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Sunwoo Jin 선우진 鮮于鎭
Sunwoo Jin visiting Pyongyang for inter-Korean Negotiations.
Vice-President of the United States Army Military Government in Korea, Chief of Staff
In office Febuary 1, 1946 – August 15, 1948
Personal details
Born	18 January 1922 Jeongju-gun, North Pyeongan Province, Japanese occupied Korea.
Died	17 May 2009 (aged 87)
Political party	Korean Independence Party
Spouse	Kwon Jeong-rye
Military service
Branch/service	Korean Liberation Army
Rank	Lieutenant

Sunwoo Jin ([Korean: 선우진] January 18, 1922 – May 17, 2009) was a Korean politician, activist during Japanese occupied Korea, and served as an officer of the Korean Liberation Army. He was born in the Jeongju-gun, North Pyongan Province and comes from the Taewon Seonu clan. Sunwoo Jin played a major role in the Korean independence movement as the personal secretary to famous Korean activist Baekbeom, Kim Gu. He served as his personal secretary from January 31, 1945 - June 26, 1949.

Early Life and Involvement in Korean Independence

Sunwoo Jin was born in Japanese occupied Korea, in the Jeongju-gun, North Pyeongan Province. Being born ethnically Korean, many discrimination was brought upon him, his family, and many others during this period. In his early 20s, he left and helped form the Korean Independence Party as well as volunteering in the Korean Liberation Army alongside Kim Gu. Leaving much of his family behind he did not see them again until after Korean independence.

Academic Background

At the age of 18, Sunwoo Jin attended the Changchun University in Manchuria, earning a Bachelor's degree from the Department of Law. He then sought off to the Central Military Academy where he graduated in order to prepare his career as a member of the Korean Liberation Army. After his work as a Korean activist and service in the Korean Liberation Army, he completed another Bachelor for Public Administration at KNDU (Korea National Defense University.)

Sunwoo Jin's journey to China

Leaving his family behind, Sunwoo Jin travelled with many other young aspiring Korean activists in order to fight for Korean independence. Many independence movements in Korea used China as a protector state in order to avoid Japanese persecution. The journey through China was rough, China was already an economically downed nation due to many years of political conflicts and warfare with its neighbors. With the lack of vehicles to aid their travel, they had to walk over 6,000 miles to Shanghai, China.

Work in the Korean Liberation Army and Korean Independence Movement

Joining Kim Gu's work in China to help liberate Korea from Japanese rule, Sunwoo Jin enlisted in the Korean Liberation Army in August 1944. He entered the Korean Liberation Army cadre training group attached to the 10th branch school cadre training group at the Central Military Academy where he would complete his military education and training. He was then assigned to the General Headquarters of TI&E (Troop Information and Education) and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Liberation Army. At the general headquarters, he worked on propaganda campaigns, and worked to broadcast news for those listening to networks affiliated with the Korean independence movement.

Kim Gu, in the center, Sunwoo Jin, to the left, and Kim Shin, to the right, prepare to cross into the 38th parallel on April 19, 1948. They prepare to attend a joint South-North conference in Pyongyang. / Courtesy of Dolbegae.

Post-Korean Independence

After seeing the liberation of Korea with the fall of the Japanese Empire and their surrender to Allied powers, Sunwoo Jin attempted to return to South Korea. Because of the ongoing Chinese Civil War, there were a lot of issues ongoing to return Sunwoo Jin and Kim Gu back to South Korea. The Nationalist Chinese government was supposed to return Sunwoo Jin and Kim Gu, but could not due to political conflicts. Eventually, the United States was able to help Kim Gu and Sunwoo Jin return to South Korea in time for the joint South-North conference in Pyongyang in 1948. He then worked as a Korean politician as the Vice-President of the United States Army Military Government in Korea, Chief of Staff to Kim Gu being the President of this committee prior to the establishing of the First Republic of Korea. Sunwoo Jin was awarded the National Founding Medal of the Republic of Korea in 1977 and the Order of National Founding of the Republic of Korea Patriotic Medal in 1990.

Syngman Rhee's reign in Korea

During Syngman Rhee's president in the First Republic of Korea, it was disliked by many Korean citizens as it was similar to the North's. The First Republic was ruled in an authoritarian dictatorship-like way with limited democracy in the country. After Syngman Rhee took office as the president, many Korean activists and independence fighters were targeted in fear of a counter revolution against his rule. Because of the high unpopular regime, many riots and protests broke out in Korea for reforms and government change. As a result of this, Kim Gu, and many other activists were persecuted and hunted down by the military and police in suspicion of instigations. Sunwoo Jin assisted Kim Gu hiding him in his attic and covering up for him to prevent their arrests as instigators.

Family

Sunwoo Jin with his family.

Being the father of two twins, and a husband to Kwon Jeong-rye, his work was very risky to the family. His two children were born on June 22nd, 1950 in Seoul, 3 days before the beginning of the Korean War. As the two newborns were put to sleep, a bomb was dropped near their house, and shrapnel had flown and left a small scar on his daughter's face. Because of the ongoing conflict and threat of invading forces from the North, Sunwoo Jin's family was forced to flee to Busan. He and his family had to walk to Busan, due to the chaos and inability to access vehicles and the threat of enemy bombings.

Later Life

Sunwoo Jin with his granddaughter.

After leaving politics behind, continued to work as Kim Gu's secretary. He helped manage and organize Kim Gu's work and life until his dead in 1949. After Kim Gu's death, Sunwoo Jin worked to maintain the Kim Gu memorial in Seoul. He had many business ties with the museum and Kim Gu himself, and became it's executive director. He lived with his family until his passing in May 17th, 2009 at the age of 87. He was then buried at the National Cemetery in Daejon on May 20, 2009.