Scholar to Highlight Independence Activist Kim Chang-suk's Confucian 'Humanity' in Action

A forthcoming academic conference will shed light on the life and legacy of Kim Chang-suk, a prominent independence activist and Confucian scholar, emphasizing his embodiment of "humanity" through rigorous action and unwavering principles. Professor Choi Young-sung of the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage will present his paper, "The Life of Simsan Kim Chang-suk, the Acting Confucian Scholar," at the "20th Century Korean Philosophy: An Era of Upheaval, Resonance of Thought" conference.

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Because he was a person who ultimately upheld the value of traditional Confucianism not as 'thought' but as responsibility and action in reality. He is a symbolic figure who proved that the spirit of Confucianism can still live on as humanity and ethical responsibility even as times change.

Professor Choi posits that Kim Chang-suk, also known by his pen name Simsan, proved that the values of traditional Confucianism remain relevant as a code of human dignity and ethical responsibility, even in changing times. His life exemplified the Confucian spirit not merely as abstract thought, but as a commitment to responsibility and action in the face of historical challenges, including a fierce struggle against Japanese colonial rule and a steadfast opposition to the dictatorship of Syngman Rhee.

The paper will particularly focus on Kim Chang-suk's pivotal role in the "Paris Jangseo Incident" shortly after the March 1st Movement in 1919. Recognizing the need for international action following the domestic independence movement, Kim believed that Confucian scholars who had not directly participated in the March 1st Movement should lead this international effort. He requested a draft of a petition from the Yeongnam region's Confucian scholars, led by Gwak Jong-seok, and personally delivered the finalized document to Kim Kyu-sik in Shanghai, who was dispatched to the Paris Peace Conference.

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The Paris Jangseo petition defined Japan as an eternal enemy, emphasized the nation's autonomous capabilities, and warned against Japan's global expansionist ambitions, distinguishing itself from the March 1st Declaration's somewhat ambiguous stance on Japan and its abstract humanitarianism.

Choi argues that the "Paris Jangseo" petition was significant because it unequivocally defined Japan as an eternal enemy, emphasized the Korean people's autonomous capabilities, and warned against Japan's global expansionist ambitions. This stance, Choi notes, distinguished it from the March 1st Declaration's somewhat ambiguous position on Japan and its abstract, unfocused humanitarianism. The incident also demonstrated the practical application of Confucian "ui" (righteousness or justice), extending it from personal integrity to collective national demands within the context of colonial reality.

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The Paris Jangseo Incident was an event where the Confucian concept of righteousness (ui) was practiced beyond personal ethics as collective ethics for the national community. While ui in Joseon Confucianism was mainly understood as personal integrity and loyalty, the Paris Jangseo movement expanded it into an action demanding justice for the entire nation within the reality of colonization.