임병찬 林炳瓚
Righteous army leader who rose with Choe Ik-hyeon and headed the Independence Army of Korea in the Jeolla provinces; pen name Donheon
| Life | 1851 ~ 1916 |
| Era | 구한말·일제강점기 |
| Clan | 평택 임씨 |
Life & career
Im Byeong-chan (1851-1916) was a late-Joseon righteous army leader and independence activist of the Pyeongtaek Im clan, with the pen name Donheon. Born in Gunsan, North Jeolla, he studied the classics and, when famine struck the Honam region in 1883, is said to have given generously to relieve his neighbors. He served as magistrate of Nagan but preferred scholarship and teaching, raising pupils near Mount Hoemun.
After the 1905 protectorate treaty he joined Choe Ik-hyeon, who had come south to prepare an uprising at Jeongeup. The army rose at Museong Seowon on 4 June 1906 and took several towns, but was defeated by government troops at Sunchang; the leaders, including Choe and Im, were seized and held on Tsushima. The aged Choe died there, and Im was released in 1907.
After annexation in 1910 he led the Independence Army of Korea (Dongnip Uigunbu) under secret edicts from Emperor Gojong, accepting appointments as commander of the two Jeolla provinces in 1912 and 1913. A nationwide declaration was planned for May 1914, but arrests of leaders broke the organization. Im was exiled to Geomundo, where he died on hunger strike. He posthumously received the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, in 1962.
The Uprising at Museong Seowon
Im Byeong-chan rose with his teacher Choe Ik-hyeon at Museong Seowon in Jeongeup in June 1906. The volunteers took several towns around Taein and Jeongeup but scattered after meeting government troops at Sunchang. The leaders, Choe among them, were seized and sent to Tsushima.
The Independence Army of Korea
The Independence Army of Korea sought to continue armed resistance under Emperor Gojong's secret edicts after 1910. Im traveled between Seoul and the south building a national network and fixed May 1914 for the declaration, but the arrest of one member by Japanese police led to a chain of arrests. He was sentenced to exile on Geomundo and died there on hunger strike.
Commemoration
He received the Independence Medal in 1962, and his son, grandson and younger brother are also known as decorated independence activists. A memorial site for the uprising is maintained in Jeongeup.
Grave
The exact location of his grave was not confirmed here; Jeongeup City is known to maintain a memorial site for his uprising.
Descendants
His son Im Eung-cheol, grandson Im Su-myeong and younger brother Im Byeong-dae also took part in the independence movement and were decorated.