An Jung-geun was a brave man.
He lived in Korea long ago. He wanted his home to be free. He worked hard to help his people. Many people remember him today.
Do you know about heroes?
An Jung-geun was a man from Korea.
He wanted his land to be free. He was very good at using guns.
He went to a train station in China. There, he shot a leader from Japan. This leader was named Itō Hirobumi.
An was caught by guards. He was sent to a prison. He was a very religious man. A priest named Father Wilhelm helped him.
An died in the prison. His mother was very proud of him. She said he was brave.
Many people honor him now. They remember his work for his home.
An Jung-geun was a man from Korea.
He wanted his country to be free from Japan. An was a very good marksman. He could shoot with great skill. He was also a Catholic. A priest named Father Wilhelm helped him.
In 1909, An went to a train station in China. He was waiting for Itō Hirobumi. Itō was a top leader from Japan. An shot Itō three times. An then yelled for Korean independence. Russian guards caught him. They gave him to the Japanese.
An was sent to a prison in China. He had a trial there. He said he acted for his country. He wanted to help the East find peace. His mother sent him a message. She said he should be brave for justice. An died in the prison in 1910. Many people in Korea honor him today. They see him as a hero.
His family also fought for Korea. His brothers and nephews joined the fight too. One nephew became a leader in the army. An's work helped start a movement for freedom.
An Jung-geun was a famous Korean independence activist.
He lived during a time when Japan ruled over Korea. An wanted his country to be free and independent. He was born on September 2, 1879, in Haeju. As a young boy, he studied many different subjects. He learned Chinese literature and Western sciences. He was also very interested in martial arts. He was known as an excellent marksman.
An was a person of strong faith. He joined the Catholic Church at age 16.
He took the name Thomas during his baptism. A priest named Father Wilhelm helped him many times. Father Wilhelm even hid An in a church for months. An worked hard to help his people in other ways too. He started a coal business when he was 25. Later, he built private schools to teach Koreans. He also joined a movement to help pay off national debts.
In October 1909, An took a very big step. He went to the Harbin Railway Station in China. He was waiting for Itō Hirobumi, a top Japanese leader.
An used a pistol to shoot Itō three times. He also shot three other men who were nearby. After the shooting, An yelled for Korean independence in Russian. Russian guards arrested him at the station. They held him for two days before giving him to Japanese authorities.
An was sent to the Lüshun Russo-Japanese Prison. He had a trial to decide his fate. During the trial, An explained his reasons. He listed fifteen crimes that Itō had committed. An argued that he was a prisoner of war. However, the court did not agree with him. He was sentenced to death in February 1910. His mother sent him a message of great courage. She told him to be brave for justice.
An Jung-geun died in prison on March 26, 1910.
Many people in Korea and China honor him today. They call him a martyr for his cause. His family also played a big part in history. His brothers and nephews fought for Korean independence too. One nephew even became a leader in the Korean army. An's life remains a powerful story of fighting for freedom.
An Jung-geun was a prominent Korean independence activist during the early 20th century.
He lived during a period when Japan exercised control over Korea. An became a symbol of resistance through his actions against Japanese leadership. His life was defined by his commitment to Korean sovereignty and his Catholic faith. Today, he is remembered differently depending on the country. The governments of South Korea, North Korea, and both China recognize him as a martyr. However, the Japanese government views him as a terrorist.
An was born on September 2, 1879, in Haeju, Joseon. His family had a strong tradition of service and activism. As a youth, he studied Chinese literature and Western sciences. He also developed skills in martial arts and marksmanship. Kim Ku, a future leader of the independence movement, noted An's strong charisma. At age 16, An entered the Catholic Church with his father.
He received the baptismal name Thomas and learned French. A priest named Father Wilhelm provided him with significant support. Father Wilhelm even hid An in a church for several months to protect him from the Japanese.
An's activism took many forms before his most famous action. At age 25, he operated a coal business. Following the Eulsa Treaty, he focused on educating Koreans by establishing private schools in northwestern Korea. He also participated in the National Debt Repayment Movement. His political involvement caused tension with the Catholic Church. Authorities wanted the Church to remain apolitical. Because of this, An was refused communion. In 1907, he left for Vladivostok to join armed resistance against Japanese rule. He eventually became a lieutenant general in a Korean resistance group.
In October 1909, An carried out a major operation in Harbin, China. He traveled to the Harbin Railway Station by pretending to be a Japanese expat. He waited for Itō Hirobumi, the Japanese Resident-General of Korea.
An used an FN M1900 pistol to shoot Itō three times on the platform. He also shot three other men: Kawagami Toshihiko, Morita Jirō, and Tanaka Seitarō. These men were also seriously injured. After the shooting, An shouted for Korean independence in Russian. Russian guards arrested him and held him for two days. They then turned him over to Japanese colonial authorities.
An was imprisoned at the Lüshun Russo-Japanese Prison. During his detention, he was provided with ample food and daily necessities. His calligraphy was highly admired by the Japanese. During his trial, An presented fifteen specific crimes committed by Itō Hirobumi. He argued that he should be treated as a prisoner of war. However, the court rejected this claim and applied Japanese criminal law. The Japanese Foreign Minister, Komura Jutarō, ordered the case be handled under Japanese law. In February 1910, the court sentenced An to death.
An's family provided him with strength during his final days. His mother, Jo Maria, sent a message through his brothers. She told him that his death was for his country. She urged him to die bravely for justice. An expressed a desire to write a work called "A Treatise on Peace in the East." He hoped to rectify the policies of Itō.
Unfortunately, Tokyo ordered a prompt execution. This left his writing unfinished. An requested to be executed by a firing squad as a prisoner of war. Instead, he was hanged as a common criminal on March 26, 1910.
An's death had a lasting impact on Korean history. His family members continued to participate in the independence movement. His brothers and nephews joined the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. One nephew, An Chun-Saeng, became a lieutenant general in the Republic of Korea Army. In 1962, the South Korean government awarded An the Republic of Korea Medal. This is the highest grade of the Order of Merit for National Foundation. A large centenary tribute was held in South Korea in 2010. While his exact burial site remains unknown, he is honored at Hyochang Park in Seoul.
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