The Influence of Chosun Marathon Bogeuphoe on Realisation of Korea's National Identity during the US Military Government Era (1945–1948)

Abstract

Chosun Marathon Bogeuphoe was a Korean marathoner training centre, which was organised in August 1947, in the era of poverty and social upheaval under the US Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), and produced the world top-class marathoners, including Suh Yun-bok, Ham Kee-yong and Choi Yun-chil. This study aims to investigate the sport historical significance of the Bogeuphoe in terms of operation, organisation, venues and funds by content analysis of John R. Hodge's telegraphic messages, the record of Special Committee for Anti-ethnic-act Investigation, the primary historical materials including 1947 Boston Marathon winner, Suh Yun-bok's notes, newspapers, photographs, autobiography, memoirs and interviews with Ham Kee-yong, the 1950 Boston Marathon winner. The findings of this study are that the Chosun Marathon Bogeuphoe contributed greatly to bring forth Korea's golden age in marathon history and served as a diplomatic advance guard in enhancing Korea's national prestige abroad and opening up a way-out for the nation's independence. This gives a valuable lesson to recent sport administrators and sport associations occasionally blamed for their unsuitable management despite the affluence of human and material resources. This study is expected to add to the literature to be used as a reference for the study of Korean sport associations' history.