Life of Ahn Jung-geun

Ahn Jung-geun was born in 1879 in an area currently named Haeju, Hwanghaenam-do, in what is now the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In his early adulthood, he devoted himself to education. He later joined the armed resistance against Japanese aggression in northeastern China and Russia's Far East.

In 1909, the Japanese government sent Hirobumi Ito, then resident-general of Korea, to Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, to discuss the annexation of the Korean Peninsula.

Ahn decided to grasp the opportunity to kill Ito and to reveal Japan's aggression and ambition to the world.

After confirming Ito's plans, Ahn arrived at the Harbin railway station on Oct 22, 1909, on a postal train that originated in Vladivostok, Russia.

On the morning of Oct 26, Ito's train arrived at Harbin station. While Ito inspected the Russian guard of honor on the platform, escorted by the Russian finance minister, Ahn passed the parade and pulled out his pistol, shooting Ito three times in the chest and abdomen. Ito died 20 minutes later.

On Nov 3, 1909, Ahn and eight others connected to the killing were sent to a prison managed by Japan and Russia at Lushun in Northeast China's Liaoning province.

In early December 1909, Japanese foreign affairs authorities issued a secret order for Ahn's execution.

In court, Ahn insisted that he killed Ito as a lieutenant general in the Korean resistance army for the independence of his motherland and peace in East Asia.

Ahn was hanged on March 26, 1910.

Xinhua-China Daily

(China Daily 01/21/2014 page10)