Jeon Beom-seon, the vocalist of the band 'Yangbandeul,' has recently shed light on his lineage as a descendant of a pro-Japanese collaborator, prompting a reevaluation of his family's history.
In April, Jeon, who studied history, revealed on a YouTube channel that his great-great-grandfather was Lee In-jik, a notable pro-Japanese figure and the first author of modern Korean novels.
On August 13, during an appearance on the YouTube channel 'Mae Bul Show,' Jeon discussed how he learned about his ancestry, stating, "I had no idea when I was young. I developed an interest in history in high school, where the curriculum emphasized it. As I studied history, I realized that the U.S. military government played a role in establishing the Republic of Korea. To understand modern Korean history, I needed to learn about the U.S., which led me to study American history. I found that to fully grasp American history, I had to go to England, where I completed my master's thesis on the American Revolution."
Jeon graduated from Minjok Leadership Academy and earned a bachelor's degree in history from Dartmouth College, followed by a master's degree from Oxford University. While studying in the U.S., he learned about Dr. Homer Hulbert, who contributed to Korea's modernization and anti-Japanese movements, and was inspired to intern at the Hulbert Memorial Association.
One day, while researching Hulbert, Jeon's mother entered his room and said, "I know you are studying history, but do you know your family background?" She revealed that he was a descendant of Lee In-jik. Jeon expressed his shock, saying, "I knew Lee In-jik as the author of 'Blood and Tears,' but my mother told me he was not just a pro-Japanese collaborator; he was a significant pro-Japanese figure." Lee In-jik is Jeon's maternal great-great-grandfather.
Jeon noted, "My mother had never shared this with me before. It was something she was ashamed of. I was deeply shocked by her words." He also mentioned that Lee In-jik abandoned his Korean wife to remarry a Japanese woman, making Jeon a descendant of that Korean wife.
Jeon stated, "Lee In-jik was a prominent pro-Japanese figure who remarried a Japanese woman and converted to Japanese religion. He abandoned not only his country but also his family. My mother lived her life without ever speaking of this shame."
This revelation has been a significant trauma for Jeon. He said, "Since then, I have sought out all the books written by Lee In-jik. I wanted to understand why he abandoned his family and country. My book, 'Jeon Beom-seon's Korean History Therapy,' was also an effort to overcome the trauma of being a descendant of a pro-Japanese collaborator."
Despite this, Jeon admitted, "I could not include Lee In-jik in my book, as there are still unresolved issues regarding him."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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