Volta
Politics1912

Dongnip Uigunbu (Righteous Army for Independence)

On a secret edict from Gojong, Im Byeong-chan organized former righteous-army figures into the Dongnip Uigunbu, aiming to restore the monarchy.

Royal edict of the Dongnip Uigunbu — 1914 appointment of Go Je-man as a staff officer in Gojong’s name
Royal edict of the Dongnip Uigunbu — 1914 appointment of Go Je-man as a staff officer in Gojong’s name

NZ 토끼들 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Organized in Jeolla in 1912, it spread nationwide, sent demands for the return of sovereignty to the Governor-General and the Japanese government, and prepared a general uprising. It was uncovered in 1914; Im was exiled to Geomundo, where he died.

It is the leading example of a 1910s secret society seeking restoration of the monarchy, in contrast to the republican Korea Restoration Association.

Show on the map

The map in 1912

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
Korea under Japanese rule — Governor-General Terauchi Masatake

People

  • Im Byeong-chan1851 – 1916

    leader · Righteous-army leader with Choe Ik-hyeon who organized the Dongnip Uigunbu on a secret edict from Gojong

  • Gojong1852 – 1919

    related figure · Twenty-sixth king of Joseon and first emperor of the Korean Empire

Before and after

Earlier
1911 First Joseon Education Ordinance
Later
1913 Songjukhoe