Park Ki-Jung(1874.08.13.~1948.03.27.)

Chagang Park Ki-Jung maintained his upright stance and incision toward Japanese imperialism and helped the independence movement with paintings and writings.

He was called a prodigy from an early age and won first place during the National Baegilchang(writing contest), and when the Eulmi Righteous Army broke out in 1895, he joined the righteous army of Uiam Yoo In-seok and fought against Japanese troops in Yeongwol, Pyeongchang, and Jeongseon.

Also, when General Yoo In-seok recruited righteous army soldiers in Daehwa and Bongpyeong in Pyeongchang, Park Ki-Jung took the lead.

During the War of Resistance against Japan (Japanese colonial era), he expressed the resentment of his country’s loss through his paintings while living in Bongpyeong.

In particular, while drawing Sagunja, which means the constancy and incision of the scholar, he drew Noh Geun-ran(露根蘭), which exposed the roots of the orchid, meaning, ‘I will not plant orchids in the Joseon land under the colony of Japanese Imperialism.’

“There is no one outside Dongdaemun to follow Park Ki-Jung,” and “People in the world said he was a famous master because he was good at painting and painting.”

Park Ki-Jung, who had excellent writing and painting skills, sent the money he earned from selling his paintings to the Provisional Government and helped the independence movement by exchanging briefings with provisional government figures such as Kim Gu, Lee Seung-man, and Yeo Woon-hyung.

In addition, while wearing only hanbok for his entire life, he continued to maintain his independent activities and refuse to change his name to a Japanese name (the name-changing system), and refuse to participate in the calligraphy association centered on Japanese and pro-Japanese people.

He refused to visit the Japanese Shinto shrine, saying, “Why do you look at Japanese evil spirits and demons?”, and through the anecdotes that he shouted out Japanese policemen who forced him to donate bowls, and kicked them out,

you can see that he was not afraid of the Japanese Empire.

While he was under surveillance and pressure as a Bulryeongseonin (Japanese imperialists used to refer to Koreans who did not follow their words), Park Ki-Jung showed his willingness not to give in to the Japanese through his artistic activities and actions.

Park Ki-Jung, a painter who resisted the Japanese colonial rule while keeping his constancy and incision, now become the 21st century Park Ki-Jung and complete Korea that he dreamed of!