Hwang Hyeon

Hwang Hyeon (黃玹, December 11, 1855 – September 7, 1910) was a scholar and patriot of Late Joseon and is a recognized independence activist of South Korea.

Life

His family seat was Jangsu (長水), his courtesy name was Unggyeong (雲卿), and his pen name was Maecheon (梅泉). The historian Hwang Ui-don (黃義敦) was his second cousin once removed. He was born in Gwangyang, Jeolla Province, spent his early infancy for a time in Hampyeong, Jeolla Province, and grew up in Gurye, Jeolla Province. In the spring of 1892, an explosion occurred at Unhyeongung, and gunpowder installed in several buildings was discovered. Hwang Hyeon named Empress Myeongseong as the instigator. According to him, the incident was carried out by Empress Myeongseong in order to blow up the family of Heungseon Daewongun.¹ He passed the Saengwon examination, but he withdrew to the countryside, where he lived by training students. In 1910, lamenting the conclusion of the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty, he committed suicide by poisoning himself at his home in Gurye County sixteen days after the treaty was concluded.² His "Last Poem" (絶命詩, Jeolmyeongsi), which he left as he took his own life, was published in the Gyeongnam Ilbo, where Jang Ji-yeon (張志淵) served as chief editor, and this became the cause of the Gyeongnam Ilbo press incident.

Passing the Civil Service Examinations

• Passed the Bogeo examination (保擧科) in 1883
• Placed second in the preliminary round of the Saengwon examination in 1885