Dosan clearly understood honesty is the most important element in leadership. He knew honesty generates trust among the members of his or her organization. Dosan never compromised honesty and trust.

The University of California, Harvard University, The City of Los Angeles, PBS, NBC, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times among many leading influential institutions are ignorantly spreading an inaccurate version of Dosan's legacy and Korean history. Not upholding the truth is disappointing, harmful and shameful. Long standing principles have been compromised. Trust cannot be placed in leaders and members of institutions who incorrectly and unethically revise history.

According to Suh Sang Mok in his Dosan leadership book Love Yourself Love Others Dosan believed the method in developing trustworthiness was to make meticulous plans based on accurate analysis of all the facts; and, Dosan said to put forth the best effort and follow the plan until you achieve the mission. Dosan warned not compromising your principles was critical, as well.

Dosan left many quotes about his view of truth:

"Let us reform our mouths that are prone to lie and train them to tell the truth only." Dosan Ahn Chang Ho

When you look at this book to the left The Truth About Korea from 1919 C.W. Kendall and the Korean patriots who followed Dosan were much more meticulous than people who write about Korean history today.

Dosan wanted Koreans to understand being a good citizen was important. Good education was a pathway to good citizenship.

From: Why Study History

Peter N. Stearns 1998

Studying History Is Essential for Good Citizenship

A study of history is essential for good citizenship. This is the most common justification for the place of history in school curricula. Sometimes advocates of citizenship history hope merely to promote national identity and loyalty through a history spiced by vivid stories and lessons in individual success and morality. But the importance of history for citizenship goes beyond this narrow goal and can even challenge it at some points.

History that lays the foundation for genuine citizenship returns, in one sense, to the essential uses of the study of the past. History provides data about the emergence of national institutions, problems, and values—it's the only significant storehouse of such data available. It offers evidence also about how nations have interacted with other societies, providing international and comparative perspectives essential for responsible citizenship. Further, studying history helps us understand how recent, current, and prospective changes that affect the lives of citizens are emerging or may emerge and what causes are involved. More important, studying history encourages habits of mind that are vital for responsible public behavior, whether as a national or community leader, an informed voter, a petitioner, or a simple observer.