Ji Cheong-cheon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ji Cheong-Cheon (지청천, 池靑天), also known as Yi Cheong-Cheon (이청천, 李靑天) was a Korean patriot during the period of Japanese rule and a South Korean politician. His name was originally Yi Dae Hyong, but took up nome de guerre Ji Cheong-Cheon, meaning Earth and Blue Sky, while leading Korean guerrila forces against the Japanese.

Originally a 1914 graduate of the Japanese military academy, he defected to the Korean guerrila forces in 1919, bringing with him knowledge of modern military techniques. His skills were appreciated by the Korean guerrila forces who made him the superintendant of the Sinheung Military Academy where new leaders of the Korean forces were being trained.

In 1940, he became the commander-in-chief of the Korean Liberation Army sponsored by the Chinese Nationalists. During the Second World War, he invited General Hong Sa Ik, the highest ranking Korean officer in the Imperial Japanese Army to defect and join the Korean Liberation Army but the invitation was declined.

Following Korea's liberation, he served as a meber of the Korean National Assembly.

General Ji Cheong-Cheon passed away in 1959.