Hong Gi-jo

Hong Gi-jo (洪基兆, 6 December 1865 – 6 July 1938) was a Korean independence activist. His Cheondoist doho (道號) was Yuam (游菴).

He was born in Ryonggang County, South Pyeongan Province. In his childhood he studied Confucian classics, and in his early twenties he joined Donghak. In 1894, during the Donghak Peasant Revolution, he led Donghak believers from the Gwanseo region and took part in it.

On 25 February 1919, he came to Gyeongseong on business related to Cheondoist affairs, and at the urging of Son Byong-hi, Kwon Dong-jin, and Oh Se-chang, he agreed to take part in the March 1st Movement as one of the Thirty-three National Representatives. On 27 February he met with Cheondoist representatives and signed the draft of the Korean Declaration of Independence drafted by Choe Nam-seon. On 1 March, the day itself, he attended the reading gathering at Taehwagwan, was arrested, and was sentenced to two years in prison, which he served.

Posthumous honors

• The Government of South Korea honored his contributions in 1962 by posthumously awarding him the Presidential Medal of the Order of National Foundation.

References

• Hong Gi-jo: Register of Independence Merit Recipients - Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
• Hong Gi-jo Dictionary of Korean Independence Activists, 《Independence Hall of Korea Institute of Korean Independence Movement Studies》