서상일 徐相日
Independence activist and politician, chair of the Constitution Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly; pen name Dongam
| Life | 1886 ~ 1962 |
| Era | 일제강점기·현대 |
| Clan | 달성 서씨 |
Life & career
Seo Sang-il (徐相日, 9 July 1886 - 18 April 1962), pen name Dongam, was an independence activist, businessman and politician of the Dalseong Seo clan, from Daegu. Born in Namsan-dong, Daegu, as the third son of Seo Bong-gi and Yi Yeong-cheon, he graduated from Boseong College. In 1909 he joined the Gyonam Education Association and Dalseong Friendship Society for enlightenment work, and the same year co-founded the anti-Japanese Daedong Youth Party with An Hui-je, Kim Dong-sam and Yun Byeong-ho.
In 1916 he was implicated in a pistol incident while raising independence funds; right after the March 1st Movement he took part in raising funds and delivering a petition to the Paris Peace Conference. He briefly exiled himself in Manchuria, returned in early 1920, joined the Daegu Youth Association, ran the Dong-A Ilbo's Daegu branch from 1923 and took part in founding Joyang Mujin Co. After Liberation he co-founded the Korea Democratic Party with Song Jin-u and Jang Deok-su as general secretary, served as vice chair of the National Assembly Preparatory Committee and in the Interim Legislative Assembly, and briefly headed the fire bureau of the US military government in 1947.
Elected to the Constituent Assembly in the May 10, 1948 election, he joined the Constitution Drafting Committee and on 2 June was chosen its chair, taking part in drafting the first constitution. Late in the Assembly he advocated a parliamentary cabinet system, then acted as an opposition politician against the Liberal Party regime. In 1960 he founded the Socialist Masses Party and was elected to the House of Representatives, but illness limited his work and he lost his seat after the May 16 coup; he founded the Unification Masses Party before dying in 1962. He received a presidential citation in 1963 and the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Aejok) in 1990. Newspaper reports place him at pro-war rallies in 1939 and 1941, a controversy; Wikipedia adds that no state body or scholarly consensus has defined this as systematic or continuous collaboration.
Enlightenment Work and the Daedong Youth Party
He joined the Gyonam Education Association and Dalseong Friendship Society in 1909, and the same year formed the Daedong Youth Party with An Hui-je, Kim Dong-sam, Yun Byeong-ho and others.
Politics After Liberation
He was elected general secretary when the Korea Democratic Party was founded, and in 1948 chaired the Constitution Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly. He afterwards worked as an opposition politician.
Honors and Controversy
A presidential citation in 1963 and the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Aejok) in 1990 were conferred. Reports of his attendance at rallies in 1939 and 1941 caused controversy, but it is also noted that no state body has defined it as collaboration.
Grave
The location of his tomb could not be confirmed here.