The Girls’ Association
(Jang Maesung, Park Ok-ryun, Jang Gyeong-nyeo, Park Hyeon-suk), Young heroines
The independence movement against Japan’s colonial rule over Korea provided a stronger sense of identity as citizens of an independent country and provided an opportunity to consider issues related to basic human rights, beyond the concept of temporary struggles.
The desire for such values and spirit has been a base for the formation of various anti-Japanese organizations and student-led organizations that have boldly shouted their rights.
Among them, the ‘Girls’ Association’ was an anti-Japanese secret organization formed around Jang Maesung, who was attending Gwangju Girls’ High School. Jang Maesung, the president of the association, was influenced by her older brother Jang Jaesung, who was the president of the boys’ organization called ‘Sungjin Association’, and had a strong sense of national consciousness.
Therefore, some students including Park Ok-ryun supported her progressive and critical consciousness and organized the Girls’ Association to realize this goal.
They held a monthly debate study group, actively engaging in research and discussions by reading social science books. They discussed specific topics such as “Liberating women from men’s oppression, Koreans from Japanese oppression, and the proletariat from the oppression of the capitalist class.”
They also showed the progressive aspect of modern Korean female intellectuals with their open attitude, while interacting with boys’ organizations.
However, during the process of investigating the Gwangju student movement, the secret of the Girls’ Association was revealed, resulting in the arrest of all female students in the association, including Jang Maesung. Nevertheless, they continuously emphasized the necessity of independence, an equal society, and social science research even in court.
The members of the Girls’ Association including Jang Maesung, Park Ok-ryun, Jang Gyeong-nyeo, Park Hyeon-suk had taken the lead in their desire for independence and human rights despite their young age. Now, please complete the Republic of Korea that they dreamed of as being Jang Maesung, Park Ok-ryun, Jang Gyeong-nyeo, and Park Hyeon-suk in the 21st century!