1. Early Life and Background
Hong Jin's early life laid the foundation for his later dedication to the Korean independence movement, marked by his education in law and his initial career in the legal field.
1.1. Birth and Family
Hong Jin was born on August 27, 1877, as Hong Myeon-hui (홍면희Hong Myeon-huiKorean). While some records indicate his birth in Yeongdong County, Chungcheong Province, others state he was born in Seosomun, Hanseong (present-day Seoul), Joseon, and briefly spent his infancy in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, before growing up in Hanseong. He hailed from a yangban family of the Pungsan Hong clan, with his father being Hong Jaesik and his mother Han Sudong. His biography by Professor Han, Si Joon contains a detailed family tree tracing his lineage back to Hong Ji-gyeong of the Goryeo dynasty, who was later known as a great master of Korean classical verse in the Joseon period. The current family register (jokbo) includes surviving members of the family who are naturalized American citizens. Hong Jin was also known by his childhood names, Bong-geun (봉근Bong-geunKorean) and U-bong (우봉U-bongKorean), and later adopted the art name Mano (만오, 만오ManoKorean). In 1896, he married Nam Sang-bok (남상복Nam Sang-bokKorean), the second daughter of Nam Suk-hui. They had a son named Hong Gi-taek (홍기택Hong Gi-taekKorean).
1.2. Education and Legal Career
Hong Jin pursued a legal education, enrolling in the Law Training Institute (법관양성소, 법관양성소Beopgwan YangseongsoKorean) in February 1903 and graduating on July 21, 1904. Although he was appointed as a doctor at the institute on July 26, he was dismissed two days later. In February 1906, he became a clerk at the Hanseong Pyeongriwon (한성평리원, 한성평리원Hanseong PyeongriwonKorean), a judicial body. After passing the judicial examination on December 5, 1906, he was appointed as a prosecutor for the Chungcheongbuk-do court on December 10.
His commitment to justice was evident when, on May 14, 1908, he refused to prosecute a case involving the Righteous Armies (의병, 의병UibyeongKorean), leading to his dismissal from the prosecutor's office. On May 29, 1908, he received a lawyer's license from the Korean Empire's Ministry of Justice. He registered as a lawyer with the Pyeongyang District Court Prosecutor's Office on July 14, 1909, and began his private practice in Pyeongyang. As a lawyer, he actively defended Korean patriots and independence activists in court against Japanese colonial authorities, demonstrating his early dedication to the national cause.
2. Independence Movement Activities
Hong Jin's involvement in the Korean independence movement was extensive and multifaceted, marked by his leadership in various organizations and his significant contributions to the Provisional Government.
2.1. 3.1 Movement and Exile
Hong Jin actively participated in the March 1st Movement of 1919, a nationwide protest against Japanese colonial rule. He served as a key liaison for the Cheongju-gun area in North Chungcheong Province, coordinating resistance efforts. On March 17, 1919, he was instrumental in organizing the Hanseong Provisional Government (한성정부, 한성정부Hanseong JeongbuKorean) at the residence of Han Seong-o, where he was appointed Vice Minister of Legal Affairs. Following the suppression of the movement, he was forced into exile. On April 15, 1919, he fled to Shanghai, China, along with Yi Gyu-gap, carrying crucial documents and the list of cabinet members of the Hanseong Provisional Government. It was during this journey, as he crossed the Yalu River (Amnok River), that he officially changed his name from Hong Myeon-hui to Hong Jin (홍진Hong JinKorean), adopting the Chinese character 洪鎭Hong JinKorean. He would later change it again to 洪震Hong JinKorean in 1926 upon his election as President of the Provisional Government. In November 1919, he was also appointed as a Provisional Government Domestic Investigation Committee member and Provisional Legislative Council Chungcheong-do Election Committee Chairman.
2.2. Provisional Government Roles
Hong Jin played a pivotal role in the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (대한민국 임시정부, 대한민국 임시정부Daehan Minguk ImsijeongbuKorean) throughout the Japanese occupation, holding numerous administrative and leadership positions.
2.2.1. Key Administrative Positions
Upon joining the Provisional Government in Shanghai, Hong Jin became a member of the Provisional Legislative Council (임시의정원, 임시의정원Imsi UijeongwonKorean) on April 11, 1919. He served as a member of the Standing Committee's 4th Subcommittee on March 19, 1920, and as a member of the Political Investigation Special Committee on March 30, 1920. His leadership capabilities were soon recognized, leading to his election as Chairman of the Provisional Legislative Council's Plenary Committee on April 6, 1921. On May 6, 1921, he was elected as the 3rd Chairman of the Provisional Legislative Council. However, he was dismissed from this position on April 3, 1922, due to the Provisional Government's responsibility regarding the Pacific Conference. In May 1924, amidst disputes over constitutional amendments within the Provisional Legislative Council, he resigned from his Provisional Government positions and went into seclusion in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. He was also appointed Minister of Legal Affairs in 1923 and later served as Minister of Interior in 1939. In 1940, he was appointed as an advisor to the Provisional Government. He served as Chairman of the Provisional Legislative Council for a second time from October 16, 1939, to November 5, 1939, and for a third time from October 26, 1942, until Korea's liberation in 1945.
2.2.2. Presidency and Government Leadership
On July 7, 1926, Hong Jin was elected as the 5th President (국무령, 국무령GukmuryeongKorean) of the Provisional Government by the Provisional Legislative Council, assuming office the following day. He succeeded Yi Dong-nyung in this role. His administration officially commenced on August 30, 1926. During his tenure, he announced three major principles for his government: the promotion of a non-compromising, self-reliant independence movement; the establishment of a unified national political party; and the formation of alliances with other oppressed nations to foster international solidarity. On September 27, 1926, he concurrently served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, due to ongoing conflicts among independence movement groups, he resigned from the presidency on December 9, 1926, along with his cabinet members, to dedicate his efforts to the "United Party Movement" (유일당운동, 유일당운동Yuil-dang UndongKorean) aimed at consolidating the fragmented independence forces. He was succeeded by Kim Gu.
2.2.3. Diplomatic and Unification Efforts
Hong Jin was a staunch advocate for the international recognition of the Provisional Government and for the unification of disparate independence movement factions. Under his administration, the Provisional Government gained recognition from the Republic of China, France, and Poland, a significant diplomatic achievement.
On April 20, 1921, he was appointed head of the Korean Residents' Association in Shanghai (상해대한교민단, 상해대한교민단Sanghae Daehan GyomindanKorean). On August 13, 1921, he helped establish the Great Pacific Conference Foreign Affairs Support Association (대태평양회의외교후원회, 대태평양회의외교후원회Daetaepyeongyanghoeui OegyohuwonhoeKorean) at the Shanghai Korean Residents' Association office, serving as its temporary chairman and later as its representative secretary-general from August 26. Through this organization, he strongly asserted Korea's complete independence and demanded reparations from Japan, sending a petition for independence signed by 25 Provisional Legislative Council members to representatives of various countries at the Pacific Conference.
In April 1927, he formed the Shanghai Promotion Association for the Korean United Independence Party (한국유일독립당 상해촉성회, 한국유일독립당 상해촉성회Hanguk Yuil Dongnipdang Sanghae ChokseonghoeKorean) in Shanghai, becoming an executive committee member. In November of the same year, he held a joint meeting with independence activists operating in Beijing, Wuchang, and Nanjing to further unification efforts. He also traveled to Manchuria to work towards integrating various independence organizations.
3. Political Party Activities
Hong Jin was deeply involved in the establishment and leadership of various political parties and organizations, striving to consolidate the independence movement and achieve national unity.
3.1. Founding and Leadership of Independence Parties
On July 26, 1930, Hong Jin co-founded the Korean Independence Party (한국독립당, 한국독립당Hanguk DongnipdangKorean) with figures like Kim Gu and Yi Dong-nyung, and was elected its Central Committee Chairman. Following the Mukden Incident in September 1931, he organized the Korean Independence Army (한국독립군, 한국독립군Hanguk DongnipgunKorean) as the party's armed wing and formed a united front with Chinese forces.
On February 25, 1934, he integrated his party with Shin Ik-hui's Korean Revolutionary Party in Nanjing to establish the Shinhan Independence Party (신한독립당, 신한독립당Shinhan DongnipdangKorean), serving as its chairman. He later reorganized the Korean Independence Party. On July 5, 1935, he further developed this into the National Revolutionary Party (민족혁명당, 민족혁명당Minjok HyeokmyeongdangKorean), a unified party for independence factions, where he served as a Central Audit Committee member.
3.2. Activities in China and Manchuria
Beyond party founding, Hong Jin engaged in extensive organizational and political activities to strengthen the independence movement across China and Manchuria. On August 17, 1937, he helped establish the Korean Liberation Movement Organizations Alliance (한국광복운동단체연합회, 한국광복운동단체연합회Hanguk Gwangbok Undong Danchae YeonhaphoeKorean), which included six organizations from the Americas. In 1938, when various independence groups integrated to form the Korean Liberation Front (한국광복진선, 한국광복진선Hanguk Gwangbok JeonseonKorean), he was appointed as an executive member.
On May 9, 1940, he co-founded the unified Korean Independence Party, which merged the Korean National Party, Korean Independence Party, and Joseon Revolutionary Party. As the Central Audit Committee Chairman of this new party, he significantly contributed to the establishment of the Korean Liberation Army (한국광복군, 한국광복군Hanguk GwangbokgunKorean). In October 1942, he was elected an honorary director of the Sino-Korean Cultural Association. He remained active in the Provisional Government as an advisor to the State Council and Chairman of the Provisional Legislative Council until Korea's liberation on August 15, 1945.
In 1944, during a dispute over the method of electing State Council members, Hong Jin, despite being the Chairman of the Provisional Legislative Council, supported the opposition's proposal for a secret ballot, leading him to leave the Korean Independence Party along with Vice Chairman Choe Dong-o. On February 9, 1945, he founded the New Han Democratic Party (신한민주당, 신한민주당Shinhan MinjudangKorean) and was elected as a co-chairman alongside Yu Dong-ryeol and Kim Bung-jun.
4. Personal Life
Beyond his public life as an independence activist, Hong Jin's personal life was marked by his family and his embrace of Christianity.
4.1. Marriage and Family
Hong Jin married Nam Sang-bok, the second daughter of Nam Suk-hui, in 1896. Their union resulted in a son, Hong Gi-taek. His family provided a personal anchor amidst his demanding and often perilous work for Korean independence.
4.2. Religious Life
In July 1946, while hospitalized for heart asthma, Hong Jin was introduced to Christianity by Nam Sang-cheol. During his hospitalization, he was baptized into Catholicism and received the Christian name Andrea (안드레아, 안드레아Andre-aKorean). This spiritual conversion occurred shortly before his passing.
5. Post-Liberation and Legacy
Hong Jin's return to Korea after liberation and his subsequent activities underscored his continued dedication to national reconstruction, culminating in his posthumous recognition as a national hero.
5.1. Return to Korea and Post-War Activities
Following Japan's surrender and Korea's liberation, Hong Jin returned to his homeland from Chongqing, China. On November 5, 1945, he arrived in Shanghai with 29 key figures of the Provisional Government, including Kim Gu. On December 1, he departed Shanghai with the second group of 22 Provisional Government members. Although their initial destination was Gimpo International Airport, heavy snowfall forced their landing at Gunsan Airport.
Upon his return, he immediately engaged in post-war nation-building efforts. On February 1, 1946, he was elected Chairman of the Emergency National Council (비상국민회의, 비상국민회의Bisan GungminhoeuiKorean) at its founding assembly held at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul. In February, he also held a meeting with John Hodge, the commander of the U.S. military forces in Korea, discussing the future of the newly liberated nation. On December 24, 1945, he was appointed as an advisor to the Korean Youth Army Headquarters.
5.2. Death and Funeral
Hong Jin passed away on September 9, 1946, at the age of 70, due to heart asthma. His funeral was held on September 13, 1946, at Myeongdong Cathedral, with Kim Gu presiding over the ceremony as the funeral committee chairman. He was initially interred in a cemetery in Gwan-gyo-dong, Incheon.
5.3. Posthumous Honors and Commemoration
In recognition of his lifelong dedication and profound contributions to the Korean independence movement, the South Korean government posthumously awarded Hong Jin the Order of Merit for National Foundation (건국훈장 국민장, 건국훈장 국민장Geonguk Hunjan GungminjangKorean) in 1962. His remains were later reinterred to the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Seoul, on December 15, 1984. On October 6, 1994, his grave was moved again to the Provisional Government leaders' grave site within the National Cemetery, ensuring his place among the most revered figures of Korean independence.