Independence activist in Shanghai; elder brother of novelist Hyeon Jin-geon
| Life | 1887 ~ 1932 |
| Era | 일제강점기 |
| Clan | 연주 현씨 |
Hyeon Jeong-geon (1887-1932), born in Daegu, was an independence activist of the Yeonju Hyeon clan and elder brother of the novelist Hyeon Jin-geon. He went to China in 1910 and in 1919 served as acting administrator in the Provisional Government’s military ministry and as a Provisional Assembly member for Gyeongsang.
He joined the Korean Communist Party in Shanghai in 1920, attended the 1922 Verkhneudinsk conference, opposed the Creationist faction’s 1923 declaration of a Joseon Republic, taught in Shanghai schools and promoted unification of independence groups in 1927.
Arrested in Shanghai in 1928 and sentenced to three years under the Peace Preservation Law, he was released in June 1932 and died of peritonitis that December. His wife followed him in death in 1933. He was posthumously awarded the Independence Medal in 1992.
After going to China in 1910 he acted in Shanghai, as acting administrator of the military ministry in 1919 and as an assembly member, later joining the socialist wing while favoring unity.
Arrested in January 1928, he was sentenced to three years, released in June 1932 and died within the year. His wife took her own life the next year.
He received the Independence Medal in 1992. His second cousin was Hyeon Sang-geon; his uncle Hyeon Yeong-un is recorded as having turned pro-Japanese.
A January 1933 newspaper report says a grave was prepared at Miari outside Dongsomun; further details were not confirmed.
He had no children.