The History of Anarchism in Korea

Armed with theory set out in the “Korean Revolution Manifesto” and practical experience drawn from the March 1^st Independence Movement, in 1925, worker and citizen organizations — including the Daegu League of Truth and Fraternity, the Changwon Black Friend League and the Jeju Island Mutual Aid group — began to organize on the Korean Peninsula.

In the summer of 1929, anarchists formed an administration representing more than 2 million Koreans in the Manchurian province of Shinmin. But by the summer of 1931, Stalinist pressure in the north, Japanese pressure in the south and a series of targeted political assassinations ended a distinctly Korean experiment with an extraordinary ideology.

In this episode of “The Korea File,” journalist, filmmaker and screenwriter Abdul Malik joins host Andre Goulet to explore the history of this fascinating and largely forgotten era. Plus, details about our work amplifying new left discourse at the Harbinger Media Network and what to expect from Abdul Malik’s deeply researched new sports, society and politics podcast “Offcourt.”

*[“The Korea File” podcast is produced by Andre Goulet. Click here for a full list of episodes. Editor’s note: The podcast includes the occasional use of profanity.]

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