Birthplace Site of Yi Jong-il

About this place

The birthplace site of Yi Jong-il is located within Taean Patriots' Park. Yi Jong-il (pen name: Okpa) was one of the 33 national representatives who signed the Declaration of Independence during the March 1st Movement of 1919. His birthplace was discovered on March 1, 1979, by Park Chun-seok, principal of Taean Women's Commercial High School, in Bangye-ri, Wonbuk-myeon, and was restored in 1986. The site features a thatched house, a shrine built during restoration, and a low stone wall. Major facilities include the thatched house, the shrine, the Okpa Yi Jong-il Memorial Hall, and an experience center where visitors can try making Taegukgi (Korean national flags). Yi Jong-il was born on November 6, 1858, in Bangye-ri, Wonbuk-myeon, Taean. Displaying exceptional intellectual talent from an early age, he passed the literary civil service examination at age 16 and later traveled to Japan in 1882 as part of the diplomatic mission led by Park Yeong-hyo, encountering the modern culture of Japan, which ignited his will toward enlightenment and national salvation.