Korean independence activist (1867–1932)
Lee Hoe-Yeong (Korean: ; also Lee Hoe-Young; March 17, 1867 – November 17, 1932), also known by his art name Woodang, was a Korean independence activist, anarchist and one of the founders of Shinheung Military Academy () in Manchuria. He used his entire fortune worth about two trillion won (1.7 billion dollars) in today's value to fight against the Japanese occupation of Korea. He is the elder brother of Lee Si-Yeong, a future Vice President of the Republic of Korea.
Born into the noble Gyeongju Lee clan, in which his ancestors were appointed governmental officials during the Joseon period, he and his brothers (with the exception of his eldest brother) decided to flee Korea, rather than to become subjects of oppression. His siblings are:
When Lee arrived in China, he stayed in Manchuria before moving to Beijing and later Shanghai.
Lee was arrested upon arrival from Shanghai at Dalian, and later imprisoned in the infamous Lushun Prison until his death. He died on November 17, 1932. The cause of his death was a mystery, and the Japanese authority claims that he had hanged himself on the window bars of a police station, using a hemp cloth. The Japanese' claim was refuted by Koreans, who claimed Lee was killed by the Japanese. Upon his death, his body was cremated on the same day; the ashes were later brought back to Japanese-occupied Korea, and finally re-interred at Seoul National Cemetery, years after Korean independence.
Lee was posthumously awarded with the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962. In 2000, the Chinese government proclaimed him as a "Patriotic martyr of the anti-imperialism/anti-Japanese revolution" for his struggle against Japanese imperialism in China.
In 2010, a five-part drama series was aired by KBS to commemorate of his struggle, titled "Freedom Fighter, Lee Hoe-young". The series aired on 29 August 2010, the date of the centenary of the Annexation of Korea by Japan.
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