Independence activist in the March 1st Movement and the Singan-hoe, member of the 5th House of Representatives; pen name Seogun
| Life | 1896 ~ 1976 |
| Era | 일제강점기·현대 |
| Clan | 함평 이씨 |
Yi Byeong-heon (1896-1976) was an independence activist and politician who took part in the March 1st Movement and the Singan-hoe under Japanese rule. With the pen name Seogun, he was born on 20 November 1896 in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, and graduated from the law department of Boseong College. He is introduced as a descendant of the Daegyo-gong branch of the Hampyeong Yi.
In mid-January 1919, at Son Byeong-hui's request, he wrote down the three principles of nonviolence, popularization and unification of the independence movement and passed them to comrades, and in February withdrew 5,000 won in funds from the Cheondogyo order and delivered it to Yi Seung-hun to support the Christian side's movement. On 27 February he helped print the Declaration of Independence at Bosung Press, carried it secretly to the Cheondogyo hall and had it distributed nationwide; on 1 March he recorded the proceedings at Taehwagwan and handled contact with students and citizens at Tapgol Park.
When the Singan-hoe was founded in 1927 he served as an initiator and director, and after liberation worked in the Goryeo Democratic Party and the Korea Democratic Party. In 1960 he stood for the Democratic Party in Pyeongtaek and was elected to the 5th House of Representatives. He wrote Samil Undong Bisa (1959) and in 1993 was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal.
At Son Byeong-hui's request Yi Byeong-heon wrote down the three principles of the movement and also handled funds linking the Cheondogyo and Christian sides. The secret carrying of the Declaration printed at Bosung Press to the Cheondogyo hall is associated with his name.
This follows the merit record for independence activists, and other sources may describe details differently.
When the Singan-hoe was founded in February 1927 he served as an initiator and director, and he also worked as a Cheondogyo official at the central headquarters and the Seoul branch of the Cheondogyo Youth League. In 1969 he published a memoir, The Singan-hoe Movement, in Sin Dong-a.
After liberation he served as general secretary of the Goryeo Democratic Party, chief of general affairs of the Democratic Council and professor at the National Police Academy.
He lost the elections of 1950, 1954 and 1958, was elected from Pyeongtaek in 1960 and served in the 5th House of Representatives, then lost in 1963. He died on 17 January 1976 and was awarded the Patriotic Medal in 1993.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed.