Individuals make history. We all belong to a society that is largely dictated by the norms and beliefs associated with particular changes in history. Aside from anonymous social, economic, and political forces, many of us believe that it is the individuals who are responsible for shaping the history of our nation. Korea’s five-thousand-year-long history would not be complete without important figures that strongly influenced their times. Starting from today, we examine the past, present, and the future of Korea by introducing the lives of great men and women who forever changed the course of Korean history.






Harbin, 1909
At 9:30am on October 26, 1909, the first Resident-General of Korea and the first prime minister of Japan Ito Hirobumi was shot to death at the Harbin Railway Station in China. After firing seven shots on Hirobumi, a man yelled for Korean independence as he shouted “Ura Korea!” in Russian meaning “Long Live Korea.” It was Ahn Jung-geun, a man who represented more than an independence fighter and a peace activist; he is undeniably one of Korea’s greatest heroes who sacrificed his life for the good of his country and its people.

Hirobumi, a symbolic figure representing Japanese imperialism and the main conspirator behind Korea’s annexation, had arrived in Harbin for a scheduled meeting with the Russian Finance Minister Kokovtsoff on the day of his assassination. Thirty minutes after being shot by Ahn, Hirobumi collapsed onto the railway platform where he met his death. Standing behind this watershed event in history was none other than Ahn, one of Korea’s most revered independence fighters against the Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century.

The Life of Ahn Jung-geun
Among many patriotic martyrs who devoted their lives for the sake of their country, Ahn is long remembered as the symbol of Korean spirit and pride. Born on September 2, 1879 in Haeju, Hwanghae Province, Ahn was given the childhood name “Ahn Eung Chil,” which meant “seven marks” as he had seven star-like moles on his chest and abdomen. He used the name “Eung Chil” as an alias later when he became actively engaged in independence movements. Born into a respected family, Ahn once wanted to pursue a career in writing as he loved to read Chinese classics. As a young man, Ahn became more interested in martial arts and enjoyed hunting and horseback riding. Influenced by his father, Ahn converted to Catholicism in 1895 and began to learn Western studies. In 1906, he founded a school to educate young people amidst political turmoil and the impending upheaval following forced disbanding of Korean military units. In the following year, Ahn moved to the Maritime Province of Siberia where he joined an army to fight for the independence of Korea.

In 1909, serving as the chief of staff for the Korean Righteous Army, Ahn swore an oath with 11 other compatriots in a relentless effort to regain Korea’s sovereignty. Ahn was arrested immediately after the assassination of Hirobumi, and after a week, he was locked up in Lushun prison, where he was sentenced to death on February 14, 1910. During his trial in a Japanese court, Ahn claimed that his decision to gun down the enemy general was not in a personal capacity, but rather based on a greater, righteous cause. He also stated 15 different reasons for assassinating Hirobumi including Hirobumi’s involvement in the murder of Empress Myeongseong and Japan’s encroachment in disturbing unity among Asian nations.

Ahn as a Philosopher
During the 144 days he spent in prison, Ahn wrote his autobiography “The Story of Ahn Eung Chil” and “On Peace in East Asia,” which revealed Ahn’s thinking on promoting cooperative prosperity among Korea, China, and Japan. Although Ahn was executed before his book was finished, the written works provide convincing evidence to support the claim that Ahn was more than a patriot. As a pan-Asianist, Ahn emphasized the need for Korea, China, and Japan to come together to restore peace in East Asia.

At 10:00am on March 26, 1910, Ahn was hanged in Lushun prison at the age of 31. In his last words, Ahn defended his deed and said, “I did this solely for the sake of peace in Asia. Korea and Japan should work together to promote peace in the East.”

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Ahn, Koreans as well as the Japanese have joined together to reflect on the life of one of the most respected pioneers in Korean history who urged the need for cooperation and reconciliation among Asian countries. Being recognized once again as a philosopher and an ideologist, more aspects of Ahn’s life remain to be told, chronicled, and respected.