Heroic Corps

The Heroic Corps (Korean: 의열단; Hanja: 義烈團) was a militant anarchist Korean independence activist organization during the Japanese colonial period. Founded in 1919, its activists believed in revolutionary uprising and egalitarianism. After the March First Movement was crushed in 1919, many independence activists moved their bases to foreign countries. Members of the Heroic Corps thought that those organizations were too moderate and would not contribute to independence in Korea. They took a more radical approach by opposing compromises such as culturalism. The Heroic Corps wished for a violent revolution, reflected the Manifesto of the Korean Revolution (조선혁명선언) by independence activist Shin Chae-ho. The Corps struggled for independence by assassinating high-ranking Japanese officials and committing acts of terrorism against government offices. The Heroic Corps moved their base to Beijing, China, and brought members to Shanghai, totaling about 70 members in 1924. Kim Ku, Kim Kyu-sik, Kim Chang-suk, and Shin Chae-ho were engaged as advisers. President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek supported the Heroic Corps.