The Establishment and Conditions of the Korean Troops Training Corps 1

In August 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender to the allied nations. Taiwanese thus instantly changed from a defeated people to the victors. The same thing happened to other Japanese colonies, especially those officers and troops from Korea who participated in the Japanese army and who enjoyed better treatment than the Taiwanese officers and troops. At the time, in an effort to support Korea and to manage these troops that were no longer part of the Japanese army but whose freedom had been curtailed, the new government set up training corps for the Korean troops who were scattered throughout the island. After the war ended, there were a total of 1,300 Korean troops in Taiwan. After surveying participation willingness, a total of 1,247 troops reported to Dazhi in Taipei on November 15, 1945. Before returning to Korea they were given short-term psychological training by military instructors provided by the Taiwan Provincial Chief Executive Office and other institutions.
At 9:00 am on December 6, 1945, the Taipei City Public Auditorium (now known as the Zhongshan Hall) held a lavish opening ceremony. In attendance were Chief Executive Chen Yi, Chief of Staff Ke Yuanfen, and U.S. Army Colonel Cecil J. Gridley.