Meritorious Service Record

Following the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Tang Jiyao maintained continuous relations with Korean independence activists and actively supported Korea’s independence and national sovereignty. He firmly stated, "The Korean people are not a nation without a country" and pledged, "To support Korea, I vow to train at least two divisions of military officers and assist in their revolutionary efforts upon their return."
In 1924, he facilitated and provided accommodations for approximately 30 Koreans to receive military training. In 1925, he also played a key role in enabling Korean students to enroll in the 19th class of the Yunnan Military Academy and the newly established aviation unit.
The Yunnan Military Academy was a military school founded by Tang Jiyao in Kunming in 1909. Having graduated from the Japanese Army Academy, he had received modern military education and maintained connections with both Japan and Korea. The academy produced many key military leaders in modern Chinese history, including Zhu De (朱德) and Peng Dehuai (彭德懷). Korean independence activists also trained there and dedicated themselves to the armed independence movement. Among its notable Korean graduates were Yi Beom-seok (李範奭), Yi Jun-sik (李俊植), and Kim Gwan-o (金冠五).
Japanese authorities consistently expressed concerns about Tang Jiyao’s support for the Korean independence movement and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, attempting to prevent Korean students from enrolling in the academy. Despite these pressures, he remained steadfast in his commitment to Korean independence activists, ensuring that young Korean students could receive military training.
The South Korean government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Presidential Medal) in 1968.