Draft:Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence

Flag of the CPKI

The Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence (CPKI) was an organization created during the years following the liberation of Korea for the transfer of government jurisdiction from the Japanese Empire. Lead figures of the committee included Lyuh Woon-hyung and Ahn Chai-hong, and Cho Man-sik. The committee was operational from August 15, 1945 to September 7, when it was reorganized into the People's Republic of Korea.

Creation

Declaration of the CPKI, August 28, 1945

In August 11, 1945, in order to guarantee the safe arrival of Japanese citizens from Korea, Inspector-general of Korea Ryusaku Endo contacted nationalist politician Song Jin-woo and offered the transfer of administrative and public security authorities. However, Song declined this offer, and on the morning of August 15, Endo met Lyuh Woon-hyung in Pil-dong, Seoul, to once again discuss the transfer of public authorities which were previously held by the Governor-General of Chōsen. Lyuh, who was concerned of the societal chaos which may break upon the sudden withdrawal of the Japanese from Korea, agreed to negotiate terms of a power transfer and demanded that, in exchange for the safeguarding of Japanese civilians, the Government-general immediately release of all political prisoners across Korea; secure three-months worth of food supplies; and under no circumstances interfere in political activities regarding public safety efforts and the establishment of a new nation, the organization and training of students and youth, and the conscription of laborers and farmers for the founding of a new nation.

Endo agreed to Lyuh's terms, and transferred to him all authorities which were previously held by the Government-general. The same day, Lyuh re-organized the Foundation Alliance, an underground resistance organization he had created in the August of 1944, into the Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence, a name proposed by fellow independence activist Ahn Chai-hong. Lyuh and and Ahn were respectively nominated as president and vice president of the committee.

The CPKI was constituted under the following platform:

Platform of the Founding Alliance

• ① Each member and party of the alliance shall unite together and organize a deterring force against the Japanese Empire for the resuscitation of the absolute independence and liberty of the Korean people.
• ② The committee shall form an united anti-Japanese front through collaboration with anti-Axis nations and obliterate all opposing forces that deters the complete independence of Korea.
• ③ The committee shall focus all affairs on organization to the liberation of a democratic people.

Declaration of the Committee for the Preparation of Independence

Humanity yearns for peace and history orients itself to progression. With the conclusion of the Second World War, a tragedy never seen before in the history of mankind, the day of liberation has finally arrived to Korea. For the previous fifty years all roads to liberty had been closed off under imperialist extortion and persecution, as we had been a colony of imperialist Japan. Yet, we have consistently fought for our liberation for the last thirty-six years. These movements and struggles were firmly denied by imperialism and its allied reactionist, anti-democratic forces.

With post-war international resolutions Korea has escaped the imprisonment of imperialist Japan. However, regarding the arduous history of struggles, as we have only gone forth a single step for the liberation of the Korean people, numerous struggles yet remain for absolute independence, and the major objectives which must be reached for the founding of a new nation lies in front of the path we must take. Hence our clear mission for the present is that we must strive for the gaining of complete independence and true democracy. Although we shall provisionally lie under the domination of international forces, they will not be a deterrent for our demands for democracy, if not a helping hand. With each and every progressive struggle unraveling throughout the nation for the incineration of feudalist remains and the opening of a path for free development, and domestic progressive, democratic forces striving for the creation of a united front, our Committee for the Preparation of Independence has been organized under such societal demands.

Thus this preparation committee is not only the preparatory body for the construction of a new nation to re-organize our people into a true democratic government, but a free united front for the solidarity of all progressive, democratic forces of every class, and by no means a disorderly body of collaboration. 왜 그런고 하면 여기에는 모든 반민주적 반동세력에대한 대중적 투쟁이 요청되는 까닭이다. 과거에 있어서 그들은 일본 제국주의와 결탁하여 민족적 죄악을 범하였고 금후에도 그들은 해방 전 조선과 같이 그 건설도중에서 방해할 가능성이 있나니 이러한 반동세력, 즉 반민주주의적 세력과 싸워 이것을 극복 배제하고 진정한 민주주의 실현을 위하여 강력한 민주주의 정권을 수립하여야 할 것이다. 이 정권은 전국적 인민대표회의에서 선출된 인민위원으로서 구성될 것이며 그동안 해외에서 조선해방운동에 투신하여온 혁명전사와 그 결집체에 대하여서는 적당한 방법에 의하여 전심적으로 맞이하여야 할 것은 물론이다. 그리하여 조선 전민족의 총의를 대표하며 이익을 보호할 만한 완전한 새 정권이 나와야 하며 이러한 새 정권이 확립되기까지의 일시적 과도기에 있어서 본위원회는 조선의 치안을 자주적으로 유지하며 한 걸음 더 나아가 조선의 완전한 독립국가조직을 실현하기 위하여 새 정권을 수립하는 한 개의 잠정적 임무를 다하려는 의도에서 아래와 같은 강령을 내세운다

Platform

• We strive for the founding of a nation of total independence.
• We strive for the establishment of a democratic government which could ratify the basic political, economic, and societal demands of the whole people.
• We strive for the
• 우리는 일시적 과도기에 있어서 국가질서를 자주적으로 유지하며 대중생활의 확보를 기함.

Activities

The PCKI's platform focused on resistance against Japanese imperialism and the founding of a democratic nation. Consisted of center-right and center-left figures, the PCKI focused its efforts on administration, the acquisition of food supplies, and the creation of a police force to improve

Conflict and Dissolution

Lyoh, who assumed that Soviet forces will make its way into Seoul, actively recruited socialist figures, notably Pak Hon-yong, into the CPKI.

However, right-wing figures such as Kim Seong-su or Song Jin-woo did did not join the PCKI, declaring support for a "neutral administration". Upon leftist lawyer Ho Hon's nomination as vice president during the September 4, 1945 general assembly, a leftist majority led by Pak Hon-yong's communist faction began leading the organization.

On the night of September 6, the PCKI declared the foundation of the People's Republic of Korea inside the auditorium of Kyunggi Girls' High School. The PCKI was reorganized as

Perception and Legacy

Seo Jung-seok, a history professor from Sungkyunkwan University emphasized that a major chaos would have ensured had it not been for organizations like the PCKI. Major groups which have been part of the Korean Independence Movement, including the Provisional Government in Chongqing, were too far away overseas to exercise authority at the time of Korea's liberation. Thanks to the organization of the PCKI among centrist politicians like Lyuh, a governmental organization was able to immediately take office over administrative affairs.

American journalist Edgar Snow, who spent two months in Korea after its liberation, evaluated the impact of the PCKI on his memoirs.

미국은 아무 준비가 없이 조선에 상륙하였다. 그러나, 조선에는 건국준비위원회가 있었다. 곧 정치적 준비가 있었다. 미국인이 만일 건국준비위원회를 살렸더라면 조선의 건설은 더 신속하고 유리하였을 것이다.

Contrastingly, Lyuh Woon-hyung's younger brother, Lyuh Woon-hong, criticized the PCKI's reformation into the PRK as a "staged act" conspired by radical communists and criticized Lyuh Woon-hyung for failing to end ties with communist figures such as Pak Hon-yong.

U.S. troops are welcomed by the Inchon branch of the CPKI.

right|thumb|250x250px|The House of Korea, located in Pil-dong, Seoul, was where the authority of the Government-general was transferred to Lyuh Woon-hyung. 서울 필동에 위치한 한국의 집. 이곳은 일제강점기 조선총독부 정무총감 관저로 1945년 8월 15일, 아침에 여운형이 이곳에서 총독부로부터 치안권과 행정권을 이양받았다. Endo agreed to Lyuh's terms, and transferred to him all authorities which were previously held by the Government-general. The same day, Lyuh re-organized the Foundation Alliance, an underground resistance organization he had created in the August of 1944, into the Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence, a name proposed by fellow independence activist Ahn Chai-hong.

Lyuh and and Ahn were respectively nominated as president and vice president of the committee.

The CPKI was constituted under the following platform:

The PCKI's platform focused on resistance against Japanese imperialism and the founding of a democratic nation. Consisted of center-right and center-left figures, the PCKI focused its efforts on administration, the acquisition of food supplies, and the creation of a police force to improve

건준의 주요 강령은 일제타도와 민주주의 국가건설이었다. 온건우파와 온건좌파 세력들이 결집하여 결성된 건준은 해방 이후, 뒤숭숭한 분위기속에 매우 혼란스러웠던 치안상태와 행정,실무등을 해결하고자 치안대와 행정업무등 식량확보에 주력을 하였다. 이어서 전국적 지부를 조직하였고 자주적 질서유지활동을 하고자 하여 순조롭게 진행하였다.

In August 11, 1945, in order to guarantee the safe arrival of Japanese citizens from Korea, Inspector-general of Korea Ryusaku Endo contacted nationalist politician Song Jin-woo and offered the transfer of administrative and public security authorities. However, Song declined this offer, and on the morning of August 15, Endo met Lyuh Woon-hyung in Pil-dong, Seoul, to once again discuss the transfer of public authorities which were previously held by the Governor-General of Chōsen.

Lyuh, who was concerned of the societal chaos which may break upon the sudden withdrawal of the Japanese from Korea, agreed to negotiate terms of a power transfer and demanded that, in exchange for the safeguarding of Japanese civilians, the Government-general immediately release of all political prisoners across Korea; secure three-months worth of food supplies; and under no circumstances interfere in political activities regarding public safety efforts and the establishment of a new nation, the organization and training of students and youth, and the conscription of laborers and farmers for the founding of a new nation.

미국은 아무 준비가 없이 조선에 상륙하였다. 그러나, 조선에는 건국준비위원회가 있었다. 곧 정치적 준비가 있었다. 미국인이 만일 건국준비위원회를 살렸더라면 조선의 건설은 더 신속하고 유리하였을 것이다.

Creation

Lyoh, who assumed that Soviet forces will make its way into Seoul, actively recruited socialist figures, notably Pak Hon-yong, into the CPKI.

건준의 결성 초기부터 사회주의자들이 참여하게 된 것은 여운형•건국동맹과 사회주의자들의 이념적 친화성, 그리고 일제시기 이래 사회주의자들의 친분관계도 바탕이 되었지만, 무엇보다 소련의 서울 진주 소식이 크게 작용했다. 여운홍에 따르면 여운형은 8월 15일 아침에 엔도를 만난 뒤 정백과 함께 돌아와 단독으로 담소를 나누었으여 "소련군이 서울에 진주할 것이기 때문에 사태가 달라졌다"는 입장을 나타냈다. (중략) 이에 여운형과 건준 참여세력들은 사회주의 계열을 적극 참여시켜 소련군의 남한 진주에 대응하는 국가건설을 준비하고자 했던 것이다.

— 김무용, 해방 후 조선공산당의 노선과 국가건설 운동, p61

However, right-wing figures such as Kim Seong-su or Song Jin-woo did did not join the PCKI, declaring support for a "neutral administration". Upon leftist lawyer Ho Hon's nomination as vice president during the September 4, 1945 general assembly, a leftist majority led by Pak Hon-yong's communist faction began leading the organization.

On the night of September 6, the PCKI declared the foundation of the People's Republic of Korea inside the auditorium of Kyunggi Girls' High School. The PCKI was reorganized as

9월 6일 밤에 경기여고 강당에서 약 1천여 명이 참석한 가운데 '조선인민공화국임시조직법'을 통과시킨 다음 조선인민공화국(인공) 수립을 선포했다. 인공 형태로 개편시켜 나아감에 따라 9월 7일 건준은 '발전적 해소'라는 미명 아래 인민위원회로 각 지역 지부로 개편되었다. 이후 '인공'은 박헌영을 주축으로 실권장악하게 되었다.

인공의 수립이 조공의 일방적인 독주로 이루어진 것은 아니었다. 여운형도 인공 수립에 적극 관여하였다. 여운형은 9월 6일의 전국인민대표회의에서 개회사와 격려사에서 비상한 시기에 연합국의 진주에 대비하여 "연합국과 절충할 인민총의 집결체"로서 인공이 수립되었음을 강조하였다. 여운형은 또한 "혁명가는 정부를 조직하고 인민의 승인을 받을 수 있다"고 주장하고 "인민이 승인만 한다면 조선인민공화국과 그 정부는 그대로 될 수 있다"고 밝혔다. 여운형은 북한에서의 "소군정의 조치를 당연히 연합국의 공동방침으로 해석"하여 남한에서 "미군 역시 조선인민에게 맡길 줄로 예상"하는 낙관적 정세인식을 지니고 있었다. 여운형은 일제시기부터 혁명단체와 혁명가들이 중심이 되어 과도정권을 수립하려는 구상을 가지고 있었는데 이러한 정권구상은 인공과 다르지 않았다.

— 김무용, 해방 후 조선공산당의 노선과 국가건설 운동, p65

여운형은 인공 수립에 합의한 뒤 건준 내부의 반발에 부딪치자 조각발표를 보류하려고 하였지만 적극적으로 반대하지 않았다. 이에 따라 여운형은 인공 대표대회에서 인사도 했고 인공 부주석의 지위를 거부하지도 않았다.

— 김무용, 해방 후 조선공산당의 노선과 국가건설 운동, p67

인공 수립 당시 여운형은 다음과 같이 말하였다. "38도선 이북은 소련군이 진주하여 각도 관공서와 일본인 공사 재산을 압수하고 일군을 무장해제시켜, 모든 것을 조선인민에게 맡길 뿐 그 목적이 없는 듯하였다. 우리는 이러한 소군의 조치를 당연히 연합군의 공동한 최고방침에 의한 것이라고 해석하였으며 미군도 38도 이남에 진주하여 오면 역시 조선인민에게 모든 것을 맡으라 할 줄 예상하였기 때문에 그것을 맡을 준비를 하였던 것이다. 그래서 급히 인민대표회의를 열어 국호를 결정하고 정부조직법을 결정하며 인민위원을 선거하였다."

— 김무용, 해방 후 조선공산당의 노선과 국가건설 운동, p69

곧 이어 9월에 미군이 한반도에 입성하면서 미군정의 직접통치를 발표하는 '맥아더 포고령 1호'에 따라 국내에서 치안, 행정 업무를 담당했던 '건준'과 '인공'은 불인정되었고, 심지어 '충칭 대한민국 임시정부'까지 불인정되었다. 그 이후 38선 이남에서는 미군정기가 시작되게된다.

See also

• People's Party of Korea
• 국민대회준비위원회
• 건국치안대
• Seishin Operation