연병호 延秉昊
Independence activist and member of the Provisional Government legislature; member of the 1st and 2nd National Assembly
| Life | 1894 ~ 1963 |
| Era | 일제강점기~대한민국 |
| Clan | 곡산 연씨 |
Life & career
Yeon Byeong-ho (延秉昊, 1894-1963) was an independence activist and politician from Cheongan, today around Doan-myeon, Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong. Namuwiki identifies him as a Goksan Yeon member of the Nulmun branch, 27th generation (秉 generation), with the early name Byeong-jun (秉俊) and pen name Wonmyeong. He was born on 22 November 1894 at Sanjeong, Seokhwa-ri, and his eldest brother was Yeon Byeong-hwan. He studied at Cheongan Jungmyeong School and the Changdong Academy in northern Jiandao.
After the 1910 annexation he followed his brother into exile in Manchuria and took part in founding the Provisional Government in 1919. That year he returned to Korea and organized the secret Christian-led Youth Diplomatic Corps, collecting information and funds and cooperating with the Korean Patriotic Women's Association. He was arrested and sentenced at Daegu District Court in 1920 to three years, released in 1922, went again to Shanghai, joined the Sisa Chaekjinhoe, became a member of the Provisional Government legislature and held central executive posts in the Korean Revolutionary Party and the Korean Independence Party. Namuwiki adds that he was arrested in 1937 in connection with the shooting of Yi Gap-nyeong and served until 1944, which could not be cross-checked here.
After liberation he served as reception chief for the returning Provisional Government and took part in the anti-trusteeship movement. In 1948 he was elected top vote-getter as an independent for Goesan County in the Constituent National Assembly, working on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee; in 1950 he won the same seat for the Korean National Party, and in 1954 he lost, placing second as an independent.
He died in January 1963 (the 25th or 26th, depending on the source). The Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, was conferred on 1 March that year and in April 2014 he was named Independence Activist of the Month. Namuwiki places his grave in the Independence Patriots' section of the Seoul National Cemetery, while Jeungpyeong County says he was buried in the family plot at Seokgok-ri and moved in 1976 beside Yi Beom-seok's grave in the National Cemetery. His birthplace was designated a North Chungcheong Provincial Monument in 2002.
The Jeungpyeong Birthplace and Family
His birthplace on Sanjeong-gil in Doan-myeon, Jeungpyeong, was designated a North Chungcheong Provincial Monument in 2002. Built as a thatched house in 1910, it was restored to its original look in 1986, and a shrine hall and gate were added in the 1996 and 1998 repairs. See also Yeon Byeong-hwan and Yeon Mi-dang.
Grave
Seoul National Cemetery (some sources say moved in 1976 beside Yi Beom-seok's grave)
Descendants
A family of activists: brother Yeon Byeong-hwan, niece Yeon Mi-dang, her husband Eom Hang-seop and their daughter Eom Gi-seon.