[Suggestion] Recognize the Korean Provisional Government as a Historical Exiled Government

[haetbit]

Context:

Currently in HOI4, Korea is represented only as a releasable puppet state of Japan, with limited historical nuance. However, this omits an essential part of 20th-century East Asian history: the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (대한민국 임시정부), established in exile in 1919 after the March 1st Movement.

Just like Free France, Poland, or the Dutch government-in-exile, the Korean Provisional Government:

• Operated in Shanghai, later Chongqing, throughout WWII;
• Maintained a diplomatic presence and aligned itself with the Allied cause;
• Formed the Korean Liberation Army, which cooperated with the Chinese Nationalists (KMT);
• Was symbolically and partially recognized by China and some international actors;
• Served as the precursor to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) after Japan’s defeat.

Proposal:

Introduce the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) as a dynamic government-in-exile under the following conditions:

• If Japan occupies the Korean peninsula,
• And if a global conflict (e.g., WW2) is active.

This government would:

• Spawn in Chongqing (or Nanjing, depending on Chinese control),
• Be led by Kim Koo (김구) or Syngman Rhee (이승만),
• Use the Taegukgi (태극기) as a flag,
• Receive event-based or decision-tree support from the Chinese United Front or Allies,
• Have a unique exile army system akin to the Polish and French models.

Gameplay Benefits:

• Enriches East Asian WWII narratives.
• Provides historical balance and immersion for players focusing on decolonization.
• Encourages more dynamic post-war settlement and Korean liberation arcs.

Optional Mod Support:

• Integrate with the “Asia Decolonized” game rule.
• Expand event chains around the Korean independence movement.
• Include intelligence cooperation with OSS (Office of Strategic Services) or KMT.

Sources:

• Korean History Compilation Committee (국사편찬위원회)
• National Institute of Korean History (국사편찬위원회)
• Biographies of Kim Koo, Syngman Rhee, and the KPG
• Academic literature on exile governments in WWII

Summary:

The Korean Provisional Government deserves a rightful place in HOI4’s portrayal of WWII governments-in-exile. Its inclusion would not only enhance realism but also empower a deeper understanding of resistance movements in colonized Asia. Please consider implementing this in future updates or expansions.

감사합니다. Thank you. 谢谢.

 

[stormsand9]

In every WW2 film, Documentary, wikipedia article etc I've ever read, I have not once heard about this provisional government. I am not a full time historian or expert, but as someone who knows far more then the average joe on the street about WW2 (which we pretty much all are since we're posting in the HOI4 forum) having never heard of this before, I feel it is too small and irrelevant to deserve a place in the game.

 

[MDHP1997]

In every WW2 film, Documentary, wikipedia article etc I've ever read, I have not once heard about this provisional government. I am not a full time historian or expert, but as someone who knows far more then the average joe on the street about WW2 (which we pretty much all are since we're posting in the HOI4 forum) having never heard of this before, I feel it is too small and irrelevant to deserve a place in the game.

The fact that Syngman Rhee was the first president of this and the first president of the post-war Republic of Korea makes me think it was respected. If this gets added, they could also add the Belarusian Democratic Republic in exile, which if memory serves can be promised sovereignty in a decision if you're plotting to overthrow Stalin.

 

[mursolini]

Well the issue is there were a lot of governments in exile, on territories occupied by Soviets, Poland, probably () Yugoslavia, that are today, recognized by the states as part of their history and continuance. Not to mention "mandates"(tm) that were given to victors of WW1.

Problem is, they often controlled nothing, and were too little to matter.
And sometimes large governments in exile failed to return, like Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, after WW2.

I would prefer that GIE mechanics was reserved for governments that actually controlled their county before war started, and this had quite a lot of people and material to use, as opposed to small group of emigrants.

 

[Vlad123]

Well the issue is there were a lot of governments in exile, on territories occupied by Soviets, Poland, probably () Yugoslavia, that are today, recognized by the states as part of their history and continuance. Not to mention "mandates"(tm) that were given to victors of WW1.

Problem is, they often controlled nothing, and were too little to matter.
And sometimes large governments in exile failed to return, like Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, after WW2.

I would prefer that GIE mechanics was reserved for governments that actually controlled their county before war started, and this had quite a lot of people and material to use, as opposed to small group of emigrants.

Tecnically the government in exile fo Czeslovakia existed too,and i remember in past outed (from a file in a discussion) the dev tried to do it,but not work as intended and renounced.

 

[LAF1994]

The government-in-exile mechanic in HoI4 is usually used for governments that recently held control over their claimed territory but no longer do (because they've been capitulated). The KPG was an organization trying to (re-) establish an independent Korean state, but it itself was not a direct continuation of a recent previous Korean government. Practically speaking, since there are Korean cores anyone who capitulates Japan can release Korea at the peace conference (which is, of course, what happened).

 

[Li Three]

Wouldn't a South Korea that gained independence through resistance movements on a non-historical path possess greater legitimacy than an exiled government supported by China, the Soviet Union, or the United States?We should not deny the Korean people's resistance to Japanese rule since the assassination of Ito Bowen.

 

[Umbosch]

Don't be angry with me, but who wants to play the role of a pure government in exile from 1936 to 1941? Another point is that AI can't do this. Neither Korea or Japan. If the thing starts too early, Korea will be eaten up by Manchukuo and Japan. If it starts too late, Japan's fronts will collapse completely. They already have problems with Indochina and the Russian front.

Along with Dalarian, Korea is an important supply route. If insurgents disrupt this route, the Chinese front will collapse. The same applies if Japan is forced to withdraw its troops there. Then China will be in 1-2 months on the Russian-Korean border.

China could support Korea. But it barely has enough weapons of its own to fight the war due to attrition. It cannot reach Korea by sea. The Chinese fleet will already be destroyed in just one battle. The only remaining option is the land route through Japanese-occupied territories, Mengkukuo, and Manchukuo. Russia can also help. They could really dismantle Manchukuo. But if they start too early, Russia might become too strong. Although I don't know how the purge will work. If they start too late, Germany will probably be on the Korean border right away, because the Eastern Front will no longer exist.

 

[zhaidangv]

Then what can you do if you're playing with it? Almost nothing, allow me to say offensively...

 

[stormsand9]

Don't be angry with me, but who wants to play the role of a pure government in exile from 1936 to 1941?

Indeed, I wonder how many people play Ethiopia purely to be defeated then spend 3-4 years in exile until the Allies free you, and then have nothing to show for it other then maybe annexing Italian Somaliland or Eritrea.

 

[Umbosch]

Then what can you do if you're playing with it? Almost nothing, allow me to say offensively...

Puppet with governor-general of Chōse like Manchukuo with option of a focuspath to kill him (like Mussolini) and work together with exile gouverment or riots division minigame like spain?

The focus should not be accessible too early and the tree not as small as with Vichy.

 

[LAF1994]

Puppet with governor-general of Chōse like Manchukuo with option of a focuspath to kill him (like Mussolini) and work together with exile gouverment or riots division minigame like spain?

The focus should not be accessible too early and the tree not as small as with Vichy.

I don't think Korea should be a puppet either. Government-wise it was in a similar structure to French Algeria (which is directly owned at game start).

 

[Lamartine]

I don't think Korea should be a puppet either. Government-wise it was in a similar structure to French Algeria (which is directly owned at game start).

Yeah, even though in GOE they added French Syria, British Palestine and other tags for areas with absolutely no self-determination just so they could be tags on the map. Chances are that the next DLC will create an ahistorical Korean puppet purely so it exists too.

 

[MDHP1997]

Yeah, even though in GOE they added French Syria, British Palestine and other tags for areas with absolutely no self-determination just so they could be tags on the map. Chances are that the next DLC will create an ahistorical Korean puppet purely so it exists too.

That would be consistent at least. Frustrating to be reminded that Egypt wasn't added along with those other ones though

 

[LAF1994]

Yeah, even though in GOE they added French Syria, British Palestine and other tags for areas with absolutely no self-determination just so they could be tags on the map. Chances are that the next DLC will create an ahistorical Korean puppet purely so it exists too.

Despite the fact that Korea had even less autonomy than those cases (again, like Algeria).

That would be consistent at least. Frustrating to be reminded that Egypt wasn't added along with those other ones though

Egypt at least had a nominally sovereign government. Which the others added did not.

 

[onboardbasil]

I don't think Korea should be a puppet either. Government-wise it was in a similar structure to French Algeria (which is directly owned at game start).

I think the devs do plan on adding them as a starting Japanese puppet.

From the last dev diary

The last nation listed in the faction influence list is likely the Government-General of Chosen which was the name for Japanese occupied Korea.

Sidenote: I think they also plan on removing Mengjiang from the game start since it technically didn't exist until 1939

 

[MDHP1997]

I think the devs do plan on adding them as a starting Japanese puppet.

From the last dev diary
View attachment 1338195
The last nation listed in the faction influence list is likely the Government-General of Chosen which was the name for Japanese occupied Korea.

Sidenote: I think they also plan on removing Mengjiang from the game start since it technically didn't exist until 1939

Really hope they keep Mengjiang even if it's not in the 1936 start date, I think it would be fun to do a playthrough where it invades Mongolia and can restore Demchugdongrub as non-aligned or fascist, like how Manchukuo can with Puyi

 

[LAF1994]

I think the devs do plan on adding them as a starting Japanese puppet.

From the last dev diary
View attachment 1338195
The last nation listed in the faction influence list is likely the Government-General of Chosen which was the name for Japanese occupied Korea.

I think Paradox need to better define what the rules are for what constitutes a puppet state rather than a directly controlled territory.