Origins & Early Life

An Jung-geun (Korean: 안중근; 2 September 1879 – 26 March 1910), courtesy name An Eungchil (Korean: 안응칠; Hanja: 安應七), was a Korean independence activist who assassinated Itō Hirobumi, former Prime Minister of Japan and Japanese Resident-General of Korea, in Harbin, China in 1909. An was imprisoned and executed by Japanese imperial forces at Lüshun Russo-Japanese Prison in 1910. An is honored as a martyr by the governments of South Korea, North Korea, Republic of China and People's Republic of China, while the Japanese government regards him as a terrorist. The Catholic Church excommunicated him for the assassination; the excommunication was lifted in 1993.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

An's family produced many other Korean independence activists. An's cousin An Myeong-Geun (안명근; 安明根) attempted to assassinate Terauchi Masatake, the first Japanese Governor-General of Korea (조선총독; 朝鮮總督) who executed the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty in 1910. He failed, however, and was imprisoned for 15 years; he died in 1926. An's brothers An Jeong-Geun (안정근; 安定根) and An Gong-Geun (안공근; 安恭根), as well as An's cousin An Gyeong-Geun (안경근; 安敬根) and nephew An Woo-Saeng (안우생; 安偶生), joined the Provisional Government of the...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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