Chang Deok-soo (Korean장덕수; December 10, 1894 – December 2, 1947) was a Korean politician, independence activist, journalist, and political scientist. He was the first editor-in-chief of the Dong-A Ilbo. He was the founder and second head of the Korea Democratic Party from 1945 to 1947.

Chang Deok-soo
Personal details
Born(1894-12-10)December 10, 1894
Chaeryong County, Hwanghae Province, Joseon Dynasty
DiedDecember 2, 1947(1947-12-02) (aged 52)
Seoul, South Korea
NationalityKorean
Political partyKorea Democratic Party
Alma materWaseda University[1]
Korean name
Hangul
장덕수
Hanja
張德秀
Revised RomanizationJang Deoksu
McCune–ReischauerChang Tŏksu
Art name
Hangul
설산
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSeolsan
McCune–ReischauerSŏlsan

He was assassinated by the right-wing terrorist group the White Shirts Society in 1947. The 10 suspects were charged with murder in a South Korean court, but the case was later transferred to an American military tribunal after right-wing Korean youths intimidated the courts. All of the defendants were found guilty, with 8 being sentenced to death by hanging and the other two to 10 years in prison each. After reviewing the case, U.S. Army General John R. Hodge confirmed two of the death sentences of Park Gwang-ok and Bae Hee-beom, who were viewed as the ringleaders, but reduced the other six death sentences to prison terms. Four of the death sentences were reduced to life in prison, and the other two to 10 years each. Hodge also reduced the 10-year sentences to five years each. Park Gwang-ok and Bae Hee-beom were both executed after the Korean War began. Another convict, Kim Seok-hwang, was later captured and executed by the North's Korean People's Army.[2]

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  • Portrayed by actor Han In-su in the 1981–82 TV series, 1st Republic.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Shin, Michael (2018). Korean National Identity under Japanese Colonial Rule: Yi Gwangsu and the March First Movement of 1919. Oxon: Routledge. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-1-134-83064-0.
  2. ^ Division, Civil Affairs (1948). U.S. Army Forces in Korea, South Korean Interim Government Activities, U.S. Army Military Government in Korea. p. 202.

References

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  • Doh Jin-Soon (ed.): Kim Koo - Das Tagebuch von Baekbeom. Hamburg: Abera Verlag 2005. ISBN 3-934376-70-3. German version of Baekbeomilji (Journal of Baekbeom).
  • Koo, K. (1997). Baekbeomilji [Journal of Baekbeom]. Seoul, Korea: Dolbaegae. ISBN 89-7199-099-6
  • Yamabe, K. (1966). Japanese Occupation of Korea. Tokyo, Japan: Taihei Shuppan-sha. ISBN 4-8031-2708-5
  • Lee Kyungnam (1980). 雪山 張德秀, Seoul: The Dong-A Ilbo.
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