Meritorious Service Record

Sun Wen (Sun Yat-sen) founded the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance and led the Xinhai Revolution, establishing the Republic of China as a constitutional government. He advocated the Three Principles of the People (三民主義)-Nationalism, Democracy, and Livelihood-which became the ideological foundation of the Republic. In the early 1920s, as the de facto ruler of China, he firmly expressed his support for the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, stating, “It is my duty to support the weak and save nations in peril.”
In September 1921, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea dispatched its Foreign Minister, Shin Gyu-sik, to Guangzhou to request formal recognition from the Chinese Constitutional Protection Government. As a result, official recognition was granted. During this mission, Shin Gyu-sik submitted the following five requests to Sun Wen:
1. Mutual diplomatic recognition between the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Chinese Constitutional Protection Government.
2. Admission of Korean students into Chinese military academies.
3. Instructions for the Chinese delegation at the Pan-Pacific Conference to coordinate with the Korean delegation in advocating for Korea’s independence.
4. Leasing a designated area for Korean military training and providing a loan of five million yuan.
5. Establishment of a permanent representative office of the Korean Provisional Government in Guangzhou, with financial support from the Chinese Constitutional Protection Government.
Sun Wen agreed to all but the fourth request.
In November 1921, Shin Gyu-sik, serving as both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Provisional Government, was sent to Austria and the Republic of China to negotiate official recognition. Sun Wen actively supported this initiative, affirming that the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was the legitimate democratic government representing the Korean people. However, his sudden passing in 1925 prevented the full realization of his commitments.
Despite this, Sun Wen’s trust in the Provisional Government and his unwavering support for the Korean independence movement played a crucial role in stabilizing the early organization of the Korean government-in-exile.
The South Korean government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Republic of Korea Medal) in 1968.