이범석 李範奭

Independence patriot · Korean Liberation Army · Presidential Order of Merit (Daetongnyeong-jang, 1963)

Same-name figures:
이범석(李範奭) — Independence patriot · March 1st Movement · Presidential Citation (2023)

Life & career

Yi Beom-seok (1900-1972), pen name Cheolgi, was a descendant of Prince Gwangpyeong, the fifth son of King Sejong. Born in Hanseong (Seoul) in 1900, he served as a company commander for the Northern Route Military Government Office and fought alongside supreme commander Kim Jwa-jin at the Battle of Cheongsanri in October 1920, one of the most celebrated victories of the Korean independence army against Japanese forces.

In 1940 he helped found the Korean Liberation Army under the Provisional Government, rising to lieutenant general and chief of staff, and later commanded its 2nd Detachment, which trained jointly with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to prepare an operation to retake the homeland. After liberation he served as the first Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of South Korea. He died in Seoul in May 1972 and was interred at the National Cemetery of Seoul.

Grave

National Cemetery of Seoul (Patriots' Section 2)

Descendants

Sons Yi Bu-heung and Yi In-jong

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