Order of Merit for National Foundation

1st Class

Republic of Korea 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.

1st class:

More than 8 years of activity

Sun Yat-sen(🇨🇳):

[1866. 11. 12 ~ 1925. 03.12]

Achievements

Ideological Ally of Korean Independence: Advocated for the support of weak nations and explicitly endorsed Korean independence and the legitimacy of the Korean Provisional Government.

  1. Approved Diplomatic Recognition (1921): As leader of the Chinese Constitutional Protection Government, approved mutual diplomatic recognition with the Korean Provisional Government, supported Korean student enrollment in Chinese military academies, and cooperated on international propaganda for Korean independence.

  2. Recognized Korea’s Provisional Government as Legitimate: In 1921, formally acknowledged the Provisional Government as the lawful democratic republican government of the Korean people.

  3. Stabilized Korea’s Early Government-in-Exile: His support played a key role in the international legitimacy and internal stability of the early Korean Provisional Government.

Soong May-ling(🇨🇳):

[1897. 03. 05 ~ 2003. 10.23]

Achievements

Financially Supported Korean Independence Movement: Donated 100,000 won in 1932 after hearing of Yi Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil’s independence actions.

  1. Backed Korean Liberation Army (1940–1942): Contributed a total of 200,000 won to support weapons procurement and provide relief for soldiers’ families.

  2. Advocate for Korean Resistance: As First Lady of the Republic of China, actively supported Korea’s struggle against Japanese colonial rule through high-level advocacy and financial aid.

Chiang Kai-shek(🇨🇳):

[1887. 10. 31 ~ 1975. 04.05]

Achievements

Strategic Ally of the Korean Independence Movement:

  • As leader of the Chinese Nationalist Government (Kuomintang), Chiang promoted Korean-Chinese anti-Japanese solidarity during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

  1. Support for the Korean Restoration Movement (1939–1940):

    • In January 1939, held meetings in Chongqing with Korean left- and right-wing leaders to establish principles for joint anti-Japanese efforts.

    • Promised support for Korea’s independence movement and its military efforts.

    • Approved the formation of the Korean Liberation Army (한국광복군) in autumn 1940, reinforcing it as an official Korean armed force within Chinese territory.

  2. Recognition of the Provisional Government (1940):

    • Following a unified Korean declaration in April 1940, Chiang officially recognized the establishment of the Korean Liberation Army General Headquarters on September 17, 1940, in Chongqing.

  3. World War II Collaboration (1941–1942):

    • As Supreme Commander of the China Theater under the Allied military agreement, collaborated with the Korean Provisional Government during the Pacific War.

    • Reorganized Korean military units for greater effectiveness in joint operations against Japan.

  4. Support for Internal Resistance in Korea (1942):

    • Upon learning of Japan’s conscription of Korean youth in 1942, ordered Wu Tiecheng (우티에청) to help the Provisional Government develop anti-Japanese operations within Korea.

Chen Guofu(🇹🇼):

[1892. 10. 27 ~ 1951. 08. 25]

Achievements

Joined the New Asia Dongji Association (新亞同濟社) in Shanghai in 1912, a Korea–China friendship organization founded by Shin Gyu-sik.

  1. Key figure in the Kuomintang (KMT) after 1919, supporting the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (대한민국임시정부) financially and helping protect independence leaders.

  2. After the 1932 Yun Bong-gil bombing in Shanghai:

    • Arranged a meeting between Chiang Kai-shek and Kim Gu.

    • Helped secretly protect major Korean independence activists from Japanese pursuit.

    • Worked to establish a special Korean class at Nanjing Central Military Academy to train Korean independence army officers and facilitated Korean admissions.

  3. Provided sustained financial aid — after the Chiang–Kim meeting, the KMT gave Kim Gu 5,000 yuan monthly for independence activities.

  4. Assisted in the founding of the Korean Liberation Army (한국광복군) in Chongqing in 1940.

  5. Elected honorary director of the China–Korea Cultural Association (中韓文化協會) in 1942 alongside Rhee Syngman and others.

  6. Continued funding and political support for the Korean Provisional Government until liberation in 1945.

  7. Awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation (대한민국장) in 1966.

Chen Qimei (🇨🇳):

[1876. 12. 15 ~ 1916. 05. 18]

Achievements

Member of the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance (中國革命同盟會) in 1912, actively involved in the New Asia Dongji Association (新亞同濟社) — the largest Korea–China cooperative organization in the early 1910s that supported Korean independence.

  1. Founder and leader of the New Asia Dongji Association, according to his nephew Chen Guofu, with the purpose of promoting Korean independence and cooperating with Korean revolutionaries in Shanghai.

  2. Provided financial and material aid to oppressed nations, including Korea, Vietnam, and India.

    • In late 1912, when Yuan Shikai gave him 40,000 yuan for an overseas commerce inspection, he spent most of it for comrades’ activities.

    • About 8,000 yuan was directed specifically to Korean, Vietnamese, and Indian revolutionaries, as well as tuition for Korean students studying in China.

  3. Maintained close ties with key Korean activists, serving as a central link between Chinese and Korean revolutionaries.

  4. His support and networks helped lay the groundwork for the formal establishment and proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in April 1919.