Magistrate of Geumsan who took his life in protest at the 1910 annexation; father of Hong Myeong-hui
| Life | 1871 ~ 1910 |
| Era | 대한제국 |
| Clan | 풍산 홍씨 |
Hong Beom-sik (洪範植, 1871-1910) was an official of the late Korean Empire from the Pungsan Hong clan, with the courtesy name Seongbang and pen name Irwan. Born in Goesan, North Chungcheong, he came from a distinguished family: his grandfather Hong U-gil was minister of personnel and his father Hong Seung-mok minister of military affairs. He studied Confucianism, passed the jinsa examination in 1888 and began his official career in 1902; in 1907 he became magistrate of Taein in North Jeolla and in 1909 magistrate of Geumsan in South Chungcheong. His son was the novelist Hong Myeong-hui and his grandson Hong Gi-mun.
He heard of the signing of the annexation treaty on 22 August 1910 as Geumsan magistrate, and on 29 August, a week later, when Sunjong proclaimed it, he left a note and took his own life that night. Geumsan County erected a memorial stele to his martyrdom near Mount Jojong in Geumsan town. Wikipedia's article on his son says he left a final wish that his family "not cooperate with Japanese imperialism but resist it," but the exact wording of the note could not be confirmed here. He is remembered as one of the officials who took their own lives in protest at the loss of sovereignty just after the annexation.
The government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, in 1962. The Hong Beom-sik old house in Goesan, North Chungcheong, Chungbuk Folk Cultural Property No. 14, is known as the home where his son Hong Myeong-hui was born and raised, and is often introduced as a base of independence activity under the phrase "I am Hong Beom-sik's son." Meanwhile, the fact that his father Hong Seung-mok served as a councillor of the Government-General's Central Council in the colonial period and has been designated a collaborator is often cited as a case in which one family split between resistance and collaboration. He is introduced as belonging to the Chuman-gong branch (the Hong Man-hyeong line). The clan association describes him as one who killed himself in anguish at the shame of the annexation.
Serving as magistrate of Geumsan in 1909-1910, he heard the news of the annexation in August and took his own life the night of the 29th, leaving a note.
The Hong Beom-sik house in Goesan is Chungbuk Folk Cultural Property No. 14 and is known as the birthplace of his son Hong Myeong-hui.
His father Hong Seung-mok served as a councillor of the Central Council and is classed as a collaborator, while Hong Beom-sik died in protest; the contrast is often cited in modern Korean history.
A memorial stele stands near Mount Jojong in Geumsan town; his tomb could not be confirmed here.
Son Hong Myeong-hui and grandson Hong Gi-mun; his daughter Hong Jeong-sik is said to have married the independence activist Jo Wan-gu.