In honor of the life of Ilhan New, The Twenty Million‍ ‍is written to commemorate the Resolution Elucidating Koreans' Purposes and Aspiration (often indexed in diplomatic and historical archives under the heading "Aims and Aspirations of the Koreans") which was drafted and announced during the First Korean Congress held in Philadelphia from April 14–16, 1919.

Ilhan New, then just 24 years old and completing his studies at the University of Michigan, served on the drafting and resolution committees alongside figures like Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae-pil) and Syngman Rhee. The resolution outlined the political, social, and human rights framework for what a liberated, democratic Korea would look like—acting as a modern blueprint for a constitutional republic.

The Twenty Million was commissioned and performed by ensemble PHASE, Seoul, South Korea.