Jo Maeng-seon’s Life and His Independence Movement

Jo Maeng-seon began to participate in the independence movement in earnest in 1905 when he published a letter and a preface denouncing the Japanese invasion. When the letter and the preface failed to have any real effect, he joined the Righteous Army around 1907. His armed struggle, which began at that time, continued until his death in 1920. After going into exile overseas around 1910, he promoted the Righteous Army struggle together with Lee Beom-yun. He was appointed to the Staff by Lee Beom-yun and recruited Righteous Army soldiers in the western and northern Gando regions. In 1913, he organized a Poyeong in Menggang-hyeon, which was an activity that laid the foundation for the 'Hunters Corps.' The Hunters Corps began in earnest in 1915 after the outbreak of World War I. At this time, he was staying at Baeksan School in Musong-hyeon, and Yun Se-bok, Lee Jin-ryong, and Cha Do-seon also visited Baeksan School and commanded the Righteous Army. After Yun Se-bok was detained at Musong-hyeon Police Station, he was active together with Lee Jin-ryong, such as attacking the transport carriage of Unsan Gold Mine Company. After Lee Jin-ryong was arrested by the Japanese police in May 1917, he organized a secret society called the Loyalty Society with Cha Do-seon and others, and worked to gather comrades and expand weapons with the goal of ‘advancing on Seoul.’ Later, when the March 1st Movement broke out at home and abroad, he organized the Korean Independence Corps.