One of Dosan's biggest dreams was the Hung Sa Dan also known as the Young Korean Academy. He created this organization with a group of Korean patriots and intellectuals who represented each of the eight provinces of Korea. This organization was officially launched on May 13, 1913 in the city of San Francisco. The headquarters moved to Los Angeles and then to Seoul. It still exists today with many branches in Korea and in major cities in the United States.
The Hung Sa Dan - Young Korean Academy was created to build young people of good mind, good spirit and good health. It was a plan to develop young people with good character. These people were to build a network of trust and sincerity in all they would do. The result of this program was to have quality people capable of becoming leaders of the Korean nation once it was freed from the Japanese occupation. This group was going to be part of the foundation for the new independent democratic nation of Korea.
If you take a look at the Constitution from 1957 below it will give you an idea of how advanced the ideals of Dosan and the original
members were. Remember this organization started over 84 years ago and this version of the Constitution is fifty years old.
1957 Constitution of The Hung Sa Dan - Young Korean Academy
Article 1 - The name of the organization shall be The Hung Sa Dan -
Young Korean Academy.
Article 2 - The purpose of the organization is to build a foundation for
the prosperous future of our nation by uniting loyal and
upright men and women who will devote their lives to seeking
the truth and to doing rather than pretending; who will
cultivate the virtue of mutual helpfulness and develop sound
character through united moral, physical, and intellectual
discipline; and who will build a solid and firm organization.
Article 3 - In order to attain the purpose of the organization the
following program of training shall be carried out:
1. To develop a sound character by cultivating good virtues
through devotion to truth seeking deeds, loyalty, building
strong and healthy body, and by acquiring professional
knowledge or productive skill.
2. To build a solid firm organization with unfailing truthfulness, by obeying rules and regulations, and through mutual love and help.
3. To improve the quality of citizenship by cultivating an
independent spirit and self-governing ability, and by
fostering social consciousness and public-mindedness.
Article 4 - In order to attain the purpose of the organization, organized
movements for the improvement of the fundamental character
of the people and for the building up of the people shall be
initiated and each and every member of the organization shall
be required to participate in these activities to experience a
life of service.
Article 5 - In order to implement Article 3 and 4 various cultural agencies
and social work may be operated and model villages and
vocational schools established.
Article 6 - Due to permanent nature of its movement, the organization
shall not be engaged in political activities; however, the members
may have freedom of action in politics in accordance
with their belief and conscience.
Article 7 - In order to keep the determination of the members constantly
alert and firm, the following pledge shall be adopted as a
standard of conduct in their daily living:
1. Let us constantly strive to improve ourselves by devotion to
truth seeking deeds loyalty and courage.
2. Let us love each other, be faithful to each other and help each
other.
3. Let us be united and cooperate for the organization, obey the
organization and sacrifice ourselves for the organization.
4. Let us be honest in everything and fully discharge our
responsibilities.
5. Let us forget our small insignificant selves in the devotion to
the highest human ideals and dedicate ourselves tour country
and people.
Article 8 - The following organs shall be established in the Hung Sa Dan -
Young Korean Academy:
1. The Legislative board shall consist of more than eight
members and shall have legislative powers.
2. The Executive board shall consist of more than four members and shall take charge of the activities, general business, and financial and budgetary matters of the organization.
3. The Judicial board shall consist of more than four members and shall look into the conduct of officers and members of the organization and pass judgment upon those who violate the provisions of the constitution, rules, regulations and resolutions or harm the good name of the organization.
4. As the organization grows, regional committees shall be established in such places as is necessary to take care of regional matters. They shall be set up by the Executive board with the consent of the Legislative board.
Article 9 - Such subsidiary organs as branches, local committees, sub-
committees and squads shall be established, the regulation of
which shall be drawn up by the Legislative board.
Article 10 - Bureaus and sections may be established in the central
headquarters and branches, etc. to facilitate business, the
regulation of which shall be drawn up by the Executive
board.
Article 11 - The central headquarters of the Hung Sa Dan shall be located
in the city of Seoul, Korea.
Article 12 - The election procedure and the term of office shall be as
follows:
1. The members of the Legislative and Judicial board shall be elected at large after the candidates have been approved by the three board chairmen, and the chairmen of the two boards shall be chosen by the respective board members. The chairmen of the boards shall serve for a term of one year and the members of the boards for a term of two years. The term of half the board members will expire every year and the vacancies shall be filled by a new election.
2. The members of the Executive board shall be elected by the Legislative board and the chairman of the board shall be chosen by its own board members. The chairmen shall serve a term of one year and the members of the board for a term of two years. The term of half the board members will expire every year and the vacancies shall be filled by a new election.
Article 13 - There shall be three kinds of members: Preparatory, Regular
and special.
1. Preparatory members shall be those Korean men and women
who understand and appreciate the principles and purpose
of the organization and who have been dully admitted.
2. Regular members shall be those who are over seventeen
years of age, who have passed the oral test, and who have
been sworn in, after a period of more than six months as a
bona fide Preparatory member.
3. Special members shall be those who have been Regular or
Preparatory members or supporters of the organization for a
period of more than one year. Special members shall be
admitted with the consent of the Legislative board.
Article 14 - Those who help and assist the work of the organization may
become supporters upon the recommendation of the
Executive board.
Article 15 - The members of the organization may be assigned to
different service groups according to their ability, skill and
knowledge.
Article 16 - Those who wish to become members of the organization
shall submit to the Executive board the application, together
with a life history, a recommendation jointly signed by more
than two members, photographs and the admission fee. They
shall have to pass the oral test given by the Executive board
before being admitted.
Article 17 - The duties of the Preparatory and Regular members shall be
as follows :
1. To obey the constitution, rules, regulations and resolutions
of the organization.
2. To attend meetings of the organization.
3. To pay dues and fulfill other financial obligation.
4. To participate in the educational and training programs of the organization.
5. To subscribe to the official publications.
Article 18 - The rights of the members shall be as follows:
1. Regular members shall have a right to elect and to be elected
officers, to present a resolution and to vote.
2. Preparatory and special members shall have only the right to
present a resolution.
Article 19 - The Legislative board meeting shall be convoked once a year
by the board chairman. Special meetings may be convoked
by the chairman at the request of more than one-third the
board.
Article 20 - The Executive board meeting shall be convoked by the
chairmen whenever there are matters to be taken up.
Article 21 - The Judicial board meeting shall be convoked by the
chairmen whenever necessary.
Article 22 - The annual convention of the organization shall be convoked
once a year by the chairmen of the Executive board.
When it is impossible for all members to meet at one place
because of geographical difficulty, regional meetings may be
arranged.
Article 23 - The funds of the organization shall consist of dues,
contributions, donations and interest from deposits.
1. Sources of Income
a. The admission fee
b. The annual fee
c. The felicitation and condolence fee
d. Contribution, donations and interest from deposits
2. Methods of Handling Funds
a. A twentieth part of the admission fee, the annual fee
and the donation shall be set aside as a permanent fund
and it shall not be used. Only the interest from it may
be applied to current expenses.
b. A twentieth part of the annual fee and the donation
and the contribution and interest from it shall be set
aside as a reserve fund and it shall be used for special
work.
c. Current expenses shall be met by the annual fee, the
donation and the contribution.
Article 24 - Special prizes maybe awarded by the Judicial board to the
deserving members for their outstanding services.
Article 25 - The Judicial board may advice reprimand, suspend or expel
from the organization any member found guilty of neglect of
duty, action contrary to the principles and purpose of the
organization or defaming the name of the Hung Sa Dan -
Young Korean Academy.
Article 26 - This constitution may be amended or revised by more than
three-fourths vote of the Legislative board.
Article 27 - Rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this
constitution shall be drawn up and put into force by the
Executive board. However, the Legislative board may amend
or abolish.
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