Sunwoo Jin

Sunwoo Jin (January 18, 1922 – May 17, 2009) was a Korean politician, activist during Korea under Japanese rule, and served as an officer of the Korean Liberation Army. He was born in the Jeongju-gun, North Pyeongan Province (Republic of Korea) and comes from the Taewon Seonu clan. Sunwoo Jin played a major role in the Korean independence movement as the personal secretary to famous Korean Activism Kim Gu, Kim Gu. He served as his personal secretary from January 31, 1945 - June 26, 1949.
== Early Life and Involvement in Korean Independence ==
Sunwoo Jin was born in Japanese occupied Korea, in the Jeongju-gun, North Pyeongan Province (Republic of Korea). Being born ethnically Korean, many discriminations were brought upon him, his family, and many others during this period. In his early 20s, he left and helped form the Korean Independence Party as well as volunteering in the Korean Liberation Army alongside Kim Gu. He had to leave most of his family behind and he did not see them again until after Korean independence.
=== Academic Background ===
At the age of 18, Sunwoo Jin attended the Changchun University in Manchukuo, earning a Bachelor's degree from the Department of Law. He then sought off to the Republic of China Military Academy where he graduated in order to prepare for his career as a member of the Korean Liberation Army. After his work as a Korean activist and service in the Korean Liberation Army, he completed another Bachelor's degree in Public Administration at Korea National Defense University.
=== Sunwoo Jin's journey to China ===
Having left his family behind, Sunwoo Jin travelled with many other young aspiring Korean activists in order to fight for Korean independence. Many independence movements in Korea used Nationalist government as a protector state in order to avoid Japanese persecution. The journey through China was rough, as China was an economically downtrodden nation due to many Century of humiliation and warfare with its neighbors. With the lack of vehicles to aid their travel, Sunwoo Jin and his associates had to walk over 6,000 miles to Shanghai, China.
=== Work in the Korean Liberation Army and Korean Independence Movement ===
Joining Kim Gu's work in China to help liberate Korea from Japanese rule, Sunwoo Jin enlisted in the Korean Liberation Army in August 1944. He entered the Korean Liberation Army cadre training group attached to the 10th branch school cadre training group at the Republic of China Military Academy where he would complete his military education and training. He was then assigned to the General Headquarters of TI&E (Troop Information and Education) and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Liberation Army. At the general headquarters, he worked on propaganda campaigns, and worked to broadcast news for those listening to networks affiliated with the Korean independence movement.
== Post-Korean Independence ==
After seeing the liberation of Korea with the Surrender of Japan and their surrender to Allies of World War II, Sunwoo Jin attempted to return to South Korea. Because of the ongoing Chinese Civil War, there were issues that impeded the return of Sunwoo Jin and Kim Gu back to South Korea. The Kuomintang was supposed to help facilitate the return of Sunwoo Jin and Kim Gu, but could not due to political conflicts. Eventually, the United States was able to help Kim Gu and Sunwoo Jin return to South Korea in time for the joint South-North conference in Pyongyang in 1948. He then worked as a Korean politician as the Vice-President of the United States Army Military Government in Korea, Chief of Staff to Kim Gu being the President of this committee prior to the establishing of the First Republic of Korea. Sunwoo Jin was awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation of the Republic of Korea in 1977 and the Order of National Founding of the Republic of Korea Patriotic Medal in 1990.
=== Syngman Rhee's reign in Korea ===
During Syngman Rhee presidency in the First Republic of Korea, Rhee's government was disliked by many Korean citizens as it was similar to the North's. The First Republic of Korea was ruled in an authoritarian dictatorship-like way with limited democracy in the country. After Syngman Rhee took office as the president, many Korean activists and independence fighters were targeted in fear of a counter revolution against his rule. Because of the unpopular regime, April Revolution and protests broke out in Korea for reforms and government change. As a result of this, Kim Gu, and many other activists were persecuted and hunted down by the military and police for suspicion of instigating the insurrections. After Kim Gu's assassination, because Sunwoo Jin was such a trusted associate of Kim Gu, whenever there were protests against Rhee, the police believed Sunwoo Jin was directly involved, and had to hide in his attic in his home to prevent his arrest as and instigator against Syngman Rhee.
=== Family ===
Being the father of six children (3 boys and 3 girls including twin girls), and a husband to Kwon Jeong-rye, his work was very risky to the family. His twin daughters were born on June 22nd, 1950 in Seoul, 3 days before the beginning of the Korean War. As the two newborns were put to sleep, a bomb was dropped near their house, and shrapnel had flown and left a small scar on his daughter's face. Because of the ongoing conflict and threat of invading forces from the North, Sunwoo Jin's family was forced to flee to Busan.Mcauliffe, William. “Sunwoo Jin Family Interview.” 22 Nov. 2021. He and his family had to walk to Busan, due to the chaos and inability to access vehicles and the threat of enemy bombings.
=== Later Life ===
After leaving politics behind, continued to work as Kim Gu's secretary. He helped manage and organize Kim Gu's work and life until his death in 1949. After Kim Gu's death, Sunwoo Jin worked to maintain the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul. He had many business ties with the museum and Kim Gu himself, and became it's executive director. He lived with his family until his passing in May 17th, 2009 at the age of 87. He was then buried at the Daejeon National Cemetery|National Cemetery in Daejon on May 20, 2009.
Category:1922 births
Category:2009 deaths
Category:Korean politicians