Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital Publishes Cheongpa Shingwangryeol's Biography 'The Moon in the Twelfth Wind'

Dr. Shin Junsik's Father, Founder of Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital
Supported Independence Movement Funding and Treated Activists
Awarded Presidential Citation for Independence Merit

Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital announced on the 4th that "Dari Jjeumeun Barame," a biography about Cheongpa Shin Gwang-ryeol, the father of Dr. Shin Jun-sik, a Korean medicine doctor who devoted his life to the anti-Japanese independence movement and the development of Korean medicine as well as the founder of Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital, has been published.

Cheongpa Shin Gwang-ryeol.
[Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

Cheongpa Shin Gwang-ryeol was imprisoned in Seodaemun Prison for participating in the March 1st Movement's 11th anniversary demonstration in 1930. After his release, he opened Gwangsaeng Clinic in Manchuria and worked for eight years treating independence activists while evading the Japanese authorities. Later, he collaborated with his uncle Shin Hong-gyun to supply military goods and funds to the anti-Japanese allied forces, engaging in patriotic activities.

After liberation, he opened Cheongpa Korean Medicine Clinic in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, contributing to improving medical conditions in underdeveloped rural fishing villages. The hospital stated that he had a strong sense of mission to revive Korean medicine, the traditional medicine of the nation. Shin Gwang-ryeol passed away in 1980, leaving behind a legacy emphasizing compassion and benevolence in medical practice, treating the sick like family and practicing not just medical skills but humanitarian medicine. His contributions and achievements were recognized last year when he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citation for Independence Activists.

This biography was written based on testimonies heard by his eldest son, Dr. Shin Jun-sik, and Shin Gwang-ryeol’s own writings, including "Wolnamyuseo" and "Cheongpa Heombang Yogyeol," grounded in historical facts. It also utilizes various materials collected over three years by his second son, Shin Min-sik, Chairman of the Social Contribution Committee of the Jasaeng Medical Foundation and Director of Jamsil Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital, from the archives of the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture government in China, as well as documents and photographs found in the Japanese Army Ministry’s Special Library, to unfold Shin Gwang-ryeol’s life story.

Composed of two parts, "Dari Jjeumeun Barame" also covers the achievements of Shin Hong-gyun, who greatly influenced Shin Gwang-ryeol’s independence activities. Shin Hong-gyun, the leader of the independence army unit "Daejindan" and a Korean medicine military doctor, is known for discovering black fungus (wood ear mushroom) during the Battle of Daejeonjaeryeong, one of the three major independence army battles, which helped solve soldiers’ food shortages and boost morale, playing a crucial role in victory. He was awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Service Medal, in November 2020.

After Shin Gwang-ryeol’s passing, Dr. Shin Jun-sik has continued his predecessor’s legacy of lifelong dedication to the independence movement since opening Jasaeng Korean Medicine Clinic, the predecessor of Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital, in 1990. Dr. Shin established the Jasaeng Medical Foundation, the largest public interest Korean medicine medical foundation in Korea, and actively carries out various social contribution activities for national merit recipients and their descendants.

The author, Shin Sang-sung, said, "Through 'Dari Jjeumeun Barame,' which deals with the life of Shin Gwang-ryeol, I wanted to vividly depict the little-known facts about Korean medicine doctors’ independence activities and the hardships their families endured like a panoramic film. As times change and our painful history and the passionate spirit of those who devoted themselves to independence gradually fade, I hope this biography conveys their spirit to many people."

Cover of the biography "Dal-i Jeumeun Barame" by Cheongpa Shin Gwang-ryeol.
[Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

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