Baekga, first confession as descendant of a Korean independence activist: "My great-great-grandfather is written in Baekbeom Ilji... His dedication was too heavy to be proud of" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Baekga of the group Coyote revealed that she is a descendant of independence activist Jin Hee-chang.

On the 15th, Baekga announced through her YouTube channel 'Baekga Unni' that "Independence activist Gyeongnim Jin Hee-chang is my great-great-grandfather."

Baekga said, "My late mother often told me during her lifetime, 'Our family is the home of a descendant of an independence activist. Always live with pride in your heart and never feel inferior wherever you go.'"

She also revealed that she had never told this to her Coyote members with whom she has been active for 20 years. Baekga explained, "I was extremely cautious about mentioning my great-great-grandfather's name, fearing it might seem like I was riding on his achievements. That is why I have never mentioned it even once until now."

Baekga then explained the reason she finally shared this story. She said, "I have heard for a long time that descendants of independence activists often live in difficult economic conditions. In the past, I did not have the means or opportunity to help anyone, but now I am able to do so. If there are any descendants of independence activists who are struggling financially or need assistance, I want to help them, which is why I decided to speak out."

Baekga also provided detailed information about her great-great-grandfather, Jin Hee-chang. She stated, "He was one of the important independence activists who supported the finances and operations of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea while it was based in Shanghai."

According to her, Jin Hee-chang, born in 1874, went into exile in Shanghai in 1911 after the Gapsul National Crisis. There, he obtained a job as a supervisor at a Shanghai tram company operated by a British person. During the day, he worked as a supervisor for a transportation company and secretly provided safe houses, funds, and lodging for independence fighters fleeing Japanese rule from Korea to Shanghai.

Furthermore, Baekga said, "On the night of April 10, 1919, independence activists gathered in the French Concession in Shanghai for a meeting. At that time, my great-great-grandfather attended as a member of the Provisional Legislative Council along with figures such as Lee Dong-nyung and Shin Ik-hee. During the Lim Si (Rep.) session, they decided to name the country the Republic of Korea and adopted the provisional constitution establishing a democratic republic. My great-great-grandfather was part of this historic first step in the founding of the Republic of Korea."

She added, "In 1920, he helped establish the Shanghai Korean Residents' Self-Government Organization within the Korean community in Shanghai, where he served as a council member and supported the finances and operations of the community. He also assisted in running Minseong School to educate children of Koreans living abroad and contributed to the overall management of the community."

Baekga said, "What truly surprised me upon learning this fact is that my great-great-grandfather's name appears in the second volume of Baekbeom Ilji by Kim Gu. The book states, 'Close comrades like Jin Hee-chang helped me without hesitation when I was hungry.' When I was at my most desperate and starving, he provided warm meals and shelter without expecting anything in return, becoming a steadfast human support until the end. That person was my great-great-grandfather."

Baekga continued, "He tirelessly supported the Provisional Government and the independence movement day and night but ultimately did not live to see liberation. He passed away in Shanghai in February 1933. In recognition of his meritorious service, the government posthumously awarded him the Order of Independence (Gukjeon Hwajang) in 1980."

She concluded, "Now you understand why I have never shared this story on any broadcast before, right? My great-great-grandfather's dedication as an independence activist was so immense and heavy that it felt too weighty to simply treat it as a source of pride."

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*This content was translated by AI.