The Case of Korea

Author: Henry Chung 1890-1985
Henry Chung was born in Suncheon, South Pyeongan province and studied modern sciences at the private Simu School in Suncheon, which was established by the Sangdong Youth’s Association. He met the independence activist Park Yong-man and his uncle Park Jang?hyun there, and left for the U.S. at a young age in 1904. He was briefly in L.A. before moving to Nebraska, where Park Yong-man settled in 1906, and continued his studies at an American household, helping with household chores in return for bed and board. Even at his tender age, Henry did not hesitate to work for the his homeland’s independence, and joined the Korean Boy Soldier School established by Park and received training alongside boys such as Yoo Il-han, who would later found Yoohan Pharmaceuticals, and nurtured his passion and will for Korea’s independence.
Henry received a bachelor and master of political science from the Nebraska State University, and acquired a doctorate in political science in 1921 from the American University in Washington D.C. In April of 1919 he and Rhee Syngman and Suh Jai-pil (Philip Jaisohn) organized the The First Korean Movement, called the March 1st Movement of the Americas. Afterwards, he resided in Washington until Korea’s liberation, pursuing diplomatic propaganda activities as a member of the Provisional Government’s Korean Commission to America and Europe.
Henry was particularly fluent in English and contributed writings about Japan’s oppressive rule and Korea’s March 1st Movement to major news outlets such as The New York Times to appeal for Korea’s will for independence to the Western world. He was able to affect a change in American public opinion, which had hitherto between favorable of Japan’s colonial rule thanks to Japan’s vigorous propaganda activities. He also attempted to reveal the reality of Korea under Japan’s rule by writing books such as The Oriental Policy of the United States, Korean Treaties, and The Case of Korea. His effects in supporting the independence movement were recognized by the Korean government and he received the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal in 1962.



Editor : Jae-hyun Kim
Dr. Kim studied religion, history, and philosophy at the Seoul National University and its graduate school, the Chongshin Theological Seminary, Harvard University and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). He established the humanities research institute KIATS in 2004 and is still its president today. His major works are Celestial Hierarchy (2011, Korean trans.), Frank W. Schofield in Records and Memory (2016), and 50 Pilgrim Belts of Korean Christianity (2017).