Current status and tasks of research on the Righteous Army War and commemorative projects for the Righteous Army War in the late Joseon Dynasty

Research on the Righteous Army War in the late Joseon Dynasty became active after 1980s. In particular, Research on the Righteous Army intensified in the 1990s with the publication of doctoral theses on the subject. Since 2000s, research topics have become more diverse. Among the 229 published thesis, 91 papers were on character thesis, the most numerous. Next in frequency are thesis on Righteous Army military units and regions (45), suppression of the Righteous Army (25), and participants (14). Of the 91 individual-focused thesis, 33 deal with ideology and literature, offering insights into the participants’ inner lives beyond their outward activities. The most studied figure is Yu In-seok, followed by Choi Ik-hyun, Lee Gang-nyeon, Ahn Jung-geun, Lee So-eung, and Im Byeong-chan. By region of activity, research has most often focused on Chungbuk, followed by Jeonbuk, Chungnam, Gangwon-do, Gyeongbuk, North Korea, Jeonnam, and Gyeonggi-do. Research on local Righteous Army units also remains a key topic. Regionally, Chungnam leads in the number of thesis, followed by Chungbuk, Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk. Another important area of research has been Japan’s suppression of the Righteous Army, with many thesis focusing on crackdowns during the later period of the movement. Scholars have also explored the aims and consciousness of participants. While these aims varied by group, they converged around the shared value of “righteousness.” Analysis of contemporary newspaper coverage has further illuminated the diverse ways the Righteous Army was perceived at the time. Significant progress has been made in Righteous Army War research overall. However, thesis on the later period remain largely centered on a few prominent leaders. Research on the activities of remaining forces after the arrest of key leaders in 1908 is especially limited, even though many of these died in combat. Greater attention is needed to study these “unknown Righteous Army” members. It is also essential to examine the motivations and goals of ordinary soldiers. A critical issue in the study of the Righteous Army is the availability of historical records. While many domestic records have been uncovered and used, materials held in Japan have yet to be fully collected or analyzed. Meanwhile, the commemorative project for the Righteous Army War began before Korea’s liberation but faced severe obstacles under Japanese colonial rule. Before liberation, most commemorative structures were shrine (祠堂), nearly all of which were destroyed by the Japanese empire. As of 2024, there are 178 officially designated memorial facilities related to the Righteous Army War. More than half are memorial stone, followed by sites of uprisings and battles, shrine, statues, museums, and birthplaces. By region, Gyeongbuk has the most facilities, followed by Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gangwon-do, Chungbuk, Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Gyeonggi-do, then Seoul and Gwangju, Incheon and Daegu, and finally Jeju-do and Sejong. There are eight Righteous Army museums in total, but except for those in Jecheon and Cheongsong, most are dedicated to individual figures. Of 15 shrines nationwide, seven are dedicated solely to Choi Ik-hyun. Up to now, commemoration efforts have been primarily focused on individual leaders, reflecting a hero-centered commemorative approach. It is important to also promote commemoration at the level of local units and regions. Comprehensive efforts are needed to collect materials and survey historical sites, along with long-term plans to publish collected works on the Righteous Army War. Education, public awareness, and cultural events related to the the Righteous Army War are also essential parts of commemoration. Institutional support and the establishment of a dedicated research center for the Righteous Army War are necessary to ensure these efforts are sustained and systematic.