Baekga of the group Koyote has revealed that he is a descendant of independence activist Jin Hee-chang, drawing attention.
On August 15, he posted content on his YouTube channel to commemorate Liberation Day, stating, "In fact, my great-grandfather was an independence activist," and added, "I have never mentioned this to our members, with whom I have worked for over 20 years."
He shared that his late mother often told him, "Our family is one of the descendants of independence activists. Always live with pride and never feel inferior wherever you go."
Regarding why he had never disclosed this information before, he explained, "I was very cautious about mentioning my great-grandfather's name, fearing it might seem like I was riding on his achievements. His dedication was too great and heavy to be treated as a point of pride for me."
Baekga expressed a desire to help financially struggling descendants of independence activists. He said, "I have heard that descendants of independence activists often live in difficult economic conditions. In the past, I was not in a position to help anyone, but now I can. I want to offer assistance to those who are in need among the descendants of independence activists."
He described his great-grandfather, Jin Hee-chang, as an independence activist who supported the finances and operations of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea while it was in Shanghai, explaining, "He went into exile in Shanghai in 1911 after the Gyeongsul Treaty."
He added, "He obtained a position as a supervisor at a tram company run by the British in Shanghai, working during the day while also providing secret accommodations and funding for independence fighters fleeing from Korea to Shanghai. He played a role similar to that of a base camp in Shanghai."
Baekga further noted, "During the provisional assembly meetings, he participated in establishing the name 'Republic of Korea' and drafting the provisional constitution as a democratic republic, marking a significant moment in the history of our nation."
He also mentioned that Jin Hee-chang's name appears in the latter part of 'Baekbeom Ilji' by Kim Gu, stating, "It is written that comrades like Jin Hee-chang did not give me a hard time and helped me."
Jin Hee-chang dedicated himself tirelessly to the provisional government and the independence movement, passing away in Shanghai in February 1933 without witnessing Korea's liberation. Baekga noted, "In 1980, the government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation."
In conclusion, he expressed, "We owe our existence today to the sacrifices of countless independence activists and martyrs who fought for our country's independence, often without leaving their names behind or quietly dedicating everything they had. I extend my deep respect and gratitude to those independence activists and martyrs who sacrificed everything to restore the light of our homeland."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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