Continuing with my ongoing exploration of the old newspaper archives from 1945 Korea that I checked out at the National Library of Korea in September 2023, I am taking a closer look at the very first edition of a Japanese language newspaper that was published after being taken over by a group of Korean independence activists. Around November 1st, 1945, Korean employees overthrew their Japanese bosses at Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), the colonial era newspaper that had served as the main propaganda newspaper for the whole of colonial Korea from 1909 to 1945. The Korean independence activists subsequently continued the publication of this newspaper in Japanese with an avowed Korean nationalist editorial stance until December 11th, 1945. As the Korean employees of Keijo Nippo explained in their message to the readers, this was a temporary measure, undertaken while Korean typefaces were being prepared for eventual use.

The articles on the front page of the very first edition published by the Korean activists capture the optimistic zeitgeist that pervaded Korea at the time. Syngman Rhee returned to Korea in October 1945, and lived at Donamjang House, where he had a three-hour discussion with communist party leader Park Heon-Young. As this Wilson Center Working Paper shows, Syngman Rhee was initially open to meeting communists:

When Rhee returned to Korea in October 1945 he continued this pragmatism towards communists, at least initially. Only a few days after he arrived in Seoul, he wrote a letter to his wife, Francesca, and supporters expressing surprise that he had been chosen by Korean leftists to head the nascent Korea People’s Republic (KPR). He wrote that in response he had told them that “it is a high honor to be a communist leader, while Moscow condemns me as anti-communist.” While Rhee was hesitant to actually accept the position offered to him by the KPR he was careful not to alienate any potential supporters, be they communist or not. Rhee understood that communist supporters might prove valuable both in attempts to remove the Soviet Union from the peninsula and also to see off political rivals. 

The newspaper also covers the activities of the People’s Republic of Korea, which was a short-lived provisional government, proclaimed on September 6, 1945, that was made up of Committees for the Preparation of Korean Independence (조선건국준비위원회) that were clandestinely formed during Imperial Japanese colonial rule. We see that, by early November, the People’s Republic of Korea had established a nationwide presence with branches in all twelve provinces of Korea. On December 12, 1945, the U.S. military shut down the People’s Republic of Korea, which subsequently splintered into various People’s Committees, some of which later evolved into the modern North Korean state in the North. But in the South, the U.S. military cracked down on these People’s Committees in the name of anti-communism, and even went so far as to kill thousands during the Jeju Uprising of 1948.

There is also an anti-trusteeship resolution on the front page. The Allied countries had this idea of placing Korea under a joint trusteeship of the Soviet Union, the U.S., and China for a period before granting full independence, but Koreans largely opposed it, fearing a return to another form of colonial rule. This anti-trusteeship resolution is particularly militant, threatening resistance to the Allied Nations if a trusteeship is implemented. However, the inability to reach a consensus on the issue of trusteeship would later lead to the permanent division of Korea. This excellent video from the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History covers this fight over trusteeship very well.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) November 2, 1945

Political Parties Suddenly Gain Momentum, Pushing for United Front

On the 2nd, Dr. Syngman Rhee Will Make a Significant Statement

As various political parties are taking significant steps toward the creation of a new nation, aiming for the formation of a unified political party, they have established the Independence Promotion Central Council. They have appointed the great leader Dr. Syngman Rhee as the chairman and have been working on concrete plans. Chairman Dr. Syngman Rhee will make an important joint announcement with representatives from various political parties at the Cheondoist Church in Gyeongun-dong, Seoul, at 2 PM on Friday, November 2nd. The details of this announcement are not yet clear, but there are rumors of the return of the head of the provisional government in Chongqing, Mr. Kim Ku. Dr. Rhee’s statement is attracting considerable attention, and it is expected to significantly energize the political scene and strengthen the momentum for the formation of a united front.

In Response to the Emergency Situation, More Than Fifty Organizations Convene

Independence Promotion Central Council Centered Around Dr. Rhee

On October 23rd, representatives from over fifty organizations in Seoul gathered at the Chōsen Hotel, centering around Dr. Syngman Rhee. The Independence Promotion Central Council is scheduled to hold a meeting at the Cheondoist Church in Gyeongun-dong on the afternoon of the 2nd. Each organization is to select one representative to attend with a letter of authorization by 1 PM on the same day. Previously, only representatives of the organizations were allowed due to space constraints, but this time, not only the entry of journalists is welcome, but also some observers.

First, National Unity

Important Meeting Between Dr. Rhee and Mr. Park Heon-Young

Dr. Syngman Rhee had a significant meeting with Mr. Park Heon-Young, the leader of the Korean Communist Party, for about three hours at Donamjang House on the afternoon of the 31st. They completely agreed on unifying the entire nation, excluding pro-Japanese factions and sweeping away the remnants of Japanese imperialism, under the principles of progressive democracy.

Formation of the People’s Committee Gyeonggi Provincial Branch

While taking a cautious approach to the delicate domestic and international situation, and putting all of its effort into its regional organizations, the Central People’s Committee of the People’s Republic of Korea has completed the formation of branches in twelve provinces, with keen public attention on Gyeonggi Province. A founding meeting is set to be held at the Jeongno Youth Hall at 11 AM on November 10th. With this, the regional network of the People’s Republic is expected to be completed. The solidarity preparatory contact office for the organization is temporarily located in the Mundang Building in Anguk-dong, Seoul, the headquarters of the Seoul Municipal People’s Committee.

Opposition to Trusteeship

Korean People Rise in Unison

Opposition Committee Publishes a Resolution

In response to the news of Korea’s potential trusteeship, the Korean people have collectively risen in opposition. The Korea Trusteeship Opposition Committee, comprising various political parties and organizations, has passed the following resolutions and will send them to the United Nations and its president:

1. On behalf of the thirty million Korean people, demand the United Nations and the international conference to completely revoke the resolution on the trusteeship of Korea.
2. Recognize Korea as a fully independent nation with a history of five thousand years, rapidly establish a democratic nation, and seek cooperation with the Allied Nations and the United Nations for equal international diplomacy.
3. Urge all countries of the world to maintain unity, eternal freedom, and peace under the Monroe Doctrine.
4. Express the utmost respect and gratitude to the United States, Britain, China, and the Soviet Union of the United Nations for liberating Korea.
5. If the above points 1 and 2 are not acknowledged, the thirty million Koreans will resist the Allied Nations and the United Nations to the end of the world, until the last person, for the complete liberation and establishment of an independent state.

This resolution, signed by representatives of various political parties and organizations within Korea, will be proclaimed to the heads of the Allied Nations (United States, United Kingdom, China, and the Soviet Union) and the United Nations.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年11月2日

俄然活気帯ぶ各政党

合同戦線へ推進

二日、李承晩博士が重大声明

新国家建設へその巨歩を踏みつつある各政党では統一政党の期成を目標に其の間、独立促成中央協議会を結成。偉大なる指導者李承晩博士を会長に推戴し、連日其の具体案を作成中であったが、会長李承晩博士は十一月二日（金曜日）午後二時府内慶雲町天道教堂に於いて各政党代表者と会同、重大声明を発表する。この発表内容はまだはっきりしないが、重慶の臨時政府主席金九先生の帰国説も伝わる。この際、李博士の声明は非常に注目され、これを機に政界は俄然活気を帯び、合同戦線結成の気運が濃厚である。

非常時局に対処し、五十余団体会同

李博士中心に独立促成協議会

十月二十三日、李承晩博士を中心として、在京五十余団体代表者が朝鮮ホテルに参集。結成された独立促成中央協議会では二日午後二時から市内慶雲洞天道教講堂で協議会を開く予定であるが、各団体から代表者一人づつを選定し、委任状を携帯、同日午後一時まで会場に参議することを要望している。前には場所関係で団体代表者の入場だけを許可したが、今度は新聞記者の入場は勿論、一部の傍聴までも歓迎するとのことである。

先ず民族の統一

李博士朴憲永氏と重要会談

李承晩博士は昨日三十一日午後五時敦岩荘に於いて朝鮮共産党首領朴憲永氏と約三時間に亘り民族統一に関して重大会談を遂げたが、進歩的民主主義原則の下、日本帝国主義残滓勢力を掃蕩し親日派を除外した全民族を統一することに意見が完全に一致した。

人民委員会京畿道支部結成

国内外の微妙な情勢に慎重な態度を取る一方、国内の地方組織に全力を傾注している朝鮮人民共和国中央人民委員会各道支部は通報した如く、十二道の結成を完了し、京畿道だけが衆人の注目中にいたる所。来る十一月十日午前十一時鐘路青年会館において結成大会を挙行することに決定。人民共和国の地方網は完遂することになった。そして団結成準備聯絡事務所は臨時に安国町以て文堂ビルデン、ソウル市人民委員会本部にある。

信託管理の反対へ

朝鮮民衆総蹶起

反対委員会で決議文を発表

朝鮮を信託管理に付せんの報に総蹶起した朝鮮民衆の総意を纏めて各政党、各団体からも朝鮮信託管理委任統治制反対委員会では左の決議を行い、国際連邦及び聯合国主席へ宛て決議文を送ることとなった。

• 一、朝鮮三千万民族総意を代表して聯合国、国際会議極東政策の朝鮮信託管理統治制決議案を全面的に取り消すこと。
• 二、この朝鮮は半万年の歴史を有する完全な自主独立国家なることを尊重し、急速に民主主義建国樹立と聯合国及び国際聯盟に協力を求め国際外交を均等にすること。
• 三、世界各国がモンロー主義の下、統一団結して永遠なる自由と平和を維持すること。
• 四、朝鮮を解放せる美、英、中、ソの聯合国に対して最大の敬意と謝意を表す。
• 五、右一及び二を承認せざる時は朝鮮三千万民は世運を以て最後の一人まで自由解放の完全な自文、独立国家を完成するまで世界の終末まで聯合国及び国際聯盟に抗戦することを朝鮮国内各政党、各団体代表署名を以て此の決議文を作成し、関係聯合国美英中ソ主席及び国際聯盟に布告す。