Korean Federation of Proletarian Art

(Korea Artista Proletara Federatio [Esperanto]; KAPF), an organization of progressive Koreans in the arts.

The federation was established in August 1925 soon after the founding of the Communist Party of Korea. It united more than 200 members of the artistic intelligentsia of Seoul, Pyongyang, Kaesong, Taegu, Wonsan, and Tokyo. In its program (published in the newspaper Korean Herald in 1927), KAPF advocated the adherence to Party principles in art. Its leading ideologists were its secretary-general Yung Ki-jung, the writers Yi Ki-yong and Cho Myong-hi, and the sculptor Kim Pok-chin. After reorganization in 1931 the federation comprised separate unions of writers, theatrical workers, composers, artists, and film-makers. At different times, publications of KAPF included the journals Munhak chanjo (Cultural Construction), Yonguk undong (Theater Movement), Kungi (Battle Banner), and Chiptan (Collective). In May 1935 the federation was dissolved by the Japanese occupation authorities.