MY FATHER

My father spent his summer-breaks traveling to Ahnju, Kangdong, Sunahn, Yiju and other towns in

Pyongahn provinces as well as to regions in Hwanghae, on mass enlightenment and recruitment

missions. The most valuable thing my father gained at Sungsil was the comradeship of his friends, many

of whom became long-term close personal friends and comrades-in-arms in his fight against the

Japanese. They were bright, eager and magnanimous; the cream of a new generation of Korea. Among

them was Lee Bo Sik from Pyongyang, who was active in both clubs at the school, played key roles in

forming the Korean People's Association and the March First Movement. When we lived in Bongwha-ri,

Lee Bo Sik came to see my father frequently at our home and also at Myongsil school where my father

taught.

Baik Seh Bin (aka Baik Young Mu) from North Pyongahn Province was a close friend of my father. He

came from Pihyon and acted as a guide whenever my father traveled in his area. He was a national and

international liaison for the Korean People's Association. In December 1960, I heard that Paik Se Bin

became an active member of the National Self Determination for Independence League in South Korea.

Park In Gwan roomed with my father when he briedly stayed at the school dormitory. In the spring of

1917, Park got a job teaching at Kwangsun school in Unyul, Hwnaghae Province. While teaching there,

he became an active member of the Korean People's Association. He was arrested while recruiting

members in Songwha, Jaeryong, Haeju and other towns of the province and spent a year in the Haeju

prison. "The Peninsula and Us", a thesis written by his students at the school is preserved and on display

at the Unul library. The thesis is a witness to the revolutionary activities of the Association.

Oh Dong Jin was perhaps the closest associate of my father. He was a frequent house guest at our home

going back to my father's Sungsil school days. Oh Dong Jin attended Daesung School in Pyongyang,

which was established by Ahn Chang Ho. On account of their common ideology that transcended

personal attributes, their camaraderie evolved rapidly. Oh Dong Jin met my father for the first time in

the spring of 1910 at an athletic meet held at an old training ground of the Yi Dynasty army. Some

10,000 students from Pyongyang, Pakchun, Kangsuh, Youngyu and other towns were at the meet,

My father spoke at a speech contest held upon completion of the athletic events. Some

speakers advocated that the best route for Korea to catch up with the rest of the world

was to follow Japan model and adopt Japanese culture. My father vehemently denounce

it and advocated that the Korean people alone were capable of uplifting themselves

from poverty and backwardness. The crowd liked what they heard; among the crowd

was Oh Dong Jin, who was so moved by my father's speech on that day, he devoted his

life to patriotic activities. From 1913 on, Oh, using retail business as a guise, traveled to

Seoul, Pyongyang, Sinyiju and other major cities in Korea and China. He used to drop

in to to see my father and they would spend hours discussing anti-Japanese

activities

(Photo: Oh Dong Jin in prison).

By that time, Oh Dong Jin had become a household name. He was from a wealthy prominent family and

he could have led a comfortable life, but instead, ho chose the difficult and dangerous path of anti-

Japanese activities. Oh took up arms to fight the Japanese. Oh showed much respect for and devotion to

my father. His home at Yiju had so many visitors seeking his advice that he set up a visitors quarter with

its own kitchen staff. But my father was always welcome to the inner quarters and Oh's wife personally

prepared meals for my father. Oh and his wife visited us once and Grandma gave them a rice serving

bowl as a humble gift(PAGE 18-19)