[Korea Root] Uibyeong Leader Yun Hee-sun Continues 'Anti-Japanese Resistance in Manchuria'

Family and Relatives of Activist Yun Hee-sun Form Joseon Independence Corps in China
Establish Nohakdang to Inspire Independence Spirit Among Koreans and Chinese

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Approximately 14,300 independence patriots have been awarded medals and honors by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Among them, women account for only about 270, or 1.8% of the total. Except for a very few female independence activists including Yu Gwan-sun, most remain shrouded in obscurity.

Many female independence activists mainly supported the independence movement by making military uniforms for the independence army and transporting military supplies.

They became the main actors in the independence movement themselves, believing that social status and gender distinctions did not matter in saving the country, coming from various positions such as students, teachers, merchants, farmers, and gisaeng (female entertainers).

In particular, Yoon Hee-sun (尹熙順, 1860?1935) was Korea’s first 'female militia commander.' She was raised and educated in a Confucian family that valued righteousness and had a naturally upright and intelligent character.

After marrying into the Hwaso Hakpa Goheung Yu clan, which laid the foundation for anti-Japanese militia and independence movements, she assisted her father-in-law, Oedang (畏堂) Yu Hong-seok (柳弘錫, 1841?1913), in participating in anti-Japanese militia activities.

During the 1930s, when Japanese colonial rule reached its peak, she lost her father-in-law, husband, and even her son, after dedicating 40 years to the independence movement, and passed away in Manchuria, China.

As a woman, she played the role of an intellectual through progressive and innovative actions at the time, embodying the principle of 'noblesse oblige.' We revisit the noble patriotism of Yoon Hee-sun, a patriotic martyr of the anti-Japanese militia struggle in the Chuncheon region of Gangwon Province. [Editor's note]

◈ Series Order

① Descendant of the 'Haeju Yoon clan,' Patriot Yoon Hee-sun

② Scholar’s wife becomes the 'first female militia commander'

③ Militia Commander Yoon Hee-sun continues 'Anti-Japanese struggle in Manchuria'

Doctor Yoon Hee-sun's Grave and Memorial Monument (Miaoguandun North Side, Haixing City, China) [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association]

③ Militia Commander Yoon Hee-sun continues 'Anti-Japanese struggle in Manchuria'

Yoon Hee-sun was Korea’s first female militia commander who led militia struggles domestically and anti-Japanese struggles for a long time in Manchuria as an independence fighter.

Her proactive and progressive spirit of independence served as a great example not only to women but also to men at the time, playing a significant role in urging many to join the anti-Japanese independence movement.

We met Kang Dae-deok, director of the Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association, at his home.

Director Kang emphasized, "At a time when national consciousness and awareness of the country were poor, the role of militia commander Yoon Hee-sun was very significant in instilling the national consciousness, patriotism, and ethnic awareness of the Hwaso Hakpa in people and supporting them."

The and , which Yoon Hee-sun personally created and distributed, were designated as National Registered Cultural Heritage No. 750 in May 2019. Her creation of militia songs was greatly influenced by her father-in-law, Oedang Yu Hong-seok.

Handwritten by Activist Yoon Hee-sun ＜Wife's Uprising Song＞ [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association]

■ Formation of the 'Joseon Independence Corps'

In 1911, when her father-in-law Oedang Yu Hong-seok and husband Yu Je-won first fled to China, Yoon, at age 51 the following year, crossed over to China with her sons Don-sang, Min-sang, and Gyo-sang, and for 25 years until her death in 1935, she actively led anti-Japanese activities in the Liaodong region with her family.

After her entire family emigrated to China, she devoted herself to the activities of the Joseon Independence Corps and educational movements to nurture anti-Japanese talents.

With the help of Lee Hoe-young, Woo Byung-ryeol, Woo Byung-ryeol’s wife Chae In-san, and Chinese individuals Do Won-hoon and Son Hong-ryeong, she established the Nohakdang branch school of Dongchang School in Namgoema-ja, Borakbojin, Huanren County.

Since many Koreans lived there and it was a base for anti-Japanese activities, the school’s operating funds were raised by teachers and students from Koreans and Chinese in the Huanren area.

As a result of these efforts, by 1915, they were able to train over 50 anti-Japanese activists including Kim Kyung-do, Park Jong-su, Lee Jeong-heon, and Ma Deok-chang.

Nohakdang Site Founded by Doctor Yoon Hee-sun (Namgoema-ja, Borakbo Town, Huanin County, China) [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association]

In 1920, Yoon and her relatives formed the Joseon Independence Corps on the outskirts of the city of Muping, China. The leader of the Independence Corps was Yoon’s eldest son, Yu Don-sang.

They farmed during the day and continued military training at night. Notably, not only Yoon’s family but also relatives and in-laws all participated in the training, forming a family independence unit.

Director Kang explained, "At that time, Yoon was already over 70 years old but never missed training, and her son Yu Don-sang was moved by his mother’s passion and devoted himself to armed struggle education."

■ Internal enemy: 'Secret agents (Miljeong, 密偵)'

Yoon and the Joseon independence army actively fought anti-Japanese struggles centered around Huanren County (桓仁縣), Liaoning Province (遼寧省), Heilongjiang Province (黑龍江省), Jilin Province (吉林省), and Kuandian County (寬甸縣) in China.

Since their activity areas were among China’s most underdeveloped regions, life was difficult, but they were somewhat free from Japanese military attention, allowing them to continue the anti-Japanese struggle.

In 1932, the Japanese imperialists carried out a massacre to eradicate Korean armed resistance. However, Yoon’s family and relatives moved to Seokduseong in Bongsong County and continued preparing for armed struggle.

A millstone with a diameter of 150cm remaining at the site of the Goryeo-era house in Sogoryeongji where independence activists and their families lived [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association]

In 1932, Yoon secretly helped Korean soldiers forcibly brought by the Japanese to escape and hid them before sending them to the Joseon Independence Corps. She left Seokduseong and settled in Myogwandun, Haeseong County.

Her eldest son Yu Don-sang and the Joseon Independence Corps joined forces with Yang Se-bong’s allied troops to launch an attack on Muping.

In 1934, her third son Yu Min-sang opened a rice mill in Haeseong County and fought the anti-Japanese struggle together with his second brother Gyo-sang.

However, that year, due to someone’s betrayal, the Japanese army entered Bongsong County, and the following year, Yoon’s son Yu Don-sang was arrested and died in prison on August 17 after enduring severe torture.

As her children died on the front lines of the anti-Japanese struggle, Yoon’s decisions, actions, and all her intellectual pursuits for the nation and people came to an end.

After losing her son, Yoon stopped eating and passed away a week later. Her remains were temporarily buried in Myogwandun, Haeseong City, China.

Confirmation of the remains of activist Yoon Hee-sun (Beoksan, Myogwandun, Haesong City, Liaoning Province, China. 1994. 7. 24) [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association]

Director Kang said, "To find Yoon Hee-sun’s remains, Yoon’s grandson Yu Yeon-ik (who died in 1992) and I frequently visited the site in China but could not find them until Professor Kim Yang of Liaoning University helped locate the temporary burial site."

According to Director Kang, the temporary burial site was a cornfield on a bare mountain plain, and there was only a sign with the character 'Yu (柳)' marking the spot where Yoon was buried.

Yoon Hee-sun, a member of an independence army family including her father-in-law Yu Hong-seok, husband Yu Je-won, and son Yu Don-sang, initially engaged in militia activities as a woman and later supported the independence movement after emigrating to China, passing away at age 75 in 1935 in Myogwandun, Haeseong County, Fengtian Province.

Yoon’s death came just 11 days after her eldest son Yu Don-sang died under harsh Japanese torture, deepening the sorrow of those around her.

Her remains were repatriated to Korea in 1994 and interred together with her husband in a sunny spot in Gwancheon-ri, Nam-myeon, Chuncheon City.

Joint grave of activist Yoon Hee-sun and her husband Yoo Je-won (Gwancheon-ri, Nam-myeon, Chuncheon City) [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Association]

■ Significance of the Anti-Japanese Movement in Manchuria

Yoon Hee-sun instilled anti-Japanese consciousness in the Chinese and gained their cooperation to launch a second independence movement anew in our homeland (the former territory of Goguryeo).

Especially significant was education, which rooted the anti-Japanese communal spirit. Establishing the Nohakdang branch school of Dongchang School to inspire independence spirit among Koreans and Chinese was a meaningful achievement.

Also, it is said that it was very difficult to conduct independence activities domestically at the time, and with Oedang and Uiam already in the Maritime Province, where the roots of our people had formed, this also played a role.

The Return of Doctor Yoon Hee-soon's Remains to Korea (1994.10.17) [Yoon Hee-soon Memorial Association]

Through anti-Japanese activities carried out while moving across various regions, they demonstrated Korean national consciousness to the Chinese, enabling successful joint operations, which has been positively evaluated.

Director Kang said, "The Manchurian anti-Japanese movement by the Yoon family can be seen as having considerable influence even today in terms of Korea-China solidarity independence movement."

He added, "They formed a cooperative body with them and practiced the academic influence of the Hwaso Hakpa on independence consciousness and movement regardless of gender, which allows a positive evaluation of Yoon Hee-sun."

Yoon Hee-sun Medical Hero Monument [Yoon Hee-sun Memorial Project Association]

To honor the noble life of Yoon Hee-sun, who lived proudly as a female militia commander, a statue of her stands in front of the Chuncheon City Library.

In Balsan-ri, where she lived for 35 years after marriage, there is a monument to the merits of the Haeju Yoon clan, and at her grave, there is a historic monument to the patriotic martyr Yoon Hee-sun.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.