(Yonhap Feature) A century on, true picture of Korean independence fighter still veiled

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- The late An Jung-geun (1877-1910) is one of Korea's
most honored independence fighters, hailed for his daring assassination of the
peninsula's first Japanese Governor-General Hirobumi Ito to protest its
annexation.

Monday marks the 100th anniversary of An's patriotic deed, told and retold
countless times in textbooks and through various artistic genres over the past
century. Yet, many aspects of An's life as a nationalist, pan-Asianist and devout
Catholic remain unknown even among locals, shrouded by a lack of historical
research, scholars here say.
"A century has passed, but An's assassination of the Japanese governor-general is
often told to people without some important details," said Prof. Cho Kwang, who
teaches Korean history at Korea University in Seoul. "He was neither just a
terrorist nor a soldier. We must also view him through the various achievements
he made in education, the economy and religion to properly understand him."
An's pan-Asian theory is also worth noting as it is applicable to current
diplomacy, Cho added.
"His assassination of Ito, as well as his diplomatic views, played an important
role in Korea's independence movement," he said.
Born in the northern city of Haeju, in what is now North Korea, An worked first
in education, later joining the armed resistance against the Japanese colonial
rulers. While fleeing, he took refuge with a priest of the Roman Catholic Church
and converted to Catholicism in 1897. He was baptized as Thomas An.
Going against the teachings of his newfound Catholic faith, however, An
assassinated Ito at a railway platform in Harbin in 1909 and was executed on
March 26, 1910. The death of the Japanese politician resulted in the acceleration
of Japan's colonization of Korea.
An strongly believed in the union and restoration of peace between China, Korea
and Japan in order to counter and fight off the "White Peril" of European
colonialism, according to writings he left behind.
An felt that with the death of Ito, Japan and Korea could then forge friendly
relations through their many shared traditions. He hoped that such ties could
also be formed with China, and that this pan-Asian unity could then become a
model for the world to follow, An said in his unfinished essay "On Peace in East
Asia."
While most Japanese textbooks depict An as a terrorist and assassin, movements
are now afoot in the country among civic groups and scholars to reevaluate him
based on historical facts.
In March, a group of Korean and Japanese scholars held an exhibition at Kyoto's
Ryukoku University featuring calligraphic works and photographs of An.
During a symposium held as part of the event, participants shared their views on
An's pan-Asianism and whether the assassination of Ito resulted from Japan's
unjust annexation of Korea.
Such changes in views of An among Japanese are also largely due to records of his
companionship with his Japanese prison guards and lawyers as well as Japanese
prisoners in Korea.
An recorded in his autobiography during his time in a Japanese prison that public
prosecutor Takao Mizobuchi told him, "From what you have told me, it is clear
that you are a righteous man of East Asia. I can't believe a sentence of death
will be imposed on a righteous man."
An writes he was sure that most Japanese felt similar hatred for Ito, an opinion
he formed through talks with Japanese prisoners in Korea. He also records special
friendships with Japanese prison guards, lawyers and prosecutors during his time
in prison and on trial.
Eom Chang-joon, a professor at Japan's Ritsumeikan University, said the
reevaluation of An in Japan is "critical to peace between Korea and Japan as well
as throughout East Asia."
"An is among the few people widely known in both countries but regarded with two
contrasting views," he said. "I consider it very important for Japanese people to
have a correct view of An and his history."
In the city of Harbin, the site of Ito's assassination, there is a special
exhibition featuring documents on An. An annual Korean Week festival has been
held to expand ties with South Korea since 2006 in the Chinese city, where An is
considered a patriot and hero among the majority of residents.
On Oct. 26, a statue of An will be set up at the Chosun Art Museum, located in
central Harbin, commemorating An's heroic deed 100 years ago. It will stand at
the entrance to the An Jung-geun commemorative hall within the museum, which
receives financial support from the Chinese government.
In January 2006, the Chinese city removed a statue of An set up by a Korean
businessman, saying it was not approved by the government.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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