Independence activist and politician, first Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (art name Juksan)
| Life | 1899 ~ 1959 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 창녕 조씨 |
Jo Bong-am (曺奉巖, 1899–1959) was an independence activist and politician, with the art name Juksan (竹山). During the Japanese colonial period he took part in socialist-line independence activities, and after liberation he served as a member of the Constituent National Assembly and as the first Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
As Minister of Agriculture and Forestry he promoted land reform, and he ran twice for president, winning considerable support. He founded the Progressive Party and became its leader, but in 1958 he was indicted in the Progressive Party Incident and executed the following year. In 2011 he was found not guilty and rehabilitated in a retrial before the Supreme Court.