Korean intellectuals were usually assessed based on their fidelity by the people. In contrast with the betrayal, the fidelity is a useful standard for evaluating social leaders. The eventual opening of Korea's ports was compelled not by the Western power but by Japan. Therefore the adoption of Western civilization would com via Japan. So at that time, the Korean intellectuals had a question; this is, how to resist Japanese imperialism, and how to adopt aspects of Western civilization while maintaining Korea's distinctiveness from Japan. After the Russo-Japanese War(1904~1905), many Korean new intellectuals studied in Japan Tokyo for Korea's civilization. Among them, there were young men who were called the Thee Korean geniuses in Tokyo.
Tokyo wer regarded as the London of Asia. Korean elite, sho studied in Tokyo, avidly introduced Western culture and civilization. I want to read Hong Myung-hwi(1888~1968), Choi Nam-son(1890~1967), Lee Kwang-su(1892~1950)'s activities on Korean new culture. They had levied as poet, novelist, publisher, editor, teacher, and historian through their whole life. Their hope for new Korea got frustrated by the Japan colonizer. So they experienced wondering in China, South Asia, and so on. However they had a key role in Korean national movement such as the March first Independent Movement in 1919.
After the 1920s, their life and activities were divided separately because their belief's difference. Hong had sticked to the hope on Korea's independence. However, Choi changed in a scholar on Korean history and culture which was oblivious of Korean's political situations. Moreover, Lee turned coat and became pro-Japanese. Korean people evaluated them based on their fidelity and betrayal. Analyzing three Korean geniuses in Tokyo will help deepen our understanding of Korean nationalist's cultural activities in the early 20th century. And their life shows the portrait of Korean intellectuals.