# Sinminhoe
**Sinminhoe** (신민회, New People's Association) was a secret Korean nationalist society organized in Seoul in 1907, with the founding attributed to An Chang-ho, with the nationwide aim of restoring Korean national sovereignty (국권 회복) during the period of Japanese dominance over the [Korean Empire](https://www.edgepedia.org/korean-empire).[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) • [2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88078392.html) It pursued that aim through education, publishing, and industry at home, and through plans for independence army bases abroad, until Japanese repression in the fabricated 105-person case of 1911 broke up its domestic organization.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Secret society (underground organization)[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) • [2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88078392.html) |
| Founded | 1907, in Seoul; the founding is commonly dated to April 1907[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) • [3](https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ahs-aprish-19/125987322) |
| Founder | An Chang-ho, with seven founding committee members[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) |
| Membership | About 800 by around 1910[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) • [4](https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/18368046) |
| Aim | Restoration of national sovereignty and a republican independent state, through building national strength[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) |
| End | Domestic organization effectively destroyed by the 105-person case of 1911[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) • [5](https://enc.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/b13s2725b) |
## Founding and history
The idea originated abroad. In late 1906 or early 1907, An Chang-ho, Yi Gang, and Im Jun-gi agreed in [Riverside, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/riverside-california), on a Daehan Sinminhoe; An left San Francisco around January 20, 1907, and arrived in Seoul on February 20, 1907.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) [Yang Gi-tak](https://www.edgepedia.org/yang-gi-tak), editor of the Daehan Maeil Sinbo, at first wanted an open organization but agreed to a secret society, and the founding was carried out in early April 1907 with seven founding committee members: Yang Gi-tak, Jeon Deok-gi, Yi Dong-hwi, Yi Dong-nyeong, Yi Gap, Yu Dong-yeol, and An Chang-ho.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) An English-language scholarly account likewise dates the formation to April 1907, naming the same six men besides An.[3](https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ahs-aprish-19/125987322)
The founding date is disputed. A scholarly re-examination argues that the commonly accepted April 1907 theory has a very weak basis, and that from the statements of An Chang-ho and his close aide Yi Gang the organization was actually formed in early 1908; the delay reflected a gap between An and the United Korean Association, who advocated reform and [popular sovereignty](https://www.edgepedia.org/popular-sovereignty), and domestic activists, who aimed at limiting the monarchy through constitutional monarchy, a gap that narrowed after Gojong's forced abdication in July 1907.[6](https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/landing/article.kci?arti_id=ART002944187) The same study rejects the claim that the Sangdong faction at Sangdong Church formed a Sinminhoe around 1906, treating that group as a traditional national-salvation body rather than the reform movement Sinminhoe was.[6](https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/landing/article.kci?arti_id=ART002944187)
Accounts also differ on who led the founding. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture attributes the initiative to An Chang-ho with the seven-member founding committee;[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) the National History education database names An Chang-ho, Yi Seung-hun, and [Yun Chi-ho](https://www.edgepedia.org/yun-chi-ho) as the leaders;[7](https://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/kc/view.do?levelId=kc_o402010) and a newspaper account names Yi Seung-hun, Yang Gi-tak, Yi Hoe-yeong, and An Chang-ho.[4](https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/18368046)
## Structure, functions, and principal holders
The first officers were Yang Gi-tak as chonggamdok, the post corresponding to the head of the organization, Yi Dong-nyeong as general secretary, Jeon Deok-gi in charge of finance, and An Chang-ho as executive member screening new members.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) Membership reached about 800 by around 1910, encompassing nearly all influential patriotic enlightenment activists.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974)
Its ultimate purpose, stated in chapter 2, section 1 of the Daehan Sinminhoe bylaws, was to restore national sovereignty and establish a free independent state with a republican (공화정체) political system, and to build national strength (실력 양성) through renewing the people.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) As a secret society, much of its organization and activity remains veiled, and originals of its documents have not survived.[8](https://ddmh.skku.edu/ddmh/instisute/search.do?articleNo=149167&attachNo=115312&mode=download)
## Activities and political influence
Sinminhoe worked through education, industry, publishing, and youth activities to raise national consciousness and cultivate capability.[8](https://ddmh.skku.edu/ddmh/instisute/search.do?articleNo=149167&attachNo=115312&mode=download) Its concrete projects included superior middle schools with teacher training, such as [Osan School](https://www.edgepedia.org/osan-school) in Jeongju, Daeseong School in [Pyongyang](https://www.edgepedia.org/pyongyang), Bochang School in Ganghwa, and Hyeongseong School in Seoul; enlightenment publishing; promotion of national industry, for example the Pyongyang Porcelain Manufacturing Co.; and planning of military officer schools and independence army bases abroad.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) A scholarly study of the Manchurian schools finds that the Sinheung Military School was established and operated according to the plans and strategies of An Chang-ho, who aimed to nurture talent.[9](https://journal.kci.go.kr/manchuria/archive/articleView?artiId=ART002309358)
After Japan's annexation of Korea, the organization shifted its political line from strength-building to an independence army movement, planning migration to southern [Manchuria](https://www.edgepedia.org/manchuria); a vanguard including Yi Cheol-yeong, Yi Si-yeong, and Yi Hoe-yeong sold their property to fund the move, choosing Samwonbo in Yuhe-hyeon, Fengtian Province, as the base.[10](https://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/nh/view.do?levelId=nh_043_0050_0040_0050_0020) In December 1910, remaining domestic leaders Yang Gi-tak, Ju Jin-su, Yi Seung-hun, Kim Gu, and Yi Dong-nyeong held a national cadre meeting that decided to build an independence army base in West Jiandao with a concrete Korean group-migration plan.[5](https://enc.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/b13s2725b) In April 1911, migrants at Samwonbo held an open-air meeting at Dagusan and formed the Gyeonghaksa (耕學社), electing [Yi Sang-ryong](https://www.edgepedia.org/yi-sang-ryong) as first president, and set up the Sinheung gangseupso to train independence army officers, avoiding the name "military school" to avoid friction with Qing authorities.[10](https://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/nh/view.do?levelId=nh_043_0050_0040_0050_0020)
## End
In September 1911, Japan fabricated the so-called plot to assassinate Governor-General Terauchi, arrested some 700 leading patriotic enlightenment activists nationwide including members of the Sinminhoe branches in North and [South Pyongan](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-pyongan) provinces, subjected them to torture, and sentenced 105 of them to prison terms.[1](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974) The mass arrests effectively destroyed the domestic organization.[5](https://enc.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/b13s2725b) That spring, cadres Yi Dong-nyeong and Yi Hoe-yeong had built Sinhanminchon (新韓民村) at Samwonbo and established the Sinheung gangseupso as an officer-training institution, carrying the movement abroad.[5](https://enc.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/b13s2725b)
## Assessment and legacy
A scholarly study describes Sinminhoe as the representative national-movement organization of the late Korean Empire period.[8](https://ddmh.skku.edu/ddmh/instisute/search.do?articleNo=149167&attachNo=115312&mode=download) Its several hundred members led domestic and foreign national movements in the 1910s and played a major role in the March First Movement and in the establishment of the [Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea](https://www.edgepedia.org/provisional-government-of-the-republic-of-korea).[8](https://ddmh.skku.edu/ddmh/instisute/search.do?articleNo=149167&attachNo=115312&mode=download) An English-language scholarly paper credits the organization, active for about four years, with bringing the idea of progress into Korea and influencing later formations.[3](https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ahs-aprish-19/125987322)
## References
1. 신민회 - 한국민족문화대백과사전 (Encyclopedia of Korean Culture), https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0032974
2. Sinminhoe (Korea) - LC Linked Data Service, Library of Congress, https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88078392.html
3. Shinminhwe and Idea of Progress in Korea, Atlantis Press proceedings, https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ahs-aprish-19/125987322
4. 국권회복 꿈꾸다 '105인 사건'에 와해된 신민회, JoongAng Ilbo, https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/18368046
5. 신민회 - Daum 백과, https://enc.daum.net/encyclopedia/view/b13s2725b
6. 신민회의 결성 시점에 대한 재고찰, KCI, https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/landing/article.kci?arti_id=ART002944187
7. 우리역사넷 - 신민회, https://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/kc/view.do?levelId=kc_o402010
8. 신민회 연구 논문, Sungkyunkwan University, https://ddmh.skku.edu/ddmh/instisute/search.do?articleNo=149167&attachNo=115312&mode=download
9. The Establishment of the Korean Independence Army Base and Sinheung Military School in Southern Manchuria in the 1910s, Manchuria Studies, https://journal.kci.go.kr/manchuria/archive/articleView?artiId=ART002309358
10. 우리역사넷 - 애국계몽운동과 신민회, https://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/nh/view.do?levelId=nh_043_0050_0040_0050_0020
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › History and archaeology › Asian history › Korea › Opening of Korea and the Korean Empire (1876 to 1910)*
*Initially written Sep 24, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license