변일 卞一
Journalist who after serving as chief editor of Jeguk Sinmun became publisher and editor of Maeil Sinbo (named in the collaboration findings; also known as Byeon Yeong-heon)
| Era | 대한제국·일제강점기 |
| Clan | 초계 변씨 |
Life & career
Byeon Il (卞一, dates unknown) was a journalist of the Korean Empire and the colonial period, also known as Byeon Yeong-heon (卞榮憲). He is classed as a Chogye Byeon on the basis of Wikipedia's classification, on which this entry relies. His dates of birth and death are not recorded.
He first appeared in journalism in 1907 as chief editor of Jeguk Sinmun, then headed by Jeong Un-bok. He later served as a reporter for Daehan Maeil Sinbo, general manager of a family magazine company and head of the editorial department of Daedong Ilbo. Right after the annexation treaty of 1910 he was named publisher and editor of Maeil Sinbo, serving from 22 October 1910 to 29 January 1915, about four years and three months.
Maeil Sinbo was an organ of the Government-General, and Korean Wikipedia explains that during this period it carried editorials celebrating the Meiji emperor's birthday and disparaging participation in the independence movement. After leaving the company in 1915 he served as editor of Joseon Sanggong Sinmun in 1921, and in 2006 he was selected in the press section of the 106-person list of pro-Japanese collaborators announced by the Presidential Committee for the Investigation of Collaborators with Imperial Japan.
Entering Journalism
His name first appears in 1907 as chief editor of Jeguk Sinmun, and he later worked as a reporter for Daehan Maeil Sinbo and head of the editorial department of Daedong Ilbo. Newspapers were then an important forum for enlightenment and political debate, so his career belongs to the press of the late Korean Empire.
The Maeil Sinbo Years
He was named publisher and editor of Maeil Sinbo in October 1910 and served until January 1915. The paper is assessed as an organ that spoke for Japanese imperialism, and because of the character of its editorials in that period Byeon Il was later named as a pro-Japanese journalist.
Later Assessment
He was selected in the press section of the 106-person list announced by the Presidential Committee in 2006 and was also on the 2008 list of those to be included in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators. A record shows him speaking at the 34th anniversary event of Maeil Sinbo in 1938, but when he died is unknown.
Grave
His dates and burial place are not known.