Korean Liberation Army | |
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한국 광복군 韓國 光復軍 | |
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Founder | Kim Ku |
Dates of operation | 17 September 1940 – May 1946 |
Country | Korea |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Headquarters | Chongqing, Republic of China (1940; 1942–1945) Xi'an, Republic of China (1940–1942) |
Size | 339 to 564 3,600 (1943) |
Allies | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Opponents | ![]() |
Flag | ![]() |
The Korean Liberation Army (KLA; Korean: 한국 광복군; Hanja: 韓國 光復軍), also known as the Korean Restoration Army, was the armed forces of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. It was established on September 17, 1940, in Chongqing, Republic of China, with significant financial and personnel support from the Kuomintang. It participated in various battles and intelligence activities against the Japanese, including alongside the British Army in India and with the United States in the Eagle Project.
Its commandant was General Ji Cheong-cheon and chief of staff General Lee Beom-seok, the future first prime minister of South Korea. The group reached several hundred personnel at its peak. It experienced frequent funding issues, infighting, and difficulty achieving recognition from global powers.[1]