Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas

Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas is a collection of memoirs of North Korean guerillas fighting during the 1930s and 1940s in Manchuria against the Japanese. It was used as a textbook for indoctrination until it was effectively replaced by another piece of guerilla literature, Kim Il Sung's autobiography With the Century, in the 1990s. The memoirs were written in order to portray Kim Il Sung as a national liberator, and to strengthen his cult of personality. However, the memoirs are still used as a textbook in ideological workplace study sessions, as well as in other forms of indoctrination. Many of the memoirs have been adapted as movies by the North Korean film industry.

Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas

Cover page of the English edition (1968)
Country	North Korea
Language	Korean
Subject	Korean resistance movements, 1905-1945 - Personal narratives Guerrillas - China - Manchuria^[1]
Genre	Memoirs
Published	May 1959 (May 1959) (Korean ed.) 1968 (1968) (English ed.)^[1]
Publisher	Pyongyang: Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House (Korean ed.) Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House (English ed.)^[1]
Media type	Print in multiple volumes
Pages	227 p.; vol. 1 (Korean ed.) 153 p. (English ed.)^[1]
Awards	People's Prize (2012)
OCLC	1097890
Dewey Decimal	951.9/03^[1]
LC Class	DS917 .R397^[2]

Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas
Chosŏn'gŭl	항일 빨찌산 참가자들 의 회상기
Hancha	抗日 빨찌산 參加者들 義 回想기
Revised Romanization	Hangil ppaljjisan chamgajadeul ui hoesanggi
McCune–Reischauer	Hangil ppaltchisan ch'amgajadŭl ŭi hoesanggi

Role of the memoirs and state propaganda

The Party History Institute(당력사연구소) was founded in 1958, and its collection of memoirs, Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas, was published in 1959, when Kim Il-sung's cult of personality was being strengthened after the August Faction Incident. These initiatives were part of the efforts to create and promote Kim Il Sung's activities during World War II as an anti-Japanese myth.^[3] High-ranking defector Hwang Jang-yop dated the beginning of the personality cult at the end of the 1960s, when various guerillas disappeared from North Korean partisan literature. Until the 1960s, guerillas like Eulji Mundeok, Kang Gam-chan and Lee Sun-shin were common in North Korean partisan literature. Others like Ahn Chang-ho and Shin Chae-ho were discredited.^[4]

In the late 1960s, Kim Jong Il called back all the unofficial guerilla memoirs, and publishing them independently through news media or publishing houses was banned.^[3] After the Kapsan Faction Incident in 1967, similar to the August Faction Incident in nature, Kim Jong Il ordered the chapters in Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas written by the conspirators to be deleted.^[5] Since then, the Party History Institute would review and edit all memoirs. Hwang accused Kim Jong Il of trying to monopolize the independence struggle for the Kim family.^[4] Jae-Cheon Lim argues that in the 1990s, the role of the memoirs as a tool for indoctrination were largely replaced by With the Century.^[3]

The memoirs are still commonly used in daily ideological study sessions at workplaces, as they are seen as classic literature of the Workers' Party of Korea. They are also used as ideological study material in universities and in the Korean People's Army.^[6] The memoirs are also used in annual mandatory party members' political examinations handled by the party Propaganda and Agitation Department. Repeated failures in the examinations have resulted in local officials being fired.^[7]

Release details

In May 1959, the first volume of the memoirs was published for the first time by the Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House.^[3][8] Since then, they have been republished in numerous volumes and editions.^[9]

In November 2003, it was announced that the Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House planned to publish 20 volumes of reminiscences by combining earlier published series Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas, Combat Reminiscences of Anti-Japanese Guerillas and For the Freedom and Liberation of the People. The first volume carried 27 chapters of memoirs.^[10]

In 2012, the memoirs won the People's Prize in North Korea. Many of the memoirs have since the 1959 release been made into movies, including Comrades! Please Take This Pistol, Fighter on Mt. Chonbo and Story of An Sun Hwa.^[11]

The memoirs have been reprinted by University Press of the Pacific in English.^[12] Translations exist in Finnish^[13] and Swahili.^[14]

Select contributors

The following guerillas who entered politics after the war have contributed to the series.

•   Person has contributed to this volume.
•   Person has not contributed to this volume.

Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
An Chong-suk	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[15]
An Yong(안영)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[15]
Chang Sang-yong	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[15]
Chi Kyong-su	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[15]
Chi Pyong-hak(지병학)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	^[15]
Cho Myong-son조명선	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[15]
Cho Tong-uk	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Choe Hyon(최현)			Does not appear					Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Choe In-dok(최인덕)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear				Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Choe Ki-chol		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Choe Kwang(최광)	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear		Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Choe Min-chol(최민철)	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Chon Chang-chol	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			^[16]
Chon Mun-sop(전문섭)	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear				Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Chon Mun-uk	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Chong Pyong-gap	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Chu To-il		Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Han Ik-su	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Ho Chang-suk	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Ho Pong-hak			Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Hwang Sun-hui(황순희)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Kim Cha-rin(김자린)	Does not appear					Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Kim Chang-bong	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Kim Chol-man	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Kim Chwa-hyok(김좌혁)		Does not appear		Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[16]
Kim Ik-hyon	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		^[16]
Kim Kyong-sok	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Myung-jun(김명중)	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Myong-suk(김명숙)	Does not appear		Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Ok-sun	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Pyong-sik	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Song-guk	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Tae-hong	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Tong-gyu(김동규)	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear					Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Yang-chun	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Yo-jung		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Kim Yong-yon	Does not appear		Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
O Chae-won	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
O Chin-u	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
O Peak-yong(오백룡)	Does not appear						Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Paek Hak-nim(백학림)				Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Pak Kwang-son(박광선)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Pak Kyong-suk	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Pak Song-chol				Does not appear					Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Pak U-sop	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Pak Yong-sun(박영순)									Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
So Chol(서철)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Sok San(석산)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Son Chong-jun(손종준)			Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Tae Pyong-yol	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Wang Ok-hwan	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Yi Kuk-chin	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Yi Pong-su		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[17]
Yi Tu-chan(리두찬)		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		^[18]
Yi Ul-sol(리을설)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]
Yi Yong-gu	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]
Yi Yong-suk	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]
Yim Chol(임철)	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear				Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]
Yim Chun-chu			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]
Yu Chang-gwon	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear		Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]
Yun Tae-hong(윤태홍)					Does not appear	Does not appear			Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	Does not appear	^[18]

See also

•  Books portal
•  North Korea portal

• Anti-Japanese resistance volunteers in China
• History of North Korea
• Korea under Japanese rule
• Korean independence movement
• Korean nationalist historiography
• Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army

References

1. "Reminiscences of the anti-Japanese guerillas". trove.nla.gov.au. National Library of Australia. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
2. OpenLibrary.org. "Reminiscences of the anti-Japanese guerillas. (Open Library)". openlibrary.org. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
3. Jae-Cheon Lim (March 24, 2015). Leader Symbols and Personality Cult in North Korea: The Leader State. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-317-56741-7. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
4. Hwang Jang Yop (2002). "The Problems of Human Rights in North Korea". www.law.columbia.edu. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
5. Jae-Cheon Lim (November 24, 2008). Kim Jong-il's Leadership of North Korea. Routledge. pp. 37–38, 44. ISBN 978-1-134-01712-6. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
6. "Reminiscences of Anti-Japanese Guerrillas, True Textbook of Life". KCNA. February 2, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
7. Robert A. Scalapino; Chong-Sik Lee (1972). Communism in Korea: The society. University of California Press. pp. 1286–1287. ISBN 978-0-520-02274-4.
8. "Hangil ppalch'isan ch'amgaja tûl ûi hoesanggi항일 빨치산 참가자들의 회상기". Katalog der Bibliothek des Instituts für Sinologie (LMU). Retrieved May 27, 2015.
9. Robert A. Scalapino; Chong-Sik Lee (1972). Communism in Korea: The society. University of California Press. p. 771. ISBN 978-0-520-02274-4.
10. "Reminiscences of Anti-Japanese Guerrillas Vol. 1 Reprinted". KCNA. November 13, 2003. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
11. . KCNA. April 3, 2012. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
12. "ISBN 9781410220615 - Reminiscences of the Anti-Japanese Guerillas". upcitemdb.com. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
13. "Japanilaisvastaisten sissien muistelmia (Book, 1973) [WorldCat.org]". worldcat.org. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
14. "Kumbukumbu za wapiganaji wa msituni dhidi ya waJapani (Book, 1969) [WorldCat.org]". worldcat.org. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
15. Suh 1988, p. 325.
16. Suh 1988, p. 326.
17. Suh 1988, p. 327.
18. Suh 1988, p. 328.

Works cited

• Suh Dae-sook (1988). Kim Il Sung: The North Korean Leader. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231065736.

External links

• Full text of volumes 1-20 at Uriminzokkiri (in Korean)