Ji Cheong-cheon
Encyclopedia
Ji Cheong-Cheon also known as Yi Cheong-Cheon (이청천, 李靑天) (1888-1959) was a Korean independence activist during the period of Japanese rule
(1910 - 1935). He later became a South Korean politician. His name was originally Yi Dae Hyong but took up the nom de guerre Ji Cheong-Cheon, meaning Earth and Blue Sky, while leading Korean guerrilla forces against the Japanese.
He was a 1914 graduate of the Japanese military academy; however, he defected to the Korean guerilla forces in 1919, bringing with him knowledge of modern military techniques when he was Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant
officer. His skills were appreciated by the Korean guerilla forces who made him the superintendent of the Sinheung Military Academy where new leaders of the Korean forces were being trained.
In 1940, he became the commander-in-chief of the Korean Liberation Army
sponsored by the Chinese Nationalists. During the Second World War, he invited General Hong Sa Ik, the highest ranking Korean officer in the Imperial Japanese Army
, to defect and join the Korean Liberation Army but the invitation was declined.
Following Korea's liberation, he served as a member of the Korean National Assembly. General Ji Cheong-Cheon died in 1959. Ji was posthumously honored by the government of the Republic of Korea with the Order of Independence Merit for National Foundation
in 1962.
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
(1910 - 1935). He later became a South Korean politician. His name was originally Yi Dae Hyong but took up the nom de guerre Ji Cheong-Cheon, meaning Earth and Blue Sky, while leading Korean guerrilla forces against the Japanese.
He was a 1914 graduate of the Japanese military academy; however, he defected to the Korean guerilla forces in 1919, bringing with him knowledge of modern military techniques when he was Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
officer. His skills were appreciated by the Korean guerilla forces who made him the superintendent of the Sinheung Military Academy where new leaders of the Korean forces were being trained.
In 1940, he became the commander-in-chief of the Korean Liberation Army
Korean Liberation Army
The Korean Liberation Army, established on September 17, 1941 in Chongqing, China, was the armed force of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea...
sponsored by the Chinese Nationalists. During the Second World War, he invited General Hong Sa Ik, the highest ranking Korean officer in the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, to defect and join the Korean Liberation Army but the invitation was declined.
Following Korea's liberation, he served as a member of the Korean National Assembly. General Ji Cheong-Cheon died in 1959. Ji was posthumously honored by the government of the Republic of Korea with the Order of Independence Merit for National Foundation
Order of Merit for National Foundation
The Order of Merit for National Foundation is an Order of South Korea. It is typically reserved for those who contributed to the founding of the modern Republic of Korea.It is awarded in five grades:...
in 1962.