대한인국민회 업랜드·클레몬트지방회 사례를 통해 본 1910년대 북미 한인사회의 내면

The Real Picture of Korean Community in North America during the 1910s in the Activities of the Korean National Association of Upland & Claremont

This article uncovers and observes the real picture of Korean immigrants in North America based on the case from the Korean National Association of Upland & Claremont during the 1910s. The Korean community of Upland and Claremont was formed in the process of the expansion of Korean community in Riverside which was the first Korean town in North America. Starting with the foundation of Upland Labor Camp by Kim Jong-gul as its leader, Korean Prebysterian Church was established in 1907. And the Korean Students Center was also established in Claremont, a nearby town of Upland in 1908. On those bases, a unique Korean community which was comprised of farm laborers and students was formed in Upland and Claremont. The Korean National Association of Upland was founded in April, 1910 with the members transferred from the Association of Riverside and Relands as well as the students of the Korean Students Center in Claremont. The number of members was about 30, but the actual number living in Upland was only about half because many of them were seasonal laborers moving around for a job. This is a clear example that reflects the unstable population of the Korean community and the weak base of the Association in that area at that time. The Korean National Association of Upland including Claremont was active during its first two years since foundation. However, the Association began to decline after 1912 when its first chairman Kang Myong-hwa was elected by the president of the Main Division in North America and left Upland. The absence of leadership was a serious problem in the Association of Upland & Claremont, so students from the Korean Students Center took over the role of chairman during 1915 and 1916. The subsequent staffs of the Association of Upland & Claremont were divided into several groups in their roles: the elder group including Kang Myong-hwa and Im Jun-gi, the local settler group including Kim Jong-hyok and Kim Gi-mahn, and the student group including Chong Deung-yop and Gwak Rim-dae. While the elder group took their role as a guardian, the settler group managed financial affairs, and the student group was in charge of educational work of the Association. The Korean community in Upland and Claremont was managed by the triangular system; the Branch of the Korean National Association for managing Korean self-government, the Labor Camp for managing the economic life, and the Korean Prebysterian Church for managing cultural activities. This appearance was not exceptional in other Korean communities which were located in agricultural area. However, the community of Upland & Claremont was different mainly because the student group from the Korean Students Center functioned as an important pillar of the community. Failing to overcome difficulties caused by high mobility rate of seasonal laborers and students, the Korean National Association of Upland & Claremont stopped all the activities in Feb, 1919 as its members scattered in every direction. However, in spite of the difficulties, its members who were trained for self-governing through the activities of the Association, established national identity while conducting the forum and the night school. In addition, they enforced morality through religious life, and built the social safety network by taking advantage of the connection of Korean Labor Camp and Church. Experiences from these achievements helped Korean society in North America to take the next step. Of course, the dissolution of the Association was another diaspora, resulting in the reorganization of Korean community to urban-based community. However, the triangular system consisting of self-government, labor, and religion became the basic topography of Korean community in North America ever since.