The association, a clandestine organization, set it as its goal to achieve Korea's independence by united efforts of the entire nation and build a genuine civilized state.

It was an underground anti-Japanese revolutionary organization, the largest among those formed by the Korean patriots at home and abroad before or after the March First Popular Uprising.

Kim Hyong Jik advanced the idea of "Jiwon (Aim High)" calling for liberating the country by fighting through generations, and conducted energetic activities as the pioneer and leader of the national liberation movement.

The anti-Japanese movement in Korea was inactive in the 1910s due to the nationalists' separatist and sycophantic moves.

Such circumstances prompted him to form a strong revolutionary organization capable of creditably guiding the anti-Japanese national liberation movement.

After making full preparations, he declared the formation of the Korean National Association (KNA) on March 23, Juche 6 (1917).

The KNA was a revolutionary umbrella organization that stood firmly against imperialism and for independence and had a closely-knit network of organizations.

It was thoroughly concealed by means of such lawful fringe organizations as School Association, Stone Monument Association and Home-town Association. Its organizational network spread throughout the country and even reached abroad.

The organization involved people from all walks of life like workers, peasants, teachers, soldiers (of the Independence Army), shopkeepers, religious believers and artisans.

It made big contributions to developing the anti-Japanese national liberation movement from nationalist movement to proletarian revolution and attaining the cohesion of the anti-Japanese independentists.

A monument to the KNA was built in Hakdanggol at the foot of Jangdae Hill in Pyongyang.