**Kye Hun-je** (桂勳梯, December 31, 1921 – March 14, 1999) was an [[independence activist]] of [[South Korea]], a [[democracy activist]], and a social activist who after liberation served as an operating committee member of the National Solidarity Council and as standing co-representative of the National Campaign for Democratic Constitution.[^1] He was from [[Sŏnch'ŏn County]], [[North P'yŏngan Province]].

## Biography

In 1921, he was born in Sŏnch'ŏn (宣川), P'yŏngan Province, as the youngest of five children of his father Kye Bong-jip (桂鳳集) and his mother Lee Hyeong-jeo (李亨姐).

In 1943, while a first-year student at the [[Keijo Imperial University]], he was arrested by Japanese military police after crossing the border intending to refuse Japanese conscription of students into the army and go to the Provisional Government, and was taken to a volunteer training camp.He carried out anti-Japanese activities while performing heavy labor at a quarry near Pyongyang, joining the "Joseon Minjok Haebang Hyeopdongdan," an anti-Japanese independence organization linked to the [[Korean Independence League]].

After liberation, at the recommendation of [[Jang Jun-ha]], he worked under [[Baekbeom Kim Gu]]. Under Baekbeom's influence, he took part in the struggle against the [[Trusteeship debate|trusteeship]], and he supported Baekbeom's North-South negotiations, even shaving his head in protest. When he was president of the student council of the Seoul National University College of Liberal Arts' Department of Political Science, he led the "[[National University Bill]] opposition struggle" against the nationalization of Seoul National University under the US Army Military Government.

While serving as student committee chairman, he met [[Lee Hee-ho]] and nearly became her husband, but later, when Kye contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and Lee left for study in the United States, their relationship came to an end.[^2]

After the [[May 16 coup|May 16 military coup]], he began a thorny path of democracy activism. He led opposition efforts at every political turning point during the [[Park Chung-hee]] administration, including the [[Korea–Japan Talks]] in 1963, the [[Vietnam War#South Korean involvement|dispatch of troops to South Vietnam]] in 1968, and the [[Third-term amendment|constitutional amendment for a third term]] in 1969. He worked as an educator, and as a journalist he served as editor-in-chief of ''[[Sasanggye]]'' and as an editorial committee member of ''Ssial ui Sori'', leading democratization and unification movements against military dictatorship.

During the "[[Seoul Spring]]" of 1980, he called for the lifting of martial law, and he was caught up in the "[[Kim Dae-jung incitement to rebellion incident]]," after which he was arrested following 15 months on the run. Throughout the [[Fifth Republic of Korea|Fifth Republic]], he led the democratization struggle, and in 1987 he became standing co-representative of the "National Campaign for Democratic Constitution" and led the [[June Democratic Struggle]] of 1987.

Afterward, he continued to serve as standing adviser of the National Alliance of Democratic Movement and others, and he continued fighting for democratization and unification for the rest of his life.

On March 14, 1999, he died at the age of 77 from complications due to aftereffects of torture. His remains were interred at [[Moran Park]] in Wolsan-ri, [[Hwado-eup]], [[Namyangju]], [[Gyeonggi Province]], [[South Korea]].

## Writings

While bedridden, he wrote the autobiography "My Struggle, My Life," but was unable to finish it. This posthumous manuscript was published in 2002 as "White Rubber Shoes – Kye Hun-je, Unfinished Autobiography" (Samin).

## Chronology

-   December 31, 1921: Born in Buhwang, Sŏnch'ŏn County, [[North P'yŏngan Province]]
-   1940s, Japanese colonial period: Took part in anti-Japanese activities, including refusing military conscription of students
-   After liberation: Waged the anti-trusteeship struggle under [[Kim Gu]] and supported Kim's North-South negotiations
-   1946: As president of the student council of the Seoul National University College of Liberal Arts, led the opposition to the [[National University Bill]]
-   Took part in the [[April Revolution]]; formed the "Free Press Protection Council"; served as editor-in-chief of ''[[Sasanggye]]''
-   1960–1961: Organized a teachers' union; lecturer at [[Kukhak University]]
-   1962: Formed the "Free Press Protection Council" with [[Ham Sok-hon]], [[Jang Jun-ha]], and others
-   1969: Standing operating committee member of the Anti-Third-Term Amendment Struggle Committee
-   1970–1979: Editorial committee member of ''Ssial ui Sori''
-   1973–1974: Principal of Guhwa High School; operating committee member of the [[National Council for Restoration of Democracy]]
-   1975: Imprisoned for violating [[Emergency Decree No. 9]]
-   1977: Operating committee member of the "National Federation for Democracy"
-   1980: During the "Seoul Spring," worked to unite nationwide and cross-class aspirations; wanted for conspiracy to commit insurrection, living on the run for 15 months
-   1982: Imprisoned in connection with violation of an emergency decree and the [[Kim Dae-jung incitement to rebellion incident]]
-   1984: Vice chairman of the [[National Council for Democratic Unification]]
-   1985: Vice chairman of the [[National Alliance of Democratic Movement]] (Mintongnyeon)
-   1986: Acting chairman of Mintongnyeon
-   1987: During the [[June Democratic Struggle]], as acting chairman of Mintongnyeon, organized and led the "National Campaign for Democratic Constitution"; led the sit-in at the Anglican church that declared the [[June 10 Struggle]], and was arrested for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act
-   1988: While preparing the Pan-National Conference, played a leading role in the unification movement
-   1989: Standing adviser of the [[National Alliance of Democratic Movement]] (national federation)
-   1989: Co-chairman of the National Council for Independent Democratic Unification
-   1991: Standing adviser of the [[Democratic National Unification Federation]]
-   1995: Member of the preparatory committee for the 20th anniversary memorial event for the late [[Jang Jun-ha]]
-   March 14, 1999: Died

## Education

-   1940: Graduated from Sŏnch'ŏn Higher Common School
-   1943: Withdrawn from the [[Keijo Imperial University]] Department of Law
-   1949: Bachelor's degree in political science, [[Seoul National University]]

## Footnotes

[^1]: [Encyclopedia of Korean Culture](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0003287)
[^2]: ["Mrs. Lee Hee-ho's autobiography 'Together' published"](https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0002355281). ''Yonhap News''. November 8, 2008. Confirmed June 24, 2019.