Son Byong-hi
Son Byong-hi was a notable Korean independence activist and the third supreme head of the Donghak (Eastern Studies) movement.
Born in Cheongju in 1861, Son joined the Donghak movement in 1882, and began studying under Haewol Choe Si-hyeong.
In 1894, Son fought in several battles against the Japanese, including some early victories, but later had to go into hiding after facing some setbacks. Three years later, he succeeded Choe to become the third head of Donghak.
Son was exiled to Japan in 1901, but upon returning to Korea the following year organized for some 64 students to study overseas in Japan. In 1905, he renamed Donghak to Chondogyo, establishing a new headquarters for the movement the following year, and excommunicating over sixty people from the movement for being pro-Japanese.
On March 1, 1919, he helped lead the March First Independence Movement, reading out a proclamation on the behalf of 33 National Representatives. For his involvement, he was sentenced by the Japanese to hard prison labor at Seodaemun Prison. Son was released the following year due to illness, and died as a result of that illness on May 19, 1922.
Son was posthumously honored with the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962. A statue of him stands today in Tapgol Park, where the 1919 March First Proclamation was performed.
References
- Plaques at Tapgol Park.[1]
