Down-with-Imperialism Union

The Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU; Korean: 타도제국주의동맹) was allegedly founded on 17 October 1926 in Hwatian County, Kirin, China, in order to fight against Japanese imperialism and to promote Marxism–Leninism.[1][2][3] It is considered by the Workers' Party of Korea to be its root and foundation and its creation is celebrated every year.[2][4][5][6]

Down-with-Imperialism Union
AbbreviationDIU
FounderRi Chongrak
Founded17 October 1926 (1926-10-17)
IdeologyMarxism–Leninism
Political positionFar-left
Party flag
Down-with-Imperialism Union
Chosŏn'gŭl
타도제국주의동맹 (ㅌ.ㄷ)
Hancha
打倒帝國主義同盟 (ㅌ.ㄷ)
Revised RomanizationTado Jegukjuui Dongmaeng (Teudeu)
McCune–ReischauerT'ado Chegukchuŭi Tongmaeng (T'ŭdŭ)

History

North Korean or sympathetic sources[7][8][9] claim that the organization was founded and led by Kim Il Sung, who would have been fourteen years old at the time.[10]

However, most scholarly sources identify Ri Chongrak, a radical militant as the founder of the Down with Imperialism Union also known as Down with Imperialism Alliance.[11][12]

In 2016, in particular, the DIU received special attention, especially on 18–19 October. This included dramas, singing of songs in a Pyongyang plaza, "dancing parties" of students and youth, and wreaths laid at the graves of revolutionary martyrs to commemorate the founding of the revolutionary organisation, saying that it was the origin of the ideas of Juche.[13][14][15] Additionally, commemorative stamps were released, a national meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture attended by "senior party, state and army officials ... labour innovators and bereaved families of the revolutionary martyrs," a national art exhibition opened at the Korean Art Gallery, and members (and workers within) the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea commemorated the occasion.[16][17][18][19][20] A poster was even issued by Workers' Party of Korea to "mark the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU)."[21]

According to the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun, in 2016, many people such as the chairperson of People Unity-"Kyrgyz El" Republican Political Party in Kyrgyzstan, the secretary general of Bangladesh Jatiya Party, the chairperson of the Juche Idea Study Society in India, the chairperson for the Juche Philosophy Study Committee in India, high-ranking individuals in the Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association, the National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea of the Democratic Republic of the Congo all praised the developments of the Workers' Party of Korea and celebrated the DIU's anniversary.[22][23]

Claimed Juche connection

On 17 October 1982, Kim Jong Il honoured the DIU with a speech. In the speech he said that its formation meant that the Korean people had "embarked on a new road of development and our Party [Workers' Party of Korea] began to strike its glorious roots."[24] He went on to explain the accomplishments of his party in defending the country from the American imperialism and claimed that it had promoted the idea of Juche, which, in reality, was first expressed in 1955 at the earliest in Kim Il Sung's speech entitled On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work. He also said that Kim Il Sung began the DIU with a programme to engage in "anti-Japanese national-liberation struggle relying on the masses", that its formation was the "fresh start for the Korean communist movement and the Korean revolution ... the beginning of the struggle to found a new type of party," and added that "The Korean communist movement ... pioneered the revolutionary road under the banner of the DIU."[25]

Doubts on its existence

The story of Down-with-Imperialism Union first appears in North Korean literature in Minjogŭi t'aeyang Kim Il-sŏng changgun [Sun of the People, General Kim Il-sung] by North Korean author Baik Bong.[12] 10 years later in 1978, in the Complete History of Korea (조선전사), the story has been lengthened with its meaning evaluated to the point of "the turning point of modern history of the Korean nation", however, no mention of such incident of such significance is found in any literature before 1968.[12]

It is suspected that the real owner for such anti-Japanese activities was the Gilheuk Peasant Union (길흑농민동맹) in Manchuria led by Lee Jong-rak which participated in anti-imperialist activities and thus, was named the "Down with Imperialism Union(ㅌ.ㄷ)".[12]

Commemorative coins

In 1996, the Central Bank of DPRK issued a commemorative coin celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Formation of the DIU.

In 2016, the Central Bank of DPRK issued a commemorative coin celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Formation of the DIU.

References
  1. Dermot Hudson, In Defense of Songun (Lulu Press: Morrisville, NC, 2015), 15.
  2. Sweeney, John (2014). North Korea Undercover: Inside the World's Most Secret State. London: Corgi Books. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-4481-7094-4.
  3. Johannes Schönherr, North Korean Cinema: A History (Jefferson, NC, McFarland & Company, 2012), 65.
  4. "With Cash, Defectors Find North Korea's Cracks". The New York Times. 19 October 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  5. "Meagre media for North Koreans". BBC News. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  6. "Down With Imperialism Union anniversary". China Daily. Reuters. 8 October 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. "North Korea touts nuclear weapons on anti-imperialist anniversary". UPI. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  8. History of Revolutionary Activities of President Kim Il Sung (Pyongyang, Korea: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 2012), 6-8.
  9. "The strange history of North Korea's Communists". BBC News. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  10. "Kim Jong Un Elected First Chairman of NDC of DPRK". KCNA. 13 April 2012. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  11. The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism. Palgrave Macmillan. 2021. p. 111. ISBN 978-3030299002.
  12. 타도제국주의동맹(打倒帝國主義同盟). 한국민족문화대백과사전 (in Korean).
  13. "Drama "Blood Vessel" Staged". Rodong Sinmun. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  14. "Stages of Singing Revolutionary Songs of Youth and Students Held". Rodong Sinmun. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  15. "Dancing Parties of Youths and Students Held". Rodong Sinmun. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  16. "Commemorative Stamps for 90th Anniversary of DIU Produced". Rodong Sinmun. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  17. "National Meeting Marks Anniversary of Formation of DIU". Rodong Sinmun. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  18. "Economic and Commercial Councilors Corps Visits Party Founding Museum". Rodong Sinmun. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  19. "National Art Exhibition Opens to Mark 90th Anniversary of DIU". Rodong Sinmun. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  20. "DPRK Workers, Members of GFTUK Meet". Rodong Sinmun. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  21. "Poster Celebrating 90th Anniversary of DIU Issued". Rodong Sinmun. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  22. "Foreign Personages Praise Great Persons for Performing Feats in Party Building". Rodong Sinmun. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  23. "DR Congolese Body Lauds History of Korean Youth Movement". Rodong Sinmun. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  24. Kim Jong Il (1982). "The Workers' Party of Korea is A Juche-Type Revolutionary Party which Inherited the Glorious Tradition of the DIU" (PDF). Korean Friendship Association. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  25. 高麗大學校亞細亞問題硏究所 (1970). Journal of Asiatic Studies. 13 (3–4): 63.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
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