The Korean anti-Japanese movement during the World Wars comprised armed resistance, diplomatic endeavors, and clandestine networks seeking liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Operating across Korea, Manchuria, the Russian Far East, and mainland China, Korean patriots formed guerrilla forces, intelligence units, and provisional governance structures. Key events included the 1919 March 1st Movement, border raids, and victory in major engagements like Fengwudong and Qingshanli. During World War II, organizations like the Korean Liberation Army collaborated with Allied forces and the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to plan domestic penetration operations. These multifaceted efforts established a vital military and political legacy for Korean independence.
People
Birth Death Origin Age (Death)
1868
1888
1889
1896
1898
1900
1912
Timeline
Category
Element
Year
Korean anti-Japanese movement
1868
Birth of Hong Beom-do (Period: August 27, 1868 (lunar calendar; alternative theories exist regarding birth place and birth date depending on sources), Location: Kyzylorda, Soviet Kazakhstan (The theory placing his birth place in Pyongyang City, DPRK is prominent, though alternative theories suggest Yangdok, Pyongan-namdo or Chasan, Pyongan-bukdo))
Birth (Period: August 27, 1868, Location: The theory of Pyongyang is prominent. Other theories suggest Yangdok in South Pyongan Province or Jaseong in North Pyongan Province)
1888
Birth of Ji Cheong-cheon (Period: January 25, 1888 (lunar calendar; some sources convert to solar calendar as February 15, 1888), Location: Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City, Republic of Korea)
1889
Birth of Kim Chwa-chin (Period: December 16, 1889 (lunar calendar date November 24, 1889 in some sources), Location: Around Galsan-myeon, Hongseong County, Chungcheong-namdo, Republic of Korea)
1896
Birth in Cheolsan (Period: June 5, 1896 (lunar calendar), Location: Yeon-san-dong, Seri-myeon, Cheolsan-gun, North Pyongan Province)
Birth of Yang Se-bong (Period: June 5, 1896 (lunar calendar according to some sources; converted to solar calendar as July 15, 1896 in others), Location: Cholsan County, Pyongan-bukdo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (present-day Cholsan County; former administrative unit was Yeon-san-dong, Seolim-myeon))
1898
Birth of Kim Won-bong (Period: 1898 (sources differ on the exact date), Location: Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea)
Birth in Miryang (Period: 1898, Location: Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province)
1900
Liberation of Nobi (Slaves) and Enlightenment Activities
Birth of Choe Yong-gon (Period: June 21, 1900, Location: Taechon County, Pyongan-bukdo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
1907
Jeongmi Righteous Army Struggle
Confiscation of Hunters' Weapons under the Firearms and Gunpowder Control Law
Organization of Righteous Army Units
1908
Marriage (Ji Cheong-cheon, Yun Yong-ja)
1909
Study at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy
1910
Move to Manchuria and the Russian Far East
Anti-Japanese Armed Struggle in the Korean Independence Movement
1912
Birth of Kim Il Sung (Period: April 15, 1912, Location: Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang Direct-Administered City, Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
Birth in Mangyongdae (Period: April 15, 1912, Location: Near Pyongyang, Mangyongdae)
1916
Marriage (Yang Se-bong, Yun Jae-sun)
1917
Emigration to Northeastern China (Yang Se-bong)
1919
Anti-Japanese War of Independence
Organization and Command of the Korean Independence Army (Hong Beom-do)
Desertion from the Japanese Army and Exile to China (Ji Cheong-cheon)
Exile to China and Activities at Sinheung Military Academy (Ji Cheong-cheon)
Dayudong Raid
Participation in the March 1st Movement
Activities in the Cheonmasan Troop
Inauguration as Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Military Administration Office (Kim Chwa-chin)
March 1st Movement
1920
Heroic Corps Attacks on the Government-General of Korea and Police Agencies
Enrollment and Military Education at Whampoa Military Academy (Kim Won-bong)
Formation of the Korean Independence Corps
Reorganization of Inter-connected Independence Army Organizations
Inauguration as Military Commissioner and Commander of Jeonguibu (Ji Cheong-cheon)
Participation in the Liberation Army General Headquarters
Activities in Samuibu
Battle of Fengwudong
Battle of Qingshanli
1921
Joining the Soviet Red Army
Inauguration as Principal of the Goryeo Revolutionary Military Academy (Ji Cheong-cheon)
Free City Incident
Free City Incident (Free City Affair / Heihe Incident)
1925
Graduation from Yunnan Military Academy (Choe Yong-gon)
Organization of Sinminbu
1926
Military Education at Whampoa Military Academy (Kim Won-bong)
1927
Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party
Guangzhou Uprising (Canton Commune)
1929
Appointment as Commander of the Korean Revolutionary Army (Yang Se-bong)
Formation of the Korean People's Association in Manchuria
1930
Anti-Japanese War
Renaming to "Kim Il Sung"
Marriage (Kim Won-bong, Park Cha-jeong)
Establishment and Guidance of the Korean Special Class at Luoyang Military Academy
Repatriation of Remains to South Korea and Burial at Daejeon National Cemetery
Unknown
Marriage (Hong Beom-do, Lady Lee of Danyang. Personal name theories include Lee Ok-nyeo, Lee Ok-gu, etc., but unconfirmed, Period: Thought to be around the late 19th century, but exact year and month are unknown, Location: Details unknown. Reportedly left Mt. Kumgang and headed to Pukch'ong, Hamgyong Province)
Marriage (Kim Chwa-chin, Sources list names such as Oh Suk-geun, Kim Gye-wol, Na Hye-guk, etc., Period: Exact timing for each marriage cannot be confirmed, Location: Unknown)
Marriage (Choe Yong-gon, Unidentifiable from reliable verifiable sources, Period: Unknown, Location: Unknown)
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