The year 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Many students who are not interested in history are ignorant of how the provisional government was created and what role it played. At this point, we need to think about whether we are doing well. Therefore, the Pharos wants to learn about the significance and role of the provisional government as a reminder of what happened during that period.

The provisional government is significant as the first democratic republican government to represent our people after Japan's seizure of our national sovereignty. As a result of the movement to unify the government, the provisional government was formed by taking over the established Hanseong government and absorbing the National Assembly of the Maritime Provinces. The unified government in 1919 became the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. After that, the government was able to proceed with the independence movement more systematically, and our ancestors strove to gain independence during the Japanese occupation period. It served as an occasion for the recovery of hope and confidence.

As the main role of the provisional government, it oversaw internal and external independence movements and operated a secret administrative network to strengthen its connection with the domestic government. In addition, a Ministry of Transportation was formed as a communication agency to collect and analyze information and to communicate with people inside the country. Moreover, the Transportation Bureau raised military funds and delivered government documents to Korea. The provisional government also issued patriotic bonds to raise funds for the independence movement. When the bonds were issued, not only Koreans but also their American and Mexican compatriots actively participated and helped. Futhermore, it led to the creation of an organization that would succeed the independence movement, carried weapons, and conducted many other activities. They also opened stores in Manchuria and Busan and used them as bases to exchange information. Finally, by publishing an independent newspaper to report the situation of the Korean independence movement, it increased the will of compatriots in each region and suggested the direction of the independence movement to various independent groups.

Last, the provisional government was the first democratic republican government in Korea based on the separation of powers. The three powers were divided into the temporary parliament, the court of law, and the state council of the administrative body. It was also a democratic republican government with a modern constitutional system based on democracy. After five constitutional revisions, it tried to take the form of an ideal government. It started with the separation of the three powers in the early days, but changed to a cabinet system while in the process of abolishing the court. This means that provisional government worked hard to figure out what form the government would take and supervised the development of the independence movement.

Independence activist Shin Chae-ho said, "There is no future for people who have lost their history." The Republic of Korea has been able to exist thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of the many great people who protected our country, and at the center of that effort was the provisional government. Therefore, let's honor and remember the great men who sacrificed themselves for the Republic of Korea and the provisional government.

                                                 Management Editor•CHOI SOYEON•clara3003@naver.com