Cheondogyo leader and one of the 33 national representatives of the March First Movement; pen name Jigang
| Life | 1862 ~ 1919 |
| Era | 일제강점기 |
| Clan | 제주 양씨 |
Yang Han-muk (1862-1919), from Haenam in South Jeolla, was a Cheondogyo believer and independence activist with the pen name Jigang. He took part in enlightenment groups such as the Constitutional Research Association and the Korea Self-Strengthening Society, and after joining Cheondogyo devoted himself to doctrinal writing and education.
As one of the 33 national representatives of the 1919 March First Movement he was arrested and died in Seodaemun Prison. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962.
Born into a yangban family in Haenam, he is said to have served as a local tax official before leaving the post.
While travelling in Beijing and Japan he is said to have met Son Byeong-hui and others and joined Cheondogyo.
When the Iljinhoe turned pro-Japanese he helped organize the Gongjinhoe and the Constitutional Research Association with Yi Jun, Yun Hyo-jeong and others. The latter advocated constitutional monarchy and led into the Korea Self-Strengthening Society.
Appointed to a Cheondogyo post in 1909, he wrote about twenty doctrinal books and is said to have first used the term "In-nae-cheon" in the Daejong jeongui. He also took part in running Bosung College, Bosung Middle School and Dongduk Girls' School.
He joined the independence declaration ceremony as one of the 33 representatives, was arrested, and is said to have died under torture in Seodaemun Prison during trial, the only one of the 33 to die in custody.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal in 1962, and his remains were reburied in Hwasun in 1922.
His remains were reburied in Hwasun, South Jeolla, in 1922 through Cheondogyo arrangements.
Information on descendants was not confirmed.