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Historic Status of Gwansan Jo Cheolho and the Joseon Boys Army

  • 중앙사론
  • 2015, (42), pp.79-112
  • Publisher : Institute for Historical Studies at Chung-Ang University
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Kim, Hyung-Mog kim 1

1한국독립운동사연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

National liberation movement had a chance to develop in many areas since the March 1st Movement. The idea of 'children' started to be widely used and designation of the Children's Day have an important meaning in history of boys movement. These attempts responding to change of time caused changes in perceptions of the traditional value of children. Jo Cheolho organized the Joseon Boys Army to answer the Boy Scout Movement of the world. The army started from 8 members in Oct. 5, 1922 and kept expanding until disbanding in 1937. It had 80 Hodaes(虎隊), the branches, and about 10,000 members when it was disbanded. Jo Cheolho entered into the Military Academy of Korean Empire to be a bulwark for the country. Although the academy was closed down in 1909, he was not discouraged and went to Japan. He was commissioned as a Japanese second lieutenant after graduating a secondary school and the Japanese Military Academy. After he was discharged from the service, he devoted himself into the national education as a gym teacher in Osan School, Jeongju and Jungang Secondary School. Based on the realization that sound body and strong spirit were the foundation for growing independent activists, he made the Joseon Boys Army, one of the systematic boys' training and cultivating institutes. Joseon Boys Army helped to the nationwide expansion of the Juvenile Movement through solidarity with various social organizations. It positively participated in parades, street propaganda and maintenance of order on the Childeren's Day. Especially, it tried to make mutual solidarity with other social areas through lecture tours and motion picture contest. Its members realized themselves as social beings by a boot camp and voluntary service. They were not discouraged and did their best on their duty even though they lived in the dark colonial time. This is the reason why the Boys and Young Men Movement including the Army should be focused.

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