Imbyeongchanchangui Historic Site

This is the place where Im Byeong-chan (pen name Dunheon, 1851-1916), in the late Korean Empire period, gathered and trained righteous army soldiers in order to save the country from Japanese aggression. The year after the illegal Eulsa Treaty was concluded, in 1906, Im Byeong-chan raised a righteous army together with Choe Ik-hyeon at Museongseowon Confucian Academy. He fought the Japanese army at the Battle of Sunchang, was captured there along with Choe Ik-hyeon, and was exiled to Daemado (Tsushima Island). In 1914 he expanded the Dongnip Uigunbu (Righteous Army Corps for Independence) into a nationwide organisation, forming the Daehan Dongnip Uigunbu. He was later arrested while continuing his righteous army activities, and died of illness while in exile on Geomundo Island. This area lies in remote mountains more than 400m above sea level. There, in preparation for the Japan-Korea annexation, Im Byeong-chan built the Yeongsojeon hakdang, a school enshrining Confucius, in order to train the next generation, and taught his disciples there. He also set up an arms depot, a munitions workshop and lodgings, and had his students practise archery and horse-riding. Today only traces of the buildings from that time remain; descendants have recently erected a monument, and Jeongeup City has installed an information board and a marker stone.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jeongeup, Jeonbuk

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물