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FAQ

Dongji Hoi

Dr. Syngman Rhee and Young people

In 1921, an association called the Dongji Hoi was organized in Honolulu to support the Korean Independence Movement under the leadership of Dr. Syngman Rhee, who in April 1919 was elected first president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in exile in Shanghai. Branches were established in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and several islands in Hawaii. These branches were dissolved after Korea's liberation from Japan.

Since the independence of Korea after Work War II, the Dongji Hoi no longer exists for political purposes. Today, its purpose is to enhance Korean heritage in social, cultural, educational and other related activities for the benefit of Korean residents in Hawaii. Its primary emphasis is to provide scholarships to deserving students (both high school graduates and college students) of Korean or part-Korean ancestry. Currently, ten awards of $1250 each are made annually from the "Dr. Syngman Rhee Scholarship" fund. Awardees are invited to join the Dongji Hoi. Upon completion of their education, their active participation in the Dongji Hoi is encouraged to help perpetuate and expand the purposes of the Association.

Significant support given by the Dongji Hoi to the Korean Independence Movement and the Korean Community in Hawaii and abroad are summarize below.

Provisional Government of the Republic Korea in Exile
The Dongji Hoi supported the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in exile and various other organizations which were fighting for Korean Independence through funds collected from Korean residents and supporters throughout the world, and especially Americans, who were sympathetic to the movement. In addition, support was provided through the sale of Korean bonds which were redeemed by the Korean Government when it became independent. These bonds were indeed redeemed.

Korean Christian Institute
The Dongji Hoi supported and furthered the Korean Christian Institute, a school for the children of Korean immigrants, which was founded and run by Dr. Syngman Rhee, until it was closed in 1953.

Inha University, Inchon, Korea
The Association donated to the Inha University (formerly the Inha Technical College), $180,000 in proceeds from the sales of the properties of the former Institute. This donation was to commemorate the Korean immigrants departure from Inchon Harbor. The name Inha is a derivative of Inchon and Hawaii.

Korean Care Home
A sum of $50,000 was donated to the Korean Christian Church for the management of the Korean Care Home (formerly the Korean Old Men's Home).

Korean Christian Churches
The Dongji Hoi actively supported the established Korean Christian churches of Honolulu, Wahiawa and Hilo and their affiliated Korean language schools.

Korean Consulate General Building
The Dongji Hoi, on its own, procured the previous Korean Consulate General building on Hassinger Street and donated it to the Korean Government.

Korean Newspaper
The Dongji Hoi supported the Korean Independence Movement by publishing the "Hankuk Taepyungyang Jubo (Korean Pacific Weekly)." The publication was ended in 1970.