The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea, led by Director Park Gi-tae, in partnership with the Korean National Association Memorial Foundation chaired by Jennifer Choi, has produced and released a video titled “We Are Looking for Global Ambassadors of the Korean National Association!”, which tells the story of the Korean National Association—an organization that, more than a century ago, laid the roots of Korean democracy and lit the beacon of independence on American soil.
The 5-minute and 15-second video unfolds like a drama, using a deeply moving narrator’s voice and English subtitles to portray how stateless colonial people became a “government” themselves to protect their homeland.
A ‘Government’ That Existed in the Heart, Though Not on the Map
The video opens with a question: “Do you know this building?” Korean immigrants in the United States took it upon themselves to become a government. It was the place that issued identification to Koreans without passports, handled public safety and judicial matters, and filled the void of a nation—the Korean National Association.
A record from 1913 is particularly striking. When Koreans working on farms in California faced expulsion, Japan attempted to intervene, claiming that “Koreans are subjects of Japan.” In response, the Korean National Association sent a formal diplomatic letter to the U.S. Secretary of State, declaring, “We are not subjects of Japan. We are Koreans. We will resolve our own issues.” Following this resolute statement, the U.S. government excluded Japan and recognized this stateless organization as the de facto representative government of Koreans. It was a remarkable victory achieved by a people who had even been deprived of diplomatic rights.
A Nation Built Not by Diplomats’ Pens, but by Workers’ Blood and Sweat
Above all, the video highlights the true force that sustained this “government.” It was not the rhetoric of elite diplomats, but the dedication of unnamed laborers. Under scorching heat exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, they worked more than 10 hours a day picking oranges and cutting sugarcane, earning little more than one dollar. Even as they went without food and mended their worn shoes, they set aside a portion of their wages as mandatory contributions to the independence movement.
Mothers, too, would save a spoonful of rice each time they cooked, collecting what was called “seongmi.” Those grains became bullets for independence fighters and pillars of the Provisional Government in Shanghai. The fact that more than 60 percent of the early funding of the Provisional Government came from these impoverished workers continues to resonate deeply today.
Park Gi-tae, head of VANK, said, “The confidence we enjoy today on the global stage began with the devotion of our ancestors, who fought not with guns but with hoes 100 years ago,” adding, “They are not ghosts of the past, but the roots of today’s Korean Americans and a source of pride for us all.”
Jennifer Choi, chairman of the Korean National Association Memorial Foundation, expressed her appreciation, saying, “The video carefully produced by VANK is providing students in the United States with a meaningful opportunity to learn and reflect.” Clara Won, executive director of its Next Generation Education Division, added, “We hope that the next generation of Korean Americans will learn this great history through the video and grow into global leaders who will help shape the world.”
The ‘Korean National Association’ Revived in the 21st Century
VANK and the foundation are going beyond the video’s release by recruiting “21st Century Global Korean National Association Ambassadors” who will carry on the spirit of their predecessors and promote Korea to the world. Beginning with an inaugural ceremony on March 28, 2026 (local time) at the foundation’s office in Los Angeles, the ambassadors will create and spread digital content highlighting the achievements of independence heroes such as Ahn Chang-ho, Lee Dae-wi, and Kim Jong-rim.
In particular, they will also take part in activities as “AI diplomats,” using the latest tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini to correct misinformation about Korean history overseas and promote Korea’s rich cultural heritage. The inaugural event will feature a special lecture by Park Gi-tae, along with practical training sessions led by researchers Kwon So-young and Koo Seung-hyun.
The video concludes with a message of hope: just as people a century ago restored the light of their homeland, it now calls on viewers to become the light that introduces Korea to the world today. The video is available on VANK’s YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/5nVqCih6rTo?si=pRHkk_YulzF7HukZ), and applications for the ambassador program can be submitted through its official website (http://www.prkorea.com/knamf).