
Yonsei University
© 2001 University of Hawai‘i Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
06 05 04 03 02 01 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rhee, Syngman, 1875–1965.
[Tongnip chongsin, English]
The spirit of independence : a primer of Korean modernization
and reform / Syngman Rhee ; translated, annotated, and with an
introduction by Han-Kyo Kim.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-8248-2264-1 (cloth : alk. paper)—
ISBN 0-8248-2349-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Korea—History—1868–1910—Translations into English.
2. Nationalism—Korea—Translations into English. 3. World
politics—19th century—Translations into English. I. Kim,
Han-Kyo, 1928– . II. Title.
DS915.26.R4713 2001
951.9(cid:2)02—dc21 00-033779
The Institute for Modern Korean Studies was established in 1997 as an
affiliate of the Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University,
for the promotion of scholarly research in modern Korean studies. The
principal objective of the institute is to organize, direct, and support research
in modern Korean political and economic history, Korean-American
relations, and the modern Korean agrarian, student, and labor movements,
as well as modern Korean thought.
University of Hawai‘i Press books are printed on acid-free
paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and
durability of the Council on Library Resources.
Designed by Kenneth Miyamoto
Printed by The Maple-Vail Book Manufacturing Group
Dedicated to all those
who have devoted their lives
to the cause of
the independence of Korea

CONTENTS
Foreword xi
Notes on Asian Names and Words xv
Acknowledgments xvii
Translator’s Introduction 1
THE SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE
Author’s Introduction 25
Postscript 27
Publisher’s Postscript 29
Chapter 1. Introduction 32
Chapter 2. Everyone Should Awaken to Their Responsibility 34
Chapter 3. Failure in Discharging Duties Invites Disaster 40
Chapter 4. Things That the People Can Do If They Try 45
Chapter 5. Foundation of True Loyalty 48
Chapter 6. A Strong Resolve for Independence 51
Chapter 7. Establishing Relations with Foreign Countries 54
Chapter 8. Distinction between Independence and Neutrality 59
Chapter 9. The Nation May Not Last If the People Remain
Unenlightened 62
vii
viii Contents
Chapter 10. Crucial Importance of the Right of Self-Rule 67
Chapter 11. An Outline of the Laws of the Universe 71
Chapter 12. Classification of the Six Continents 76
Chapter 13. Classification of the Five Races 80
Chapter 14. Distinctions between the New and the Old 82
Chapter 15. Three Types of Government 85
Chapter 16. Rights of the American People 89
Chapter 17. Events Leading to American Independence 95
Chapter 18. The Declaration of American Independence 98
Chapter 19. History of the American Civil War 104
Chapter 20. History of the French Revolution 108
Chapter 21. Benefits of Constitutional Government 113
Chapter 22. Damages Caused by Failure to
Change Government 116
Chapter 23. Political System Matches the Level of the People 119
Chapter 24. The People’s Mind Must Be Free First 121
Chapter 25. Limits on the Right of Freedom 137
Chapter 26. History of Korean (Taehan) Independence 139
Chapter 27. China’s Obstinacy 143
Chapter 28. History of Japan’s Progress 146
Chapter 29. Political History of Russia 149
Chapter 30. Western Influence Extends Eastward 152
Chapter 31. Japanese Endeavor to Establish Relations
with Korea 159
Chapter 32. Trading with Japan for the First Time 161
Chapter 33. TheImo Mutiny (1882) 164
Chapter 34. Korea, Japan, and China before the
Sino-Japanese War 167
Chapter 35. Events of theKapsin Coup (1884) 171
Contents ix
Chapter 36. Sending Ministers to the West for the First Time 175
Chapter 37. Causes of the Sino-Japanese War 178
Chapter 38. [Foreign] Relations after the Sino-Japanese War 182
Chapter 39. Russian Power Invades Liaotung 185
Chapter 40. The Boxer Incident in China 187
Chapter 41. Causes of the Russo-Japanese War 192
Chapter 42. Korea in 1894–1895 198
Chapter 43. Japan and Russia after 1894–1895 202
Chapter 44. Japan and Russia before the War 209
Chapter 45. Results of the Russo-Japanese Negotiations 216
Chapter 46. Situation in Korea Following the Outbreak
of the Russo-Japanese War 221
Chapter 47. Japanese Intentions Are Different from Before 227
Chapter 48. Damages Inflicted by China, Japan, and Russia 233
Chapter 49. We Have Missed Many Good Opportunities 236
Chapter 50. Intentions of the Japanese Government 239
Chapter 51. Intentions of the Japanese People 243
Chapter 52. Epilogue: Essential Conditions
for Independence 253
Notes 285
Index 297