Nam Ja-hyeon, A Woman Who Broke the Boundaries of Her Time
Born in 1872 in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Nam Ja-hyeon was raised as a noblewoman in a yangban family. But when her husband, Kim Young-ju, who had joined the righteous army in protest of the Eulmi Incident, was killed in action, her life was turned upside down. Raising her child, she devoted 24 years to fulfilling her duties as both daughter-in-law and mother.
In 1919, after taking part in the March 1st Independence Movement in Seoul, she left behind an ordinary life at the age of 47 and went into exile in Manchuria, embarking on the path of the independence movement. After joining the Seorogunjeongseo, she established churches and women’s education associations across Manchuria, dedicating herself to enlightening women and nursing wounded independence fighters. In 1927, she also took the lead in seeking the release of activists imprisoned during the Jilin Mass Arrest Incident, earning the title “Mother of the Independence Army.”
Later, transforming into an armed anti-Japanese resistance fighter, she wrote blood petitions to promote unity among independence groups. When Japan established a puppet state in Manchuria, she cut off the ring finger of her left hand and sent a blood-written appeal, Desire for Korean Independence, to the League of Nations, demonstrating her unwavering determination. She also carried out covert missions to assassinate Governor-General Saito and Ambassador Muto, but was arrested after being betrayed by an informant.
Even in the face of death, the 61-year-old Nam Ja-hyeon refused to yield, resisting through a hunger strike in prison. After being released on medical parole, she left an independence celebration fund as part of her inheritance and passed away with the words, “Independence is achieved through spirit.”
Link : https://youtu.be/Hptn1-B39Q0?si=VcfGuBGmF0OF8Hm2