Independence activist of the month : Teacher Baek-Chowol (1878. 2. 17. ～ 1944. 6. 29.)

Uniting the capability of independence movement as one mind

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs chose jointly, with Korean Liberation Association and Independence Hall, teacher Baek-Chowol as the independence activist of the month. The teacher was an intellectual who was raised onto a great Buddhist monk from a mere priest in his early 30s. When Han Youngun and Back Yongsung, who acted as representatives of the Korean people on March 1st Movement, were arrested by Japanese, the teacher became the centripetal body of the Buddhist independence movement by spreading Ilsim-kyo that emphasized the idea of anti-Japanese. He was arrested for raising campaign funds, which would be used to support the government in exile in Shanghai and the army for national independence, and also for issuing a manifesto of ''Hurray, the independence of Korea'' at Youngsan station. He died in prison for his country.

The teacher was born in Ko-sung, Kyung-nam in 1878 as the second son of his father Baek Hajin and his mother from Gimhae Kim clan. As a Suwon Back clan's 26th son in line, he left home when he was a boy to become a monk at Youngwon-sa temple in Chiri-mountain in 1891. He studied Chinese classics at Haein temple and received a code of Buddhist law 'Dae-kyo-sa' which was the highest level of the sect. He deplored the indifference of Buddhists while other religions such as Christianity and Cheondo-kyo were participating in March 1th Movement so he spread Ilsim-kyo by visiting various temples including Jinkwan temple. He particularly inspired the student monks. He induced them to participate with steadiness in independence movement by saying "when lightning sparkles one must saw the eye of a needle". He also established the headquarter of Korean Residents in Jongang-haklim (now Dongkook University) to raise funds for the government in exile in Shanghai and the army for national independence.

In addition, he took the lead in Hurray movement on National Foundation Day of Korea in 1919 and on the first anniversary of March 1th movement in 1920 and later arrested by Japanese. With declining health caused by severe torture, he pretended to be a lunatic so as to avoid their watch though he had been arrested many times. After this, he took charge of Buddhist independence movement by promoting the 1920 monk's declaration of independence and a volunteer army system for monks.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Empire used Yongsan station as a supply base for soldiers and munitions in order to make it as a foothold for Manchu invasion through the Sino-Japanese War. Hence, he initiated a plan to issue a manifesto of ''Hurray, the independence of Korea'' sticking on the troop train for Manchu in order to insinuate national consciousness into the young people who were forced to be taken to the battlefield. Over this incident, 80 members of Ilsim club including the teacher were detained and/or arrested. Even after his release, the teacher continued fund-raising and again he was arrested and sent to Chungju-prison and died there for his country on 29th June 1944.

Hereupon, the government conferred on him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, National Medal of Patriotism in 1990.