A single intellect can change a nation's fate. Though he did not wield a sword, his battles were fiercer than war, and though he did not command a warship, he safeguarded his country’s survival at the forefront of diplomacy. Hong Jin-ki, known as Yumin, was such a figure.
Born as a youth in colonial Korea, he received an education under the Japanese Empire. However, after liberation, he used his knowledge of law and logic to dismantle the last arguments of Japanese imperialism. It was an irony of history, yet simultaneously a triumph of justice. Armed with the language of legal studies and international law instilled by the Japanese, he deconstructed the logic of colonial rule left behind by Japan. He fought not with a sword but with words, not with cannons but with legal principles, and not with anger but with reason, overwhelming Japan. Beneath that reason lay the pain of a generation that had lost its country and a fervent patriotism to protect the new nation.
On June 12, 2026, a spring academic conference held by the Modern Japanese Studies Association and the Institute of Japanese Studies at Seoul National University brought Hong Jin-ki's life and his diplomatic efforts with Japan back into historical focus. Marking the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization, this conference was not merely a commemorative event; it served as a platform for historical reflection on how South Korea fought against Japan, survived, and upheld its national dignity.
We often remember the signing of the 1965 Korea-Japan Basic Treaty as the starting point of Korea-Japan relations. However, long before that, amidst the ruins of the Korean War, numerous unseen battles were fought to protect South Korea's national interests and sovereignty. At the center of these efforts was Yumin.
At that time, South Korea was one of the world's poorest countries. Its territory lay in ruins from war, it had no foreign exchange, and its diplomatic power was weak. In contrast, Japan was rapidly recovering its economic strength and international influence with robust support from the United States. The Korea-Japan talks were inherently unbalanced from the start. In this context, Japan introduced the concept of 'retroactive claims,' arguing that it could assert rights over properties left by Japanese nationals in Korea. At that time, 85% of Korean assets were left behind by Japanese. If this argument had been accepted, South Korea might have lost a significant portion of its economic sovereignty from the moment of liberation.
However, Yumin did not back down. He viewed this not merely as a property dispute but as a matter of national sovereignty for a liberated state. If colonial rule itself was illegal, then the rights formed during that process could not be recognized as legitimate. This became the 'principle of liberation,' which would later be etched into the annals of diplomatic and international law. This principle was not just a negotiation tactic; it was a declaration of national identity explaining why South Korea was an independent nation, why it needed economic sovereignty, and why it could not accept Japan's retroactive claims.
Particularly noteworthy today is Article 4(b) of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Yumin played a crucial role in negotiating with the U.S. side to incorporate a clause recognizing the validity of the Japanese property disposals carried out by the U.S. military government into the treaty. Had this clause not been included, South Korea would likely have been embroiled in endless international disputes over Japanese property rights, not only during the 1965 Korea-Japan Agreement process but even today. He was not merely a representative in the Korea-Japan talks; he was a giant laying the groundwork for South Korea's economic sovereignty. The properties that formed the foundation of South Korea's industrialization could also trace their legal legitimacy back to this.
During the conference, Professor Lee Won-deok of Kookmin University praised this aspect. He noted that while Japan claimed protection of Japanese private property based on Article 46 of the Hague Land Warfare Regulations, Yumin directly refuted this based on the principle of restoration. Professor Park Kyung-min of Kookmin University assessed that Yumin reframed the issue of vested property not merely as a property matter but as a question of economic sovereignty for a liberated nation. Professor Park Tae-kyun of Seoul National University explained that Yumin's perspective on international politics and diplomacy was significantly ahead of Korean society at that time.
Lee Ha-kyung, a senior journalist at the JoongAng Ilbo and former chief editor, highlighted another achievement of Yumin: the '14 Principles for Korean Unification.' This aspect deserves renewed evaluation today. The year 1954 was a time when the scars of the Korean War had yet to heal. The prevailing sentiment in society was overwhelmingly in favor of unification through military means. However, Yumin systematically organized principles for peaceful unification that could be accepted by the international community.
What is remarkable about Yumin's unification theory is that it emerged during the height of the Cold War. Less than a year after the guns of the Korean War had fallen silent, he proposed principles for peaceful unification that transcended the logic of victory and defeat, aiming for a strategy to transition from an era of war to one of peace. The unification plan proposed by the opposition Democratic Party, founded in 1955, also adopted many of Yumin's principles for peaceful unification. His approach became the first national unification plan approved across political lines and was presented at the Geneva Conference in 1954 as a unification proposal from the free world. The issues later raised by the Northern Policy and Sunshine Policy can also be traced back to his ideas. He was not only a diplomat and lawyer but also a strategist who foresaw the future.
Born as a youth in colonial Korea, he received an education under the Japanese Empire. However, after liberation, he used his knowledge of law and logic to dismantle the last arguments of Japanese imperialism. It was an irony of history, yet simultaneously a triumph of justice. Armed with the language of legal studies and international law instilled by the Japanese, he deconstructed the logic of colonial rule left behind by Japan. He fought not with a sword but with words, not with cannons but with legal principles, and not with anger but with reason, overwhelming Japan. Beneath that reason lay the pain of a generation that had lost its country and a fervent patriotism to protect the new nation.
On June 12, 2026, a spring academic conference held by the Modern Japanese Studies Association and the Institute of Japanese Studies at Seoul National University brought Hong Jin-ki's life and his diplomatic efforts with Japan back into historical focus. Marking the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization, this conference was not merely a commemorative event; it served as a platform for historical reflection on how South Korea fought against Japan, survived, and upheld its national dignity.
We often remember the signing of the 1965 Korea-Japan Basic Treaty as the starting point of Korea-Japan relations. However, long before that, amidst the ruins of the Korean War, numerous unseen battles were fought to protect South Korea's national interests and sovereignty. At the center of these efforts was Yumin.
At that time, South Korea was one of the world's poorest countries. Its territory lay in ruins from war, it had no foreign exchange, and its diplomatic power was weak. In contrast, Japan was rapidly recovering its economic strength and international influence with robust support from the United States. The Korea-Japan talks were inherently unbalanced from the start. In this context, Japan introduced the concept of 'retroactive claims,' arguing that it could assert rights over properties left by Japanese nationals in Korea. At that time, 85% of Korean assets were left behind by Japanese. If this argument had been accepted, South Korea might have lost a significant portion of its economic sovereignty from the moment of liberation.
However, Yumin did not back down. He viewed this not merely as a property dispute but as a matter of national sovereignty for a liberated state. If colonial rule itself was illegal, then the rights formed during that process could not be recognized as legitimate. This became the 'principle of liberation,' which would later be etched into the annals of diplomatic and international law. This principle was not just a negotiation tactic; it was a declaration of national identity explaining why South Korea was an independent nation, why it needed economic sovereignty, and why it could not accept Japan's retroactive claims.
Particularly noteworthy today is Article 4(b) of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Yumin played a crucial role in negotiating with the U.S. side to incorporate a clause recognizing the validity of the Japanese property disposals carried out by the U.S. military government into the treaty. Had this clause not been included, South Korea would likely have been embroiled in endless international disputes over Japanese property rights, not only during the 1965 Korea-Japan Agreement process but even today. He was not merely a representative in the Korea-Japan talks; he was a giant laying the groundwork for South Korea's economic sovereignty. The properties that formed the foundation of South Korea's industrialization could also trace their legal legitimacy back to this.
During the conference, Professor Lee Won-deok of Kookmin University praised this aspect. He noted that while Japan claimed protection of Japanese private property based on Article 46 of the Hague Land Warfare Regulations, Yumin directly refuted this based on the principle of restoration. Professor Park Kyung-min of Kookmin University assessed that Yumin reframed the issue of vested property not merely as a property matter but as a question of economic sovereignty for a liberated nation. Professor Park Tae-kyun of Seoul National University explained that Yumin's perspective on international politics and diplomacy was significantly ahead of Korean society at that time.
Lee Ha-kyung, a senior journalist at the JoongAng Ilbo and former chief editor, highlighted another achievement of Yumin: the '14 Principles for Korean Unification.' This aspect deserves renewed evaluation today. The year 1954 was a time when the scars of the Korean War had yet to heal. The prevailing sentiment in society was overwhelmingly in favor of unification through military means. However, Yumin systematically organized principles for peaceful unification that could be accepted by the international community.
What is remarkable about Yumin's unification theory is that it emerged during the height of the Cold War. Less than a year after the guns of the Korean War had fallen silent, he proposed principles for peaceful unification that transcended the logic of victory and defeat, aiming for a strategy to transition from an era of war to one of peace. The unification plan proposed by the opposition Democratic Party, founded in 1955, also adopted many of Yumin's principles for peaceful unification. His approach became the first national unification plan approved across political lines and was presented at the Geneva Conference in 1954 as a unification proposal from the free world. The issues later raised by the Northern Policy and Sunshine Policy can also be traced back to his ideas. He was not only a diplomat and lawyer but also a strategist who foresaw the future.
A pivotal event that solidified Yumin's name in diplomatic history was the 1953 Kubota Incident. Japanese representative Kanichiro Kubota claimed that Japan's colonial rule had greatly benefited Koreans, even suggesting that had Japan not ruled Korea, China or Russia would have taken over, leading to a more miserable fate. This was known as the theory of colonial benevolence.
However, Yumin immediately countered this argument. He pointed out that Koreans had the capability to build a modern state on their own and that Japan's invasion was not a civilizing mission but an act of forced occupation. He then posed a decisive question.
“Then why did the Cairo Declaration state that Koreans were in a state of slavery?”
That single question dismantled the entirety of Japan's logic. The talks were subsequently suspended, and Japan ultimately retracted both Kubota's statements and its claims for retroactive rights. At that time, Yumin was only 36 years old.
Reflecting on this moment, Professor Wada Haruki of the University of Tokyo remarked at the June 12 conference, “Yumin's voice was the first spark that changed the consciousness of the Japanese.”
This is a profound assessment. Diplomacy is not merely about amending documents; it is about changing perceptions. Yumin fought not only against Japanese policies but also against the very historical consciousness of the Japanese people. That is what makes his diplomacy great.
Yumin's life is a microcosm of modern Korean history. Born in 1917 in colonial Korea, he graduated from Kyungsung High School and the Law Department of Kyungsung Imperial University. He passed the high civil service examination during the Japanese occupation and served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court. However, his true historical role began after liberation.
He stood at the forefront of establishing the legal framework and governance of the newly founded South Korea. As the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, he laid the groundwork for national legislation, and as a representative in the Korea-Japan talks, he safeguarded South Korea's national interests and sovereignty. He also served as Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior, dedicating himself to stabilizing the national system. Notably, during the Korea-Japan talks in the 1950s, he countered Japan's claims for retroactive rights and justifications for colonial rule with international law and logic, opening a new chapter in South Korean diplomacy.
His most significant achievement was the so-called 'principle of liberation.' He reinterpreted Japan's defeat not merely as the end of a war but as Korea's liberation and restoration of sovereignty. Through this, he neutralized Japan's claims for retroactive rights and laid the legal foundation for South Korea's economic sovereignty. He also contributed to solidifying the issue of vested property as a right of South Korea by adding Article 4(b) to the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
Yumin was not just a lawyer and diplomat; he was also a pioneer of peaceful unification. In 1954, he organized the '14 Principles for Korean Unification,' proposing a framework for peaceful unification that could be accepted by the international community. This foresight was decades ahead of the issues later addressed by the Northern Policy and Sunshine Policy. He also made significant contributions to the development of journalism through the founding of the JoongAng Ilbo and dedicated his life to nurturing future generations and scholarship.
In short, he was a figure who transformed legal knowledge into a survival strategy for the nation. He was the person who completed Japan's defeat as Korea's liberation and demonstrated that the strongest weapon for a weak nation in confronting a strong one is law, principles, and international norms.
Yumin's insights resonate even more today as South Korea has become one of the world's top ten economies. However, the international order is becoming increasingly turbulent. With challenges such as U.S.-China rivalry, supply chain wars, semiconductor competition, energy security, and North Korea's nuclear issues looming, Yumin's message shines brighter.
Hong Seok-jo, chairman of the board, reflected on Yumin's insights, stating, “The smaller the nation, the more it needs people who understand international law.”
This statement can be seen as Yumin's legacy. South Korea has become a top ten economy, yet it remains geopolitically situated between great powers. Yumin dedicated his life to training experts in international law and educating future generations for this very reason. He understood better than anyone that law is stronger than a sword and that international norms endure longer than military power. Having studied on the Prince Yi Scholarship, he returned the favor to society through scholarship programs and viewed nurturing future scholars in international law as his final service to the nation. This exemplifies true nobless oblige.
It has been nearly 40 years since Yumin passed away. However, his name inscribed in Yumin Hall at Seoul National University's Law School is not merely a memorial; it serves as a historical milestone reminding South Korea of where it started and who brought it this far. When the country was poor, patriotism was needed; when it was weak, courage was essential. But now that the nation has grown, wisdom is required. The life of Yumin Hong Jin-ki illustrates what that wisdom entails: fighting with law when strength is lacking, winning with logic when national power is weak, and transforming the scars of history into strategies for a brighter future. That is Yumin's greatest legacy.
Ultimately, the life of Yumin Hong Jin-ki can be summarized in one sentence.
He was a great lawyer who completed Japan's defeat as Korea's liberation.
The defeat was Japan's event. However, liberation was Korea's event. Yumin was the one who bridged the vast gap between the two. Someone had to read the treaty, find the loopholes in international law, refute Japan's fallacies, and explain South Korea's rights to the world. The genius who accomplished this was Yumin Hong Jin-ki.
Thus, today we revisit Yumin. We read his principle of liberation, the courage of a young diplomat who countered Kubota's remarks, and the long-term vision of a strategist who designed peaceful unification. We ask ourselves: Are we prepared to that extent today? Do we love our country that much today? What will we leave for future generations?
What is truth? It is to reveal until the end that colonial rule was not benevolence but plunder. What is justice? It is to prevent the absurd logic that seeks to disguise the consequences of plunder as legitimate property. What is freedom? It is for a liberated nation to determine its own land, property, and future.
Yumin Hong Jin-ki's principle of liberation was directed toward these three: truth, justice, and freedom. These were the roots of his legal philosophy, the strength of his diplomacy, and the fundamentals that South Korea must reclaim today.
Yumin may have departed, but his questions remain. How will a small nation survive between great powers? How will a nation with a history of being treated as slaves rise above resentment to stand on firm principles? For whom should those who have learned the law use their knowledge? What should the media remember? What should future generations carry on?
If we cannot answer these questions, we have not properly honored Yumin. Honoring Yumin means not just elevating his name but reviving his spirit as today's national strategy.
◆ Who is Yumin? ◆
Yumin Hong Jin-ki (1917–1986) was a lawyer, diplomat, administrator, and journalist during the early years of South Korea's founding. He was born in colonial Korea, graduated from Kyungsung High School and the Law Department of Kyungsung Imperial University, and passed the high civil service examination during the Japanese occupation, serving as a judge at the Jeonju District Court. However, his true historical role began after liberation.
He stood at the forefront of establishing the legal framework and governance of the newly founded South Korea. As the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, he laid the groundwork for national legislation, and as a representative in the Korea-Japan talks, he safeguarded South Korea's national interests and sovereignty. He also served as Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior, dedicating himself to stabilizing the national system. Notably, during the Korea-Japan talks in the 1950s, he countered Japan's claims for retroactive rights and justifications for colonial rule with international law and logic, opening a new chapter in South Korean diplomacy.
His most significant achievement was the so-called 'principle of liberation.' He reinterpreted Japan's defeat not merely as the end of a war but as Korea's liberation and restoration of sovereignty. Through this, he neutralized Japan's claims for retroactive rights and laid the legal foundation for South Korea's economic sovereignty. He also contributed to solidifying the issue of vested property as a right of South Korea by adding Article 4(b) to the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
Yumin was not just a lawyer and diplomat; he was also a pioneer of peaceful unification. In 1954, he organized the '14 Principles for Korean Unification,' proposing a framework for peaceful unification that could be accepted by the international community. This foresight was decades ahead of the issues later addressed by the Northern Policy and Sunshine Policy. He also made significant contributions to the development of journalism through the founding of the JoongAng Ilbo and dedicated his life to nurturing future generations and scholarship.
In short, he was a figure who transformed legal knowledge into a survival strategy for the nation. He was the person who completed Japan's defeat as Korea's liberation and demonstrated that the strongest weapon for a weak nation in confronting a strong one is law, principles, and international norms.
◆ The Message Left by Yumin Hong Jin-ki for Future Generations ◆
The life of Yumin Hong Jin-ki poses important questions for us. What does it mean to love one’s country? Is patriotism merely a slogan, or is it a commitment to dedicate one’s abilities and knowledge for the nation?
Yumin demonstrated the answer through his life. He loved his country but was not consumed by emotion. He was angry about Japan's colonial rule but channeled that anger into the logic of international law. He understood the reality of being a small nation better than anyone but never succumbed to despair. Instead, he believed that being weak necessitated more study, more preparation, and a stronger adherence to principles.
His most famous principle can be summarized in the statement, “The smaller the nation, the more it needs people who understand international law.” This is not merely a statement about the importance of international law. It reflects the philosophy of national survival: while great powers can resolve issues through strength, small nations must protect themselves through law, principles, and diplomacy. Considering that South Korea, despite its economic strength, is still caught in U.S.-China competition and geopolitical conflicts, this message becomes increasingly urgent.
Yumin also emphasized the importance of nurturing future generations. Having studied on the Prince Yi Scholarship, he later returned the favor to society through scholarship programs and academic support. He believed that nurturing the next generation of talent was tantamount to protecting the nation. He understood better than anyone that law is stronger than a sword and that international norms endure longer than military power.
Ultimately, Yumin's message to future generations is clear: prioritize skill over emotion, preparation over slogans, and intellect over agitation. He urged that in times of national difficulty, we must study more, establish stronger principles, and view the world with broader perspectives. And above all, never compromise South Korea's dignity and freedom. This is the most valuable legacy that Yumin Hong Jin-ki left for us and future generations.
◆ Authors of 'Yumin Hong Jin-ki and Korea-Japan Diplomacy' ◆
Lee Ha-kyung, a senior journalist at the JoongAng Ilbo, has worked for over 40 years at the newspaper, serving as chief editor for six years while leading a rational, open, and integrative discourse with keen critical awareness. He has served as president of the Korean Newspaper and Broadcasting Editors Association and is a respected journalist representing the Korean media. In 2002, he made a significant mark in Korean journalism with an article that quantitatively analyzed the ideological tendencies of politicians and citizens, earning him the Korean Journalist Award. In this book, he provides a multidimensional exploration of Yumin Hong Jin-ki's life and thought within the context of modern Korean history.
Lee Won-deok, a professor at Kookmin University, is regarded as one of the top experts on Korea-Japan relations. He has established authority in the study of the Korea-Japan talks, claims negotiations, and historical issues, empirically restoring the significance of the claims for reparations and the retroactive claims debate as well as the San Francisco Peace Treaty. He played a leading role in verifying the 35,354 pages of documents from the Korea-Japan talks during the Roh Moo-hyun administration from 2005, contributing to the establishment of the Korean government's official position that Japan's inhumane illegal acts still bear legal responsibility and providing a basis for domestic victim compensation legislation.
Park Tae-kyun, a professor at Seoul National University, is a leading scholar in modern Korean history, Cold War history, and Korea-U.S. relations. He interprets Yumin's activities within the global historical context of the Cold War and nation-building, highlighting his role as a diplomat and strategist.
Park Kyung-min, a professor at Kookmin University, has researched the re-education of Japanese nationals during the Japanese occupation and the normalization of Korea-Japan relations. He offers a fresh interpretation of Yumin Hong Jin-ki's legal achievements and the significance of protecting economic sovereignty centered on the issue of vested property and the principle of liberation.
The collaborative work of these four authors is not merely a biography. It is an intellectual endeavor to restore the starting point of South Korea's diplomatic history and the process of forming national identity, demonstrating how South Korea has upheld its sovereignty and dignity through the figure of Yumin Hong Jin-ki.
However, Yumin immediately countered this argument. He pointed out that Koreans had the capability to build a modern state on their own and that Japan's invasion was not a civilizing mission but an act of forced occupation. He then posed a decisive question.
“Then why did the Cairo Declaration state that Koreans were in a state of slavery?”
That single question dismantled the entirety of Japan's logic. The talks were subsequently suspended, and Japan ultimately retracted both Kubota's statements and its claims for retroactive rights. At that time, Yumin was only 36 years old.
Reflecting on this moment, Professor Wada Haruki of the University of Tokyo remarked at the June 12 conference, “Yumin's voice was the first spark that changed the consciousness of the Japanese.”
This is a profound assessment. Diplomacy is not merely about amending documents; it is about changing perceptions. Yumin fought not only against Japanese policies but also against the very historical consciousness of the Japanese people. That is what makes his diplomacy great.
Yumin's life is a microcosm of modern Korean history. Born in 1917 in colonial Korea, he graduated from Kyungsung High School and the Law Department of Kyungsung Imperial University. He passed the high civil service examination during the Japanese occupation and served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court. However, his true historical role began after liberation.
He stood at the forefront of establishing the legal framework and governance of the newly founded South Korea. As the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, he laid the groundwork for national legislation, and as a representative in the Korea-Japan talks, he safeguarded South Korea's national interests and sovereignty. He also served as Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior, dedicating himself to stabilizing the national system. Notably, during the Korea-Japan talks in the 1950s, he countered Japan's claims for retroactive rights and justifications for colonial rule with international law and logic, opening a new chapter in South Korean diplomacy.
His most significant achievement was the so-called 'principle of liberation.' He reinterpreted Japan's defeat not merely as the end of a war but as Korea's liberation and restoration of sovereignty. Through this, he neutralized Japan's claims for retroactive rights and laid the legal foundation for South Korea's economic sovereignty. He also contributed to solidifying the issue of vested property as a right of South Korea by adding Article 4(b) to the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
Yumin was not just a lawyer and diplomat; he was also a pioneer of peaceful unification. In 1954, he organized the '14 Principles for Korean Unification,' proposing a framework for peaceful unification that could be accepted by the international community. This foresight was decades ahead of the issues later addressed by the Northern Policy and Sunshine Policy. He also made significant contributions to the development of journalism through the founding of the JoongAng Ilbo and dedicated his life to nurturing future generations and scholarship.
In short, he was a figure who transformed legal knowledge into a survival strategy for the nation. He was the person who completed Japan's defeat as Korea's liberation and demonstrated that the strongest weapon for a weak nation in confronting a strong one is law, principles, and international norms.
Yumin's insights resonate even more today as South Korea has become one of the world's top ten economies. However, the international order is becoming increasingly turbulent. With challenges such as U.S.-China rivalry, supply chain wars, semiconductor competition, energy security, and North Korea's nuclear issues looming, Yumin's message shines brighter.
Hong Seok-jo, chairman of the board, reflected on Yumin's insights, stating, “The smaller the nation, the more it needs people who understand international law.”
This statement can be seen as Yumin's legacy. South Korea has become a top ten economy, yet it remains geopolitically situated between great powers. Yumin dedicated his life to training experts in international law and educating future generations for this very reason. He understood better than anyone that law is stronger than a sword and that international norms endure longer than military power. Having studied on the Prince Yi Scholarship, he returned the favor to society through scholarship programs and viewed nurturing future scholars in international law as his final service to the nation. This exemplifies true nobless oblige.
It has been nearly 40 years since Yumin passed away. However, his name inscribed in Yumin Hall at Seoul National University's Law School is not merely a memorial; it serves as a historical milestone reminding South Korea of where it started and who brought it this far. When the country was poor, patriotism was needed; when it was weak, courage was essential. But now that the nation has grown, wisdom is required. The life of Yumin Hong Jin-ki illustrates what that wisdom entails: fighting with law when strength is lacking, winning with logic when national power is weak, and transforming the scars of history into strategies for a brighter future. That is Yumin's greatest legacy.
Ultimately, the life of Yumin Hong Jin-ki can be summarized in one sentence.
He was a great lawyer who completed Japan's defeat as Korea's liberation.
The defeat was Japan's event. However, liberation was Korea's event. Yumin was the one who bridged the vast gap between the two. Someone had to read the treaty, find the loopholes in international law, refute Japan's fallacies, and explain South Korea's rights to the world. The genius who accomplished this was Yumin Hong Jin-ki.
Thus, today we revisit Yumin. We read his principle of liberation, the courage of a young diplomat who countered Kubota's remarks, and the long-term vision of a strategist who designed peaceful unification. We ask ourselves: Are we prepared to that extent today? Do we love our country that much today? What will we leave for future generations?
What is truth? It is to reveal until the end that colonial rule was not benevolence but plunder. What is justice? It is to prevent the absurd logic that seeks to disguise the consequences of plunder as legitimate property. What is freedom? It is for a liberated nation to determine its own land, property, and future.
Yumin Hong Jin-ki's principle of liberation was directed toward these three: truth, justice, and freedom. These were the roots of his legal philosophy, the strength of his diplomacy, and the fundamentals that South Korea must reclaim today.
Yumin may have departed, but his questions remain. How will a small nation survive between great powers? How will a nation with a history of being treated as slaves rise above resentment to stand on firm principles? For whom should those who have learned the law use their knowledge? What should the media remember? What should future generations carry on?
If we cannot answer these questions, we have not properly honored Yumin. Honoring Yumin means not just elevating his name but reviving his spirit as today's national strategy.
◆ Who is Yumin? ◆
Yumin Hong Jin-ki (1917–1986) was a lawyer, diplomat, administrator, and journalist during the early years of South Korea's founding. He was born in colonial Korea, graduated from Kyungsung High School and the Law Department of Kyungsung Imperial University, and passed the high civil service examination during the Japanese occupation, serving as a judge at the Jeonju District Court. However, his true historical role began after liberation.
He stood at the forefront of establishing the legal framework and governance of the newly founded South Korea. As the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, he laid the groundwork for national legislation, and as a representative in the Korea-Japan talks, he safeguarded South Korea's national interests and sovereignty. He also served as Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior, dedicating himself to stabilizing the national system. Notably, during the Korea-Japan talks in the 1950s, he countered Japan's claims for retroactive rights and justifications for colonial rule with international law and logic, opening a new chapter in South Korean diplomacy.
His most significant achievement was the so-called 'principle of liberation.' He reinterpreted Japan's defeat not merely as the end of a war but as Korea's liberation and restoration of sovereignty. Through this, he neutralized Japan's claims for retroactive rights and laid the legal foundation for South Korea's economic sovereignty. He also contributed to solidifying the issue of vested property as a right of South Korea by adding Article 4(b) to the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
Yumin was not just a lawyer and diplomat; he was also a pioneer of peaceful unification. In 1954, he organized the '14 Principles for Korean Unification,' proposing a framework for peaceful unification that could be accepted by the international community. This foresight was decades ahead of the issues later addressed by the Northern Policy and Sunshine Policy. He also made significant contributions to the development of journalism through the founding of the JoongAng Ilbo and dedicated his life to nurturing future generations and scholarship.
In short, he was a figure who transformed legal knowledge into a survival strategy for the nation. He was the person who completed Japan's defeat as Korea's liberation and demonstrated that the strongest weapon for a weak nation in confronting a strong one is law, principles, and international norms.
◆ The Message Left by Yumin Hong Jin-ki for Future Generations ◆
The life of Yumin Hong Jin-ki poses important questions for us. What does it mean to love one’s country? Is patriotism merely a slogan, or is it a commitment to dedicate one’s abilities and knowledge for the nation?
Yumin demonstrated the answer through his life. He loved his country but was not consumed by emotion. He was angry about Japan's colonial rule but channeled that anger into the logic of international law. He understood the reality of being a small nation better than anyone but never succumbed to despair. Instead, he believed that being weak necessitated more study, more preparation, and a stronger adherence to principles.
His most famous principle can be summarized in the statement, “The smaller the nation, the more it needs people who understand international law.” This is not merely a statement about the importance of international law. It reflects the philosophy of national survival: while great powers can resolve issues through strength, small nations must protect themselves through law, principles, and diplomacy. Considering that South Korea, despite its economic strength, is still caught in U.S.-China competition and geopolitical conflicts, this message becomes increasingly urgent.
Yumin also emphasized the importance of nurturing future generations. Having studied on the Prince Yi Scholarship, he later returned the favor to society through scholarship programs and academic support. He believed that nurturing the next generation of talent was tantamount to protecting the nation. He understood better than anyone that law is stronger than a sword and that international norms endure longer than military power.
Ultimately, Yumin's message to future generations is clear: prioritize skill over emotion, preparation over slogans, and intellect over agitation. He urged that in times of national difficulty, we must study more, establish stronger principles, and view the world with broader perspectives. And above all, never compromise South Korea's dignity and freedom. This is the most valuable legacy that Yumin Hong Jin-ki left for us and future generations.
◆ Authors of 'Yumin Hong Jin-ki and Korea-Japan Diplomacy' ◆
Lee Ha-kyung, a senior journalist at the JoongAng Ilbo, has worked for over 40 years at the newspaper, serving as chief editor for six years while leading a rational, open, and integrative discourse with keen critical awareness. He has served as president of the Korean Newspaper and Broadcasting Editors Association and is a respected journalist representing the Korean media. In 2002, he made a significant mark in Korean journalism with an article that quantitatively analyzed the ideological tendencies of politicians and citizens, earning him the Korean Journalist Award. In this book, he provides a multidimensional exploration of Yumin Hong Jin-ki's life and thought within the context of modern Korean history.
Lee Won-deok, a professor at Kookmin University, is regarded as one of the top experts on Korea-Japan relations. He has established authority in the study of the Korea-Japan talks, claims negotiations, and historical issues, empirically restoring the significance of the claims for reparations and the retroactive claims debate as well as the San Francisco Peace Treaty. He played a leading role in verifying the 35,354 pages of documents from the Korea-Japan talks during the Roh Moo-hyun administration from 2005, contributing to the establishment of the Korean government's official position that Japan's inhumane illegal acts still bear legal responsibility and providing a basis for domestic victim compensation legislation.
Park Tae-kyun, a professor at Seoul National University, is a leading scholar in modern Korean history, Cold War history, and Korea-U.S. relations. He interprets Yumin's activities within the global historical context of the Cold War and nation-building, highlighting his role as a diplomat and strategist.
Park Kyung-min, a professor at Kookmin University, has researched the re-education of Japanese nationals during the Japanese occupation and the normalization of Korea-Japan relations. He offers a fresh interpretation of Yumin Hong Jin-ki's legal achievements and the significance of protecting economic sovereignty centered on the issue of vested property and the principle of liberation.
The collaborative work of these four authors is not merely a biography. It is an intellectual endeavor to restore the starting point of South Korea's diplomatic history and the process of forming national identity, demonstrating how South Korea has upheld its sovereignty and dignity through the figure of Yumin Hong Jin-ki.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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