Assassination of Hyun Junhyuk and Assassination Attempt on Kim Ilsung: ‘The Frustrated Golden Days’ of Pyongnam Korean Committee for the Preparation of the Re-establishment of the State and the Origin of White Shirts Society

Abstract

The assassination of Hyun Junhyuk (September 3, 1945) was the milestone that changed the political scene of North Korea shortly after Korea liberation. It was turned out that White Shirts Society, the extreme-right wing terrorist group committed the assassination. There were political turmoil between Pyongnam Korean Committee for the Preparation of the Re-establishment of the State (KCRRS) which led the political leadership in North Korea and Pyongnam Communist Party branch which tried to turn over the leadership with the support of Soviet Red Army just arrived at Pyongyang. Especially in the middle of the struggle between right wing Peace-Preserving Corps and left wing Red-Guard, Hyun Junhyuk was assassinated. The assassins were worked for Pyongnam KCRRS Peace-Preserving Corps and related with White Shirts Society. Lyom Dongjin fled to Seoul and organized the White Shirts Society. Lyom also assassinated Kim Hyuk who knew Lyom’s Japanese spy background history. When the anti-trusteeship movement upheaval was prevailed in early 1946, White Shirts Society started terrorist maneuver against North Korean leaders. Agents of White Shirts Society tried to assassinate Kim Ilsung and Kang Ryangwook in March 1946. The terrorist attack of White Shirts Society reflected the legacy of right wing-left wing political struggle which was happened in Pyongyang shortly after Korea liberation.