Daeui Party

The Daeui Party (大義黨) was an organization formed in Gyeongseong Prefecture in 1945, toward the end of the Japanese colonial period.

Aims and Character

In July 1945, just before the end of the Pacific War, when defeat had become apparent, it was organized around Park Chun-geum under the slogan of Pan-Asianism. Its aims were war cooperation and the spread of imperial-way ideology (皇道主義), and its stated purpose was "to abandon personal and family interests and live for the great cause of utmost loyalty and patriotism." Its action guidelines included an extreme pledge to die gladly for the great cause of national defense, along with a commitment to crush all ideologies opposed to Japanese imperial ideology.

The Daeui Party did not engage in any notable activity, as the Pacific War ended about three weeks after its formation. The Judgment on the National Spirit (《민족정기의 심판》), published after the war, records that the Daeui Party, at the instigation of the Empire of Japan, planned to massacre 300,000 anti-Japanese Koreans, but such a plan has not been specifically confirmed. The party was dissolved upon the end of the Pacific War.

Pan-Asian Ethnic Indignation Rally

The founding ceremony of the Daeui Party was held on July 24 at the auditorium of the Bumin-gwan under the name Pan-Asian Ethnic Indignation Rally (아세아민족분격대회). At the founding ceremony, expressions of gratitude were made to the Imperial Japanese Army, and speeches were delivered by speakers from China, Manchukuo, and Koreans.

At this time, three anti-Japanese activists, including Jo Mun-gi, threw bombs into the meeting hall and forced the gathering to be halted.¹ This incident was not widely known at the time due to press censorship.²

Members

Park Chun-geum served as the party's chairman. The list of committee members includes the following individuals.

References

• Committee for the Compilation of the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborationist Groups (December 27, 2004). (《일제협력단체사전 - 국내 중앙편》). Seoul: Minjok Munje Yeon'guso. pp. 411–412. 8995330724.