Syngman Rhee's Dream of Independence: Geneva Journey and First Release of Shipboard Photo and Special Bulletin
Creatrip Team
7 months ago
A newly discovered December 14, 1932 special bulletin (hoegoi) of the Korean American organization Dongjinhoe (동지회) reveals that Syngman Rhee left the United States for Geneva to carry out diplomatic independence efforts at the League of Nations. The document, found at UCLA by a researcher from the Syngman Rhee Foundation, includes the first confirmed original photo of Rhee aboard ship and reports on his New York speech urging renewed efforts against Japan’s ambitions. In Geneva in 1933, Rhee — acting as the provisional government’s chief envoy with a U.S.-issued passport — worked with the Chinese delegation to distribute statements exposing Japan’s illegal actions in Manchuria. The League later adopted the Lytton Report 42–1, denying legitimacy to the Japanese-backed Manchukuo (만주국) and leading to Japan’s withdrawal from the League.
