This paper discussed the process of forming a socialist forces in
Jinju and activities they had promoted. Socialists in this region appeared
immediately after 3.1 Movement. They developed the activities with
starting the peasant movement in the Labor Mutual Aid Association of
JinJu in 1922. In 1923 a secret society of the Third International was
installed and they also acted illegal movement. Also, a ideology-organization
was organized and the study and the extension activity were attempted.
The most famous organization was Dongwoosa. Socialists participated
actively in the peasants movement, the labor movement, the youth
movement and the singanhoe movement. The most important figures
were received the intensive surveillance and arrested several times by
Japanese police. They were the only anti-colonial resistant organization
that existed in Jinju. Owing to the second case of the Korean
communist party in 1926, the first generation socialist in Jinju was a big
hit. Since then, the second generation activists appeared and continued
the movement until the end of the 1920s.
In 1930s, the socialist movement in Jinju was developed as part of
the movement of rebuilding the Korean communist party. This movement was progressed in two types. The first was the construction of the
public organization according to the leadership of the central party. The
second was the formation of local political organization which was
spontaneous. The ultimate goal of them was building the revolutionary
Farmer’s Union but ended in failure. The socilalist movement in Jinju
continued incessantly from early 1920s to early 1930s.
Although the socialist movement suffered from several crises, the
movement continued. But the participation of the public was poor, the
central figures were too exposed to the local community, and the new
youth had no experience and lacked the capacity. They were the most
critical factors why the socialist movement in Jinju came to no fruition.