What I’ve discovered

 

 Ahn Chang-Ho was a prominent member of the Independence Club.

During 1899 he founded a school before having to leave Korea for America; he was active at a time when Japan had once again invaded Korea.

 In his book ‘Introduction to Korean History and Culture’; Andrew C. Nahm refers to the period 1910-1945 as ‘The Struggle for National Liberation and Restoration’.

 

From 1905 Japanese military forces were present in Korea.

 The ‘Treaty of Annexation’ dated 22^nd August 1910, did not provide the prosperity it supposedly offered to Koreans, instead it was a time of strict military rule.

The occupying Japanese banned the use of the Korean language, and gave the Koreans Japanese surnames, even so they were not treated like Japanese citizens.

The Japanese also closed schools. Confucius taught that education was the most important thing in life; and this is probably why Ahn Chang-Ho found himself active in the Independence Movement of Korea.

 

Returning to Korea in 1907 he established the Sinminhoe (New People’s Society).

 In 1908 the Sinminhoe established the Taesong School, but the Japanese finally forced its closure in 1913.

 Even those in exile from Korea were divided and it was Ahn Chang-Ho’s wish to unite his country’s leaders in order to find a common purpose.

 

 After World War I, Ahn Chang-Ho returned to the United States with Dr. Syngman Rhee, he worked with Dr. Rhee, who was attempting to gain American recognition for the provisional government of Korea, which had been set up in Shanghai in 1919 by Dr. Rhee, Ahn Chang-Ho and Kim Ku.

 

 On 1^st March 1919 the provisional government declared its independence from Japan, the resulting demonstrations led to the arrest, torture and even the deaths of many thousands of Koreans.

 

 Ahn Chang-Ho was re-arrested in 1937 and died the following year having spent most of his adult life attempting to preserve Korean culture, history, education and identity.

 

(see also Sam-Il and Eui-Am)