 Kim Ok-gyun, while studying in Japan, had also cultivated friendships with influential Japanese figures and became the de facto leader of the group.They were also strongly nationalistic and desired to make their country truly independent by ending Chinese interference in Korea's internal affairs.The "Sadaedang" was a group of conservatives, which included not only Min Yeong-ik from the Min family but also other prominent Korean political figures that wanted to maintain power with China's help.