ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪntiːn, hiː, ɔnðə ɹˌɛkəmɛndˈeɪʃən ʌvðə pɹəvˈɪʒənəl ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ʌvðə ɹᵻpˈʌblɪk ʌv kɚɹˈiːə, tˈʊk ˌʌp ðə pəzˈɪʃən ʌv dʒˈɛnɚɹəl kəmˈændɚɹ ʌvðə nˈɔːɹðɚn mˈɪlətˌɛɹi ɐdmˌɪnɪstɹˈeɪʃən ˈɑːfɪs ˈɑːɹmi bˌʌŋnəɡˌʌndʒɪəŋsˈeɪoʊ ɪn kɚɹˈiːən.
In 1919, he, on the recommendation of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, took up the position of general commander of the Northern Military Administration Office Army (Bungnogunjeongseo in Korean).