Korean National Association

February 1, 2009 was the Korean National Assn's 100th Anniversary

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The copy of the web page with KNA Invitation below belonging to the Overseas Korea Trade Network shows exactly what type of character Hong Myung Ki has. He signed a letter that is under an image that was taken without permission off this website. The letterhead is part of a document that belongs to a collection which is not to be used without permission. And, he took the image off this website which has a copyright notice. You couldn't expect much more from a man who has hidden his past behind Dosan Ahn Chang Ho. Would you expect anything decent from someone who comes from a family of Japanese collaborators? While Dosan was suffering to free Korea from Japan the movie theaters were raking in the money to the satisfaction of the Japanese and the Koreans who loved them.
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KNA 100th Anniversary Commemoration

home title Posted by zec001 on Feb 5th, 2009 | no comments home title

KNA 100thAnniversary Commemoration

We cordially invite you for the 100th anniversary commemoration gala luncheon of the Korean National Association which will take place on Saturday, January 31 st,2009 at 12 P.M. at Wilshire Plaza Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., CA 90010 events of the Korean National Association.

The Korean National Association (KNA) founded in California in 1909, functioned as Korea’s first provisionary government during Japan’s aggression. As a birthplace of patriotism of overseas Koreans, KNA contributed significantly in a series of Korean people’s independent movements and served as the focal point of making history in the early 20thcentury in many important historical incidents from the March 1stindependence movement in 1919 to the restoration of national independence in 1945, and the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948.

From 1910 and on, KNA acted as Korea’s provisional government in order to promote Korean Americans’ interest and sovereign rights, while closely collaborating with the U.S. government to protect Korean American citizens. During the Korean War (1950-1953), KNA also provided aids and relief to the mainland Koreans who suffered from the massive destruction of the war.

In order to cherish and preserve Korea’s national spirit and KNA’s heritage, Korean American communities in the U.S. have reached consensus in 2003 to restore the KNA Memorial Hall, and the Hall has been operated since then.

In celebration of KNA’s 100thanniversary, it is our great pleasure to announce a series of commemoration events which will lead to the new era of KNA Memorial Hall as the center of future generation education of Korean national spirit and heritage. We would like to have your active participation.

Mike MyungkiHong, KNA Centennial Chairperson

Organized by Korean National Association Memorial Foundation (KNA Memorial Foundation)

 

 

Korean National Association:
It Needs to be Rescued

The current situation at the Korean National Association Memorial Hall is a problem. The old headquarters on Jefferson Boulevard near University of Southern California in Los Angeles is a place that should tell a wonderful story of patriotism and immigrant history. It falls way short of what it should be and is not telling the true story of the KNA and its role in history. There are many aspects of the program including the displays and accounts presenting the KNA history that are not accurate and actually disrespect the patriotic people who created and ran this important Korean Independence Movement organization.

Part of the problem comes from the people who run the Korean National Association Restoration Committee and the scholars they chose to provide the information about the history of the KNA. Another part of the problem is the descendants of the KNA members who don't know their heritage and are allowing people who never had any connection to the KNA to rewrite the facts misrepresenting the truth. One strong example of shameful activity is how precious KNA original documents were sold to people in Korea by Kim Woon Ha who had no rights to any materials in the KNA collection of artifacts. When the problems were brought to the public nobody would do anything.

The upcoming January 31, 2009 100th year recognition of the KNA is an affair that is run by community opportunists, ignorant scholars, people who care nothing about historical accuracy and surviving KNA descendants who should know better than to participate in events that are disrespectful to their families and the real KNA story.

One of the main organizers of the KNA Restoration Committee is a Syngman Rhee man and has allowed Dongjihoe and Rhee's history to be included in the KNA story in an inappropriate manner. This man also comes from a family of Japanese collaborators. There is no way anyone with this background is capable of properly doing anything to honor the KNA legacy in a truthful productive manner.

If the KNA Legacy was in the care of the right people it would be an asset to Korean and Korean American history. It's not in the right hands. It's no wonder young Korean American and Korean people have a difficult time trying to learn about their history and heritage the right way. 
Dosan Ahn Chang Ho was the President of the Central Congress of the Korean National Association which made him the leader of all KNA branches and all people outside of Korea at that time. He forged the backbone of the KNA on his beliefs in the strength of honesty and civic responsibility.

The idea of vigorous truth-seeking is well elaborated in Dosan's own words:  "Let there be no deception or telling of lies, and let honesty be our guide to action, such that we will be able to collectively build a capital of credit."

Dosan's famous slogan mu shil yok haeng - living truth, energetic action - embodies his philosophy and is his base of all ethics.  Though Dosan did value the external display of morality, he more urgently prioritized a program of moral discipline for the self.  Broadly understood, this approach meant the individual embraces a thoroughly honorable stance toward the society and nation to which one belongs.  Dosan believed only when such a condition is met can social activism and nationalist movements escape the trap of zeno-phobia to embrace the larger world and achieve the ultimate goal of world peace and shared prosperity.

How can anyone who says they follow Dosan's ideals be corrupt, manipulative and opportunistic? How do people who mislead others take an honorable position in the Korean American community and Korea?

If you educate yourself about real Korean American history you will find most people invovled in the KNA restoration activites today are questionable when they say they respect Dosan and are doing the right thing.

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