Philip Jaisohn's International Reform Work

Abstract: Though Philip Jaisohn [Sŏ Chaep'il] is recognized for his democratic reform work in Korea, less known is his work in the United States. Jaisohn's work in Philadelphia as editor-in-chief of the English monthly, Korea Review , is typically linked to the March 1, 1919, movement since its inaugural issue appeared in June 1919. Importantly, however, Jaisohn desired to start a monthly prior to the March First Movement, and as early as 1913. Jaisohn's own remarks, as well as the fact that he planned Korea Review with Syngman Rhee and Henry Chung [Chŏng Han'gyŏng], both of whom were drawn to the internationalist vision that was foundational to the nineteenth-century Peace through Law Movement and later espoused by Woodrow Wilson, help to show that one of Jaisohn's motivations was this new vision of international relations in which international peace was secured through an awakened public that agitated for international justice. Because he realized that the solution to the "Korea problem" was a precondition for permanent peace, Jaisohn galvanized American citizens to work for international peace and justice by educating them about Korea. Jaisohn should be remembered as an individual who worked to improve international morality by building bonds between different peoples and by engaging Americans in international reform work aimed at international peace and justice.