What is the Myeong Commonwealth?

The Myeong Commonwealth is a Confucian community with confederal micronational characteristics. In their authoritative monograph, published by Cambridge University Press, the legal scholars Harry Hobbs and George Williams define a 'micronation' in the following words: 'Whatever their character or form, micronations catalyse enquiries over the nature of statehood, international legal personality and legitimate authority. Their existence and persistence forces renewed consideration as to why some political communities are accepted as states, and others are not. Even if micronations are defined by their relationship to states, not all micronations are genuinely interested in statehood.' See Harry Hobbs and George Williams, Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty (Cambridge University Press, 2022) p. 218.

What sets the Myeong Commonwealth apart as the civilisation of the future?

The Myeong Commonwealth stands as a haven for all who uphold the principles that (1) the state is tasked with protecting the inherent dignity of every individual from the moment of conception to the natural end of life; (2) preserving freedom of conscience; (3) respecting the universal moral framework; and (4) exercising restraint in intervening in economic, social, and familial affairs, within the framework of a (5) parliamentary democracy, where (6) essential rights and freedoms are safeguarded by the rule of law.

The Myeong Commonwealth is distinguished as the world's foremost Confucian micronational state established in the 21st century. It integrates digital governance with the real-life functioning of political, economic, and social institutions, striving to embody the spiritual wisdom of the Sages in its laws and policies to cultivate a society moving towards the epoch of 'Grand Harmony.' The Myeong Commonwealth aims to restore the purity of the human conscience at the individual level, lost to deceptions and addictions as we grew up, and revive the lost Golden Age of the Sages at the societal level, which has been eroded by secularism, atheism, relativism, mass sexual promiscuity, and the widespread denial of objective moral truth.

The Myeong Commonwealth brings together everyone to rebuild a flourishing human civilisation. It aims to provide clear guidance in a chaotic world grappling with challenges like the rise of artificial intelligence, economic inequality, gender dysphoria, increasing state control, and global environmental issues. Positioned as a confederal micronational community, the Myeong Commonwealth is dedicated to re-civilising societies and safeguarding civilisation for humanity without the constraints of political correctness.

What are the political values of the Myeong Commonwealth?

In response to past upheavals and societal transformations, the Myeong Commonwealth is rebuilding human civilisation based on the primacy of personal conscience and action over mere words. Rooted in the liberating wisdom of Sage Wang Yangmyeong (1472-1529), the Myeong Commonwealth's Constitution embodies a vision of politics where every citizen not only participates in the public affairs of a vibrant parliamentary democracy supported by the rule of law, but also prioritises the survival and advancement of humane civilisation against the threats of the collapse of civilisation in face of drastic events that might happen in the 21st century, such as a Third World War.

What is the mission of the Myeong Commonwealth?

The Myeong Commonwealth's mission is to revive and entrench humaneness, justice, propriety, and wisdom, while advocating for the deployment of a luminous human conscience to make morally justified decisions on all controversial matters ranging from artificial intelligence to life-and-death decisions to environmental degradation. By restoring morality, harmony, and beauty in societal structures, arts, sciences, and architecture in the East Asian tradition, the Myeong Commonwealth envisions a renaissance of ethical values and social order.

Where is the sovereign territory of the Myeong Commonwealth located?

the Myeong Commonwealth has once and for all, decided against transitioning from an aterritorial micronation to a territorial one. Were the Myeong Commonwealth to abandon its aterritorial nature and embrace earthly territorial expansion, it would contradict the Confucian doctrine of 'nothing beneath Heaven does not already belong to the Suzerain' (하늘 아래 왕의 땅 아닌 곳이 없다) recorded in the Classic of Odes (《시경》).

The Commonwealth's spiritual sovereignty transcends physical borders. It exists within the conscience in the heart-minds of all individuals, of citizens and foreigners, who acknowledge the objective truth about the existence of the Myeong Commonwealth. The Myeong Commonwealth, while consisting of real people who know and conduct affairs with each other, is primarily spiritual and aterritorial. 

However, the Myeong Commonwealth denies the validity of the First Convention of Peking of 1860, under which the Manchu Daecheongguk (대청국) outrageously ceded to Tsarist Russia a 32-km sq Korean territory, Nokdundo (녹둔도), without the knowledge, let alone consent of the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon, the predecessor of the Daehan Empire, whose cultural legacy and imperial lineage the Myeong Commonwealth inherits. Therefore, it can be said that, in principle, Nokdundo is a de jure possession of the Daehan Empire, whose micronational successor is none other than the Myeong Commonwealth. The Myeong Commonwealth, nonetheless, has absolutely no intention to exercise actual control over that piece of land by any means.

Does the Myeong Commonwealth have its own Constitution?

The Myeong Commonwealth's legal system, inspired by the common law tradition, is governed by a Constitution adopted through a democratic process by a Constituent Assembly representing the spiritual remnants of the Confucian moral order. This supreme law is a manual of moral and political principles that is highly valued not just by the Myeong Commonwealth but also by everyone on the planet.

What are the opportunities and responsibilities of citizenship in the Myeong Commonwealth?

Individuals aged 18 and above can become Spiritual Citizens of the Myeong Commonwealth by registering on this website, accepting the Constitution, and acknowledging the Myeong Emperor as the Head of the Commonwealth. Citizenship is confirmed through a Spiritual Citizenship electronic certificate. Opportunities of Spiritual Citizens include establishing businesses within the Commonwealth. Obligations of Spiritual Citizens can be found in the Constitution. Spiritual Citizens cannot vote nor take up public office.

The Myeong Commonwealth encourages people worldwide to become Spiritual Citizens and partake in the daunting but most meaningful mission of re-civilising a world torn by contemporary barbarism—secularism, atheism, armed conflict, extremism,  terrorism, the sexual revolution, mass gender dysphoria, and the modern collapse of aesthetics.

How can Full Citizenship of the Myeong Commonwealth be attained?

​

Full Citizenship of the Myeong Commonwealth, ordinarily attained after at least one probational year under the monitoring of the Home Office of His Majesty's Government, grants privileges such as voting in public elections and holding public positions mentioned in the Constitution in Commonwealth authorities, including His Majesty's Government, the Houses of the Commonwealth Assembly, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Commonwealth Prosecutorate, and the Commonwealth Inspectorate. Full Citizens have access to current and future online services, contributing to the development and governance of the Myeong Commonwealth.

Full citizens aged 18 and above need to pay taxes, whenever required, which will form part of the Myeong Commonwealth's annual budget, supporting the confederation's objectives and operations. The House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly makes decisions on budget allocations, covering administrative costs, events, and parliamentary sessions. Notice that His Majesty's Government has never taxed Full Citizens since the Founding of the Myeong Commonwealth in August Seongchi 1 (2023).

Can children become Full Citizens of the Myeong Commonwealth?

Minors can obtain Full Citizenship if at least one parent (biological or adopted) holds Full Citizenship. A written request must be submitted to the Home Office of His Majesty's Government for minors to acquire Full Citizenship status.

Does the Myeong Commonwealth lay any claims over territories controlled by South Korea and North Korea?

The Myeong Commonwealth does not lay any territorial claim over lands controlled by the Republic of Korea or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Myeong Commonwealth deems both Koreas as independent sovereign states whose sovereignties deserve recognition and respect. 

Does the Myeong Commonwealth intend to expand its population and territory?

No. The Myeong Commonwealth has no active plan to expand its population, except through natural pregnancies amongst existing citizens, and approvals of requests of other micronations participating in the Myeong Commonwealth as Associated States. 

Is the Myeong Commonwealth a secessionist movement?

No, the Myeong Commonwealth is not a secessionist movement. The Myeong Commonwealth, is a spiritual realm, which does not secede from any existing territorial sovereign state in order to create a new territorial sovereign state. The Myeong Commonwealth respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Members of the United Nations, including the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and is firmly committed to not commenting on, let alone participating in macronational politics.

Does the Myeong Commonwealth issue passports?

In general, no. The Myeong Commonwealth issues diplomatic passports only to those working for His Majesty's Government whose responsibilities include visiting foreign micronations, and only when those micronations demand diplomatic passports. It does not issue passports to ordinary citizens, including public servants whose work does not relate to external relations.

Does Myeong citizenship entitle a person to diplomatic protection or assistance in any jurisdiction of the world? 

No. Myeong citizenship, whether Full Citizenship or Spiritual Citizenship, does not entitle a person to diplomatic protection or assistance in any jurisdiction of the world. Myeongeans must abide by the laws of whichever jurisdiction or territory that they are located in.

​Does Myeong citizenship entitle me to live or work in Korea or the rest of East Asia? 

No. Myeong citizenship does not entitle anyone to live or work in any territory controlled by any recognised member state of the United Nations. Officers of the Immigration Service of His Majesty's Government are not authorised to provide personal references to Myeong citizens seeking legal entry to any territorial sovereign state.

Do I need to be an ethnic Korean in order to become a Myeong citizen?

​

No. The Myeong Commonwealth draws its members from all over the world, wherever they are based, without regard to their ethnicity and macronationality. The Myeong Commonwealth allows those not from an East Asian cultural background or never exposed to Confucian civilisation to become a member of an East Asian cultural and religious community. However, there is at least one caveat: every citizen of the Myeong Commonwealth must choose for himself or herself a surname and name writable in Hangul and Hanmun with no more than three characters.

Is the Myeong Commonwealth related to South or North Korea?

The Myeong Commonwealth is not related to or in any form of competition with the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Why do you sometimes call yourselves a 'crowned republic'? Is that not a contradiction in terms?

The Myeong Commonwealth is a republic, because every citizen enjoys political equality, in the sense of being able to take part in one-person-one-vote House of Representatives General Election. It is for the House of Representative to choose the Prime Minister, and for the Prime Minister from amongst other duly elected Members of the Commonwealth Assembly to become Secretaries of the Commonwealth of His Majesty's Government. The Commonwealth Assembly and the Government are locked in a relationship of checks and balances with other constitutional institutions, including the Supreme Court of Justice, the Commonwealth Procuratorate, and the Commonwealth Inspectorate, under the grand scheme of things outlined in the Constitution of the Myeong Commonwealth.

However, the Myeong Commonwealth is not an ordinary republic but a 'crowned' republic. Although major public powers are exercised by government officials hand-in-hand with elected representatives, a constitutional hereditary monarch exists as the ceremonial Head of the Commonwealth, whose role is largely symbolic, devoid of all public powers. Constitutional monarchy provides stability and continuity in governance as the monarch embodies the nation's history, religion, traditions, and moral values, transcending political changes and partisan differences.

Do you uphold authoritarian and draconian traditions and practices of the Daemyeong Empire and the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon that contradict with modern standards of international human rights?

All traditions, practices, and institutions of the Daemyeong Empire, the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon, and the Daehan Empire that are consistent with the Constitution are upheld, preserved, revitalised, and promoted. Conversely, all traditions, practices, and institutions of the same that conflict with the Constitution, including but not limited to absolute monarchy, arbitrary arrest and detention, centralisation that undermines checks and balances, collective punishment, covert judicial proceedings, forced labour, the use of clandestine courts, the participation of eunuchs in the management of the Imperial Household and of public affairs, political censorship, polygamy, punitive measures involving violence, conviction and sentencing without fair and public trials, and the deployment of secret police by the state, are strictly prohibited.

Why does the Myeong Commonwealth refuse to recognise the legitimacy of the defunct Manchu Daecheongguk as a legitimate Confucian imperial dynasty of continental East Asia?

The Daecheongguk (대청국) was founded by the Manchus, also known as the Jurchens, who were barbarians previously subject to the Daemyeong Empire and the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon, with a civilisation far behind that of Hwaha. What is worse, the Daecheongguk came to power in the Central Plains through military conquest and the brutal execution of the Yeonglyeok Emperor of Daemyeong (영력제) (r. 1646-1662) in 1662, rather than through the traditional Confucian method of a peaceful transferal of power through the rite of seon-yang (선양). The Manchus had their own distinct nomadic traditions, especially an attire and hair-style imposed on the pain of death penalty. It was irreconcilable with Confucian teaching about proper attire and etiquette. Therefore, Joseon had always seen the Daecheongguk as an illegitimate barbaric usurper's regime, as evidenced by Joseon's continued adherence and development of Daemyeong Empire attire, hair-style, and etiquette.