The New Korea Society (Singanhoe, 新幹會) and Chondogyo

    Socialist radicals had joined with the "Old Faction?舊派) hard-line nationalist policy of Chondogyo to plan the June 10th Independence Movement. Although the plans for the movement were never put into action, the union of these two groups proved instrumental in the creation of a new "One National Party? Following the orders of Venerable Teacher Chunam, Chondogyo members Gweon Dong-jin, Yi Jong-rin, Bak Nae-heung, Bak Wan, and Yi Byeong-heon became active in the "One National Party, or the "New Korea Society?(Singanhoe, 新幹會). After going through numerous prepa-ratory and developmental stages, on the fifteenth day of the second month in the 68th year of Podeok(1927), the nationalist united front "New Korea Society?was formed. One could say that the New Korea Society?was inaugurated as a kind of representative body for the nationalist movement resolutely prosecuted by the joint forces of nationalism and socialism. Factions represented in the "New Korea Society?included the Joseon Daily's Sin Seok-u faction, the Chondogyo "Old Faction? the Socialists, the "Promotion of the People Society?Minheunghoe, 民興會), and leaders from various religious organizations.
 As a united front nationalist movement, the New Korea Society firmly united the nation in its disillusionment with political and economic conditions, and strengthened national solidarity, and until it disbanded in the 72nd year of Podeok(1931) it never abandoned its uncompromising hard-line stance, directly resisting Japanese policies of repression against the people.
 However, systematic organized suppression by Japan, coupled with continual modification of the goals of the movement eventually led to calls for the dissolution of the New Korea Society. Four years after its formation the curtain was lowered on the organization that had originated as a united front of nationalists and socialists intent on securing national independence. Approximately 120 Chondogyo members participated at some time or other in the New Korea Society. Holding fast to their uncompromising nationalist line, they were very active in the movement. The New Korea Society was a movement to secure national independence in which Chondogyo leaders, holding fast to their uncom-promising nationalist line, actively participated by erecting a nationalist united front.