임병직 林炳稷
Secretary to Syngman Rhee, member of the Korean Commission in the US, second Foreign Minister and ambassador to the UN
| Life | 1893 ~ 1976 |
| Era | 대한제국~현대 |
| Clan | 나주 임씨 |
Life & career
Im Byeong-jik (1893-1976) was an independence activist and diplomat born in Buyeo, Chungcheong, of the Naju Lim clan. After Boseong High School and the Hanseong foreign-language school he studied in the United States and is said to have earned a master's in law at Dickinson (education details vary between documents).
In September 1919 he served as Syngman Rhee's secretary and worked with the Korean Commission of the Provisional Government in the US, later as its chairman. From January 1949 to April 1951 he was the second Foreign Minister of the Republic, and from 1951 to 1960 ambassador to the United Nations.
He went out as consul-general in India in 1966 and died in New York in 1976. The Order of Merit for National Foundation, Republic of Korea Medal, was awarded posthumously. He is introduced as founder of the clan's Central Hwasuhoe.
Work in the US
In September 1919 he became Syngman Rhee's secretary and served the Provisional Government's Korean Commission in the US, including as chairman.
Foreign Minister and UN Ambassador
He was second Foreign Minister from 31 January 1949 to 15 April 1951 and ambassador to the UN from 1951 to 1960.
Honors
He was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation (the medal's name is written differently in some documents). The clan remembers him as founder of the Central Hwasuhoe.
Grave
He died in New York; his grave was not confirmed here.
Descendants
He is introduced as the founder of the Central Hwasuhoe of the Naju Lim clan.