36 Facts About Philip Jaisohn

Seo Jae-pil, better known by his English name Philip Jaisohn, was a Korean American politician, physician, and Korean independence activist.

Philip Jaisohn was the first Korean to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Philip Jaisohn founded the Tongnip Sinmun, the first Korean newspaper written entirely in Hangul.

Philip Jaisohn was thus convicted for treason and sought refuge in the United States where he became a citizen and earned a medical doctorate.

Philip Jaisohn declined, choosing to focus on reform movements where he advocated for democracy, Korean independence and self reliance from foreign intervention, numerous civil rights and universal suffrage.

Philip Jaisohn was forced to return to the United States in 1898, from where he participated in the First Korean Congress and advocated for the March 1st Movement and US Government support for Korean independence.

Philip Jaisohn became a chief advisor to the United States Army Military Government in Korea after World War II and was elected as an interim representative in South Korea in the 1946 legislative election.

Philip Jaisohn died in 1951 shortly after returning to the United States during the Korean War.

Philip Jaisohn's remains were reinterred at the Seoul National Cemetery in 1994.

Philip Jaisohn was reform-minded, and sought to revise Confucianist culture and institutions in Korea.

Philip Jaisohn was born on January 7,1864, in Boseong County, Jeolla Province, Joseon.

Philip Jaisohn was the third son of Seo Gwang-hyo, who was a local magistrate, but was raised by his relatives in Seoul.

At a young age, Philip Jaisohn was adopted by his father's second cousin, Seo Gwang-ha and his wife.

Philip Jaisohn studied at Kim Seong-geun and Park Kyu-su's private school during his adolescence, where he was exposed to the reformist ideals of Kim Ok-gyun.

Philip Jaisohn passed the civil service exam at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest people to ever pass this exam, and as a result became a junior officer in 1882.

Philip Jaisohn was appointed to Joryeon-guk Sagwanjang shortly after.

In December 1884, Philip Jaisohn, following Kim Ok-gyun, was involved in the Gapsin Coup, a radical attempt to overturn the old regime and establish equality among people.

Philip Jaisohn's only remaining family was his older brother, older sister, younger brother, and younger sister, along with his eldest daughter and her husband.

Philip Jaisohn saw Japan as essentially a conduit for Western knowledge and ideas, but preferred to deal with what he saw as the source itself.

In 1885, early in his stay in America, Philip Jaisohn worked part-time jobs.

In 1886, Philip Jaisohn lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and attended the Harry Hillman Academy thanks to the help of John Welles Hollenback.

Philip Jaisohn began to use the name "Philip Jaisohn" at that time.

Philip Jaisohn studied medicine at Columbia Medical College, and became the first Asian-American Doctor when he received his medical degree in 1892.

Philip Jaisohn published the Tongnip Sinmun to transform the Korean population into an informed citizenry.

Philip Jaisohn was the first to print his newspaper entirely in Hangul to extend readership to lower classes and women.

Philip Jaisohn was behind the construction of the Independence Gate, which was initially meant to symbolize Korea's independence from foreign interventionism.

Philip Jaisohn promoted national independence as the principal political ideal and emphasized neutral diplomatic approaches to protect Korea from China, Russia and Japan.

Philip Jaisohn underscored the importance of public education, modernized industry and public hygiene.

Under the aegis of the Independence Club, Philip Jaisohn organized the All People's Congress, an open public forum to debate over political issues.

In November 1897, Philip Jaisohn finished the construction of the Independence Gate.

Five years later in 1924, Philip Jaisohn went legally bankrupt due to his political engagement and had to resume practicing medicine to make a living.

Philip Jaisohn returned to Korea after Japan's defeat in World War II.

Philip Jaisohn felt that political unity was needed for a new nation, despite his uneasy relationship with the president elect Syngman Rhee.

Philip Jaisohn decided to return to the United States in 1948.

Philip Jaisohn's ashes are buried in the Seoul National Cemetery.

Since then, the Philip Jaisohn House has been visited by many students and politicians from Korea such as former South Korean president and Nobel peace laureate Kim Dae-jung as well as Korean American immigrants and community neighbors.