Order of Merit for National Foundation

2nd Class

Presidential Medal

What is  Merit for National Foundation:

A medal awarded to those who have made distinguished contributions to the establishment of the Republic of Korea or those who have made distinguished contributions to the foundation of the nation.

2nd class:

More than 5 years of activity

Ernest Thomas Bethell(🇬🇧):

[1872. 11. 3 ~ 1909. 5.1]

Achievements

Founded The Daehan Maeil Sinbo:

  • Established on July 18, 1904, with a sister edition in English called The Korea Daily News.

  • Served as a platform for reporting on Korea’s situation and supporting the anti-Japanese movement.

  1. Collaborated with Korean Independence Activists:

    • Worked with Yang Ki-tak, Park Eun-sik, Shin Chae-ho, and Choi Ik.

    • Provided a voice for Korean independence fighters and intellectuals.

  2. Published without Japanese Censorship:

    • Utilized extraterritorial rights as a British citizen to dodge Japanese censorship.

    • Published three versions of his newspapers: Korean and Chinese characters, English, and a pure Hangeul version.

  3. Supported Anti-Japanese Sentiments:

    • Praised Jang Ji-yeon’s editorial “I Wail Bitterly Today” and translated it into English for wider dissemination.

    • Publicized Korea’s plight to Western audiences through his newspapers and The Japan Chronicle.

  4. Maintained High Circulation:

    • Achieved a circulation of 10,000 copies by September 1907, surpassing other newspapers of the time.

  5. Received the Presidential Medal of Merit for National Foundation (Grade 2) from the government.

Verdicts

  • In 1907, Bethell was tried by the British consul-general in Seoul for breaching public order through ten articles published in his newspapers. He was sentenced to six months of probation.

  • In 1908, Japanese authorities continued to pressure for his expulsion from Korea, leading to a second trial involving Korea, Japan, and the U.K. Bethell was sentenced to three weeks in jail, six months of probation, and fined GBP 350. He served three weeks in a Shanghai jail before being released on July 11, 1908.

  • Japanese media falsely accused Bethell of embezzling public funds collected by Koreans, but Bethell took the case to the British Supreme Court in Shanghai and won in December 1908.

Tang Jiyao(🇨🇳):

[1883. 08. 14 ~ 1927. 05. 24]

Achievements

A Chinese general and founder of the Yunnan Military Academy (육군강무당, 1909), which trained many future Chinese leaders and also provided education to Korean independence fighters.

  1. After the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government (1919), he maintained close ties with Korean leaders and openly declared that “the Korean people are not a lost nation.”

  2. Pledged to support Korea by helping train at least two divisions of Korean military officers for the independence cause.

  3. 1924–1925: Sponsored around 30 Korean students to receive military training, including entry into the academy’s infantry and aviation divisions.

  4. Supported figures such as Yi Beom-seok, Yi Jun-sik, Kim Gwan-o, and others, enabling them to join the academy and later lead armed resistance movements.

  5. Despite Japanese diplomatic pressure to block Korean students, he consistently upheld his commitment to aiding the Korean independence movement.

Sun Ke(🇨🇳):

[1891. 10. 21 ~ 1973. 09. 13]

Achievements

Political Position: Served as President of the Legislative Yuan in China’s Nationalist Government (Kuomintang).

  1. Advocacy for Korean Independence:

    • In March 1942, formally appealed to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, urging the independence of Korea, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

    • Highlighted the deep historical ties between Korea and China, emphasizing Korea as a “brother nation” in the joint anti-Japanese struggle.

    • Publicly declared that China’s recognition of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was both natural and necessary.

  2. Ongoing Support:

    • In April 1942, reiterated at a mass meeting that Korea must gain independence.

    • In October 1942, as President of the Sino-Korean Cultural Association, continued lobbying for Korea’s liberation and international recognition of the Korean Provisional Government.

    • In July 1944, hosted Korean leaders at an event, urging Allied powers to officially recognize the Korean Provisional Government to strengthen the war effort against Japan.

song Jiaoren(🇨🇳):

[1882 ~ 1913. 03. 22]

Achievements

Chinese Revolutionary Leader: Journalist, revolutionary, and co-founder of the Tongmenghui (Chinese United League) with Sun Yat-sen, playing a key role in the Xinhai Revolution (1911) that overthrew the Qing dynasty.

  1. Kuomintang Founding Member: Actively participated in the creation of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) after the founding of the Republic of China.

  2. Support for Korean Independence:

    • Maintained close ties with Korean independence leaders like Shin Gyu-sik (신규식).

    • Participated in Xin Ya Tongjisa (新亞同濟社) in Shanghai (1912), an expanded version of Tongjisa (同濟社) created by Korean exiles such as Park Eunsik, Shin Chaeho, and Kim Kyu-sik.

    • This organization fostered solidarity between Chinese and Korean revolutionaries, promoting friendship, cooperation, and Korea’s independence movement.

  3. His support and networks helped create the foundation for the 1919 establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai.

Woo Bin🇨🇳):

[1901. 04. 13 ~ 1978. 08. 16]

Achievements

Supported the Korean Provisional Government and the Korean Liberation Army (Kwangbokgun) during World War II while serving as a Chinese Catholic bishop and public figure in Chongqing, China.

  1. Attended the founding ceremony of the Korean Liberation Army Headquarters (1940), where he gave a speech encouraging unity between Korea and China, declaring that “no power can defeat justice and truth.”

  2. Ordered 3.5 million Chinese Catholics to support the Korean independence cause through donations, prayers, and advocacy, thus mobilizing religious solidarity for Korea’s liberation.

  3. Hosted a banquet for the Korean Provisional Government and Liberation Army members, publicly affirming China’s spiritual and moral support for Korean independence.

  4. Used his newspaper, Yishebo (益世報), to promote Korean independence and spread anti-Japanese sentiment throughout China.

  5. Donated 20,000 yuan to the Korean Liberation Army (1942) and advocated for international recognition of the Korean Provisional Government.

  6. Played a key role in convincing Chiang Kai-shek to push for Korean independence to be formally included in the Cairo Declaration (1943), which promised Korea’s eventual freedom.

  7. Maintained friendship and close cooperation with Kim Gu, exchanging symbolic gifts of solidarity (e.g., banners reading “협양정기 – Promote Righteous Spirit” and “정의사자 – Messenger of Justice”).

  8. Continued to support Korea after independence by visiting Seoul multiple times (1954, 1959, 1961, 1969, 1976) and maintaining ties with President Syngman Rhee.