Jeon Jin-han (錢鎭漢, November 5, 1901 – April 20, 1972, Sangju, North Gyeongsang) was a Korean independence activist, labor activist, and politician. He served as the first Minister of Social Affairs of South Korea, chaired the Korean National Congress of Labor (대한노총), and served as a member of the Co
Born~Died Nov 5, 1901 ~ Apr 22, 1972Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:51 PM
1901. 11. 5. Born in Hari, Munggyeong-myeon, North Gyeongsang Province
1917. Moved to Seoul while attending a public elementary school in Hamchang
1918. Transferred as a second-year transfer student to Joongang High School, withdrew. Worked as a messenger at Joongdong School
1919. Studied for two months in the English special class at Joongdong School. Entered the third year of the English night class at Chongnyeon Hakgwan (Seoul YMCA)
1920. Spoke at a debate contest at Chongnyeon Hakgwan; after his speech drew attention, received support from the Kimi Yukyeonghoe
1920. 4. 26. Selected and dispatched as a Kimi Yukyeonghoe student to study in Tokyo
1920. 9. Entered Junten Middle School in Tokyo
1922. While in the fifth year, entered the First Higher School of Waseda University, literature course
1924. Entered the Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
1924. Joined and participated in the Hanbitsoe, a secret organization of Japan-based Korean students. Active in the Cooperative Movement Society, its public organization
1926. 5. 20. Founding general meeting of the Cooperative Movement Society. In charge of general affairs
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1927. 5. 7. Founding congress of the Tokyo branch of the Singanhoe. In charge of general affairs
1927. 7–8. Briefly returned to Korea; toured on a summer propaganda lecture circuit (Masan, Mokpo, Jeongeup, Haeju, Jaeryeong, Pungcheon, Jeongju, etc.)
1927. 11. 19. Published <협동조합운동의 실제> (The Practice of the Cooperative Movement)
1928. 3. Graduated from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
1928. 4. 4. Moved the headquarters of the Cooperative Movement Society to Gyeongseong; assumed the post of chairman
1928. 6. During a regional tour by the Cooperative Movement Society, arrested in Daegu as a person involved in the Fourth Korean Communist Party Incident; indicted and imprisoned in Sinuiju Prison
1929. 4. 15. Preliminary hearing concluded. Of the 25 people indicted, Jeon Jin-han and six others were discharged for insufficient evidence and released; reported on June 4
1929. Employed as a reporter for the Joongoe Ilbo
1929. Assumed a teaching post at Unchong Private Elementary School in Unchong-myeon, Gapsan-gun, South Hamgyong Province, serving for about one year
1930. 1. 18. Classified as a figure from a left-wing social organization that instigated the student independence demonstrations; detained and later released
Early 1940s: Fled with his family to a mountain valley in Naemyeon, Inje, to escape Japanese persecution; lived as a slash-and-burn farmer
1945. 8. 16. Upon hearing news of liberation, moved to Seoul
1945. 9. Reestablished the Cooperative Movement Society; assumed the post of chairman
1945. 9. 16. Appointed as a labor and farmers' vice-committee member at the founding of the Korean Democratic Party
1945. 12. 21. Organized the National Youth Federation of the Korean Independence Promotion Association
1946. 3. 10. Established the Korean Independence Promotion Labor Federation (later the Korean Labor Federation)
1946. 10. 21. Assumed the post of chairman of the Korean National Congress of Labor
1948. 4. 5. As chairman of the Congress, visited the military governor in connection with a strike by the Gyeongjeon labor union and reached an agreement
1948. 5. 10. Elected as a member of the Constituent National Assembly for Sangju B in North Gyeongsang, affiliated with the Korean Labor Federation
1948. 8. Assumed the post of Minister of Social Affairs in the first cabinet
1948. 10. 24. Founding congress of the Korean Labor-Farmers Party. Elected as a supreme committee member
1948. 12. 18. Published <건국이념> (Founding Ideology) (Gyeongcheon Aeinsa)
1948. 12. 19. Submitted his resignation as minister in protest against the arrest of Yu Jin-san within the official residence of the Minister of Social Affairs, which was also his home
1949. 12. Attended the first meeting of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (London, United Kingdom; ICFTU), and was appointed to its board
1950. 1. 22. Held a lecture on his return at Sigwangwan, reporting on attendance at the ICFTU meeting
1951. 5. Attended the ICFTU Asian Conference (Karachi, Pakistan); elected vice-chairman
1951. 7. Attended the second ICFTU meeting (Milan, Italy); reappointed to the board
1951. 9. 30. Published <협동조합운동의 신구상> (A New Concept of the Cooperative Movement) (Cooperative Movement Society)
1952. 2. Ran in the by-election for the 2nd National Assembly as a candidate of the Labor-Farmers Youth League and was elected (Busan Muku). Election slogan: "Jeon Jin-han advances. Advances to the National Assembly. Workers advance too"
1952. 3. 11. Announced the general strike declaration in the National Assembly
1952. 3. 14. Announced the end of the general strike as chairman of the Congress
1952. 3. 15. Appeared before the Busan District Public Prosecutors' Office in connection with the general strike incident
1952. 8. Ran as a candidate for vice president in the 2nd and 3rd presidential and vice-presidential elections as a member of the Labor-Farmers Youth League and lost
1953. 12. Issued a statement announcing the formation of the Labor-Farmers Party, in the name of the preparatory office representative of the party's founding
1954. 5. 20. Ran as an independent candidate in the election for the 3rd National Assembly (House of Representatives) and was elected (Busan Eul district)
1955. 1. 20. Published <민족위기와 혁신세력> (National Crisis and Reform Forces) (Gyeonghaksa)
1955. 2. 15. Founded the Labor-Farmers Party and was elected chairman
1956. 7. 27. Took part in the unprecedented parliamentary street march by 64 members of the National Assembly who formed the "National Sovereignty Defense Struggle Committee"
1957. 5. 24. Gave the first lecture at the national rally of the National Sovereignty Defense Struggle Committee (Jangchungdan Park)
1957. 5. 25. Published <자유협동주의> (Liberal Cooperativism) (National Assembly Times)
1958. Ran as a candidate of the Labor-Farmers Party in the election for the 4th National Assembly and lost (Yeongdeungpo-gu Gap)
1959. 12. 30. Renamed the Labor Party to the "Nationalist Democratic Socialist Party"
1960. 5. 20. Participated as a representative of the Nationalist Democratic Socialist Party at the founding meeting of the (provisional) Korean Socialist Party
1960. 8. 3. Issued a statement of withdrawal from the Korean Socialist Party
1960. 10. 10. Ran as a candidate of the Korean Socialist Party in the by-election for the 5th House of Representatives and was elected (Jongno-gu Gap)
1963. 1. 27. Attended the founding preparatory meeting of the (provisional) Civil Government Party, a unified opposition party, and was appointed as a steering committee member
1963. 4. 5. The Civil Government Party announced the formation of the "Democratic Struggle Committee against the Extension of Military Rule," and Jeon Jin-han was elected chairman. Dissolved on April 12
1963. 4. 22. Attended the anti-military-extension meeting to form the "National Struggle Committee against the Extension of Military Rule," and was appointed to its presidium
1963. 5. 14. Founding congress of the Civil Government Party. Elected as a supreme committee member
1963. 9. Served as campaign manager for the presidential candidate Yun Bo-seon of the Civil Government Party and conducted campaign activities
1963. 11. 27. Ran as a Civil Government Party candidate in the election for the 6th National Assembly and was elected (Jongno-gu)
1965. 3. Gave a lecture at a rally opposing humiliating diplomacy with Japan
1965. 5. 8–17. As vice-president of the Civil Government Party, Jeon Jin-han conducted a hunger strike within the National Assembly building calling for the suspension of Korea–Japan talks and cooperation between ruling and opposition parties (216 hours). Hospitalized for nine days at the Medical Center due to deteriorating health
1965. 6. 14. Founding congress of the Democratic Party (Minjung Dang). Elected as a steering committee member
1966. 3. 1. Published his autobiography <이렇게 싸웠다> and expressed his intention to run for president at a press interview
1967. 2. 20. Issued a statement refusing to join the New Democratic Party, the merged party of the Democratic Party and the Shinhan Party, and formally demanded his expulsion from the New Democratic Party
1967. 3. 13. Left the New Democratic Party and joined the Korean Independence Party
1967. 3. 16. At the 38th party congress of the Korean Independence Party, Jeon Jin-han was nominated as its presidential candidate
1967. 3. 24. Registered as a presidential candidate with the Central Election Management Committee
1967. 5. 3. Ran as a Korean Independence Party candidate in the 6th presidential election and lost
1967. Ran as a Korean Independence Party candidate in the 7th general election and lost (Jongno-gu)
1969. 12. 17. Received the Order of the Republic of Korea Mugunghwa Medal (member of the Constituent National Assembly)
1972. 4. 20. Died of laryngeal cancer at his home
1972. 4. 24. Funeral held as a social ceremony at Seoul Citizens' Hall
1901. 11. 5. Born in Hari, Munggyeong-myeon, North Gyeongsang Province
1917. Moved to Seoul while attending a public elementary school in Hamchang
1918. Transferred as a second-year transfer student to Joongang High School, withdrew. Worked as a messenger at Joongdong School
1919. Studied for two months in the English special class at Joongdong School. Entered the third year of the English night class at Chongnyeon Hakgwan (Seoul YMCA)
1920. Spoke at a debate contest at Chongnyeon Hakgwan; after his speech drew attention, received support from the Kimi Yukyeonghoe
1920. 4. 26. Selected and dispatched as a Kimi Yukyeonghoe student to study in Tokyo
1920. 9. Entered Junten Middle School in Tokyo
1922. While in the fifth year, entered the First Higher School of Waseda University, literature course
1924. Entered the Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
1924. Joined and participated in the Hanbitsoe, a secret organization of Japan-based Korean students. Active in the Cooperative Movement Society, its public organization
1926. 5. 20. Founding general meeting of the Cooperative Movement Society. In charge of general affairs
1927. 5. 7. Founding congress of the Tokyo branch of the Singanhoe. In charge of general affairs
1927. 7–8. Briefly returned to Korea; toured on a summer propaganda lecture circuit (Masan, Mokpo, Jeongeup, Haeju, Jaeryeong, Pungcheon, Jeongju, etc.)
1927. 11. 19. Published <협동조합운동의 실제> (The Practice of the Cooperative Movement)
1928. 3. Graduated from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
1928. 4. 4. Moved the headquarters of the Cooperative Movement Society to Gyeongseong; assumed the post of chairman
1928. 6. During a regional tour by the Cooperative Movement Society, arrested in Daegu as a person involved in the Fourth Korean Communist Party Incident; indicted and imprisoned in Sinuiju Prison
1929. 4. 15. Preliminary hearing concluded. Of the 25 people indicted, Jeon Jin-han and six others were discharged for insufficient evidence and released; reported on June 4
1929. Employed as a reporter for the Joongoe Ilbo
1929. Assumed a teaching post at Unchong Private Elementary School in Unchong-myeon, Gapsan-gun, South Hamgyong Province, serving for about one year
1930. 1. 18. Classified as a figure from a left-wing social organization that instigated the student independence demonstrations; detained and later released
Early 1940s: Fled with his family to a mountain valley in Naemyeon, Inje, to escape Japanese persecution; lived as a slash-and-burn farmer
1945. 8. 16. Upon hearing news of liberation, moved to Seoul
1945. 9. Reestablished the Cooperative Movement Society; assumed the post of chairman
1945. 9. 16. Appointed as a labor and farmers' vice-committee member at the founding of the Korean Democratic Party
1945. 12. 21. Organized the National Youth Federation of the Korean Independence Promotion Association
1946. 3. 10. Established the Korean Independence Promotion Labor Federation (later the Korean Labor Federation)
1946. 10. 21. Assumed the post of chairman of the Korean National Congress of Labor
1948. 4. 5. As chairman of the Congress, visited the military governor in connection with a strike by the Gyeongjeon labor union and reached an agreement
1948. 5. 10. Elected as a member of the Constituent National Assembly for Sangju B in North Gyeongsang, affiliated with the Korean Labor Federation
1948. 8. Assumed the post of Minister of Social Affairs in the first cabinet
1948. 10. 24. Founding congress of the Korean Labor-Farmers Party. Elected as a supreme committee member
1948. 12. 18. Published <건국이념> (Founding Ideology) (Gyeongcheon Aeinsa)
1948. 12. 19. Submitted his resignation as minister in protest against the arrest of Yu Jin-san within the official residence of the Minister of Social Affairs, which was also his home
1949. 12. Attended the first meeting of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (London, United Kingdom; ICFTU), and was appointed to its board
1950. 1. 22. Held a lecture on his return at Sigwangwan, reporting on attendance at the ICFTU meeting
1951. 5. Attended the ICFTU Asian Conference (Karachi, Pakistan); elected vice-chairman
1951. 7. Attended the second ICFTU meeting (Milan, Italy); reappointed to the board
1951. 9. 30. Published <협동조합운동의 신구상> (A New Concept of the Cooperative Movement) (Cooperative Movement Society)
1952. 2. Ran in the by-election for the 2nd National Assembly as a candidate of the Labor-Farmers Youth League and was elected (Busan Muku). Election slogan: "Jeon Jin-han advances. Advances to the National Assembly. Workers advance too"
1952. 3. 11. Announced the general strike declaration in the National Assembly
1952. 3. 14. Announced the end of the general strike as chairman of the Congress
1952. 3. 15. Appeared before the Busan District Public Prosecutors' Office in connection with the general strike incident
1952. 8. Ran as a candidate for vice president in the 2nd and 3rd presidential and vice-presidential elections as a member of the Labor-Farmers Youth League and lost
1953. 12. Issued a statement announcing the formation of the Labor-Farmers Party, in the name of the preparatory office representative of the party's founding
1954. 5. 20. Ran as an independent candidate in the election for the 3rd National Assembly (House of Representatives) and was elected (Busan Eul district)
1955. 1. 20. Published <민족위기와 혁신세력> (National Crisis and Reform Forces) (Gyeonghaksa)
1955. 2. 15. Founded the Labor-Farmers Party and was elected chairman
1956. 7. 27. Took part in the unprecedented parliamentary street march by 64 members of the National Assembly who formed the "National Sovereignty Defense Struggle Committee"
1957. 5. 24. Gave the first lecture at the national rally of the National Sovereignty Defense Struggle Committee (Jangchungdan Park)
1957. 5. 25. Published <자유협동주의> (Liberal Cooperativism) (National Assembly Times)
1958. Ran as a candidate of the Labor-Farmers Party in the election for the 4th National Assembly and lost (Yeongdeungpo-gu Gap)
1959. 12. 30. Renamed the Labor Party to the "Nationalist Democratic Socialist Party"
1960. 5. 20. Participated as a representative of the Nationalist Democratic Socialist Party at the founding meeting of the (provisional) Korean Socialist Party
1960. 8. 3. Issued a statement of withdrawal from the Korean Socialist Party
1960. 10. 10. Ran as a candidate of the Korean Socialist Party in the by-election for the 5th House of Representatives and was elected (Jongno-gu Gap)
1963. 1. 27. Attended the founding preparatory meeting of the (provisional) Civil Government Party, a unified opposition party, and was appointed as a steering committee member
1963. 4. 5. The Civil Government Party announced the formation of the "Democratic Struggle Committee against the Extension of Military Rule," and Jeon Jin-han was elected chairman. Dissolved on April 12
1963. 4. 22. Attended the anti-military-extension meeting to form the "National Struggle Committee against the Extension of Military Rule," and was appointed to its presidium
1963. 5. 14. Founding congress of the Civil Government Party. Elected as a supreme committee member
1963. 9. Served as campaign manager for the presidential candidate Yun Bo-seon of the Civil Government Party and conducted campaign activities
1963. 11. 27. Ran as a Civil Government Party candidate in the election for the 6th National Assembly and was elected (Jongno-gu)
1965. 3. Gave a lecture at a rally opposing humiliating diplomacy with Japan
1965. 5. 8–17. As vice-president of the Civil Government Party, Jeon Jin-han conducted a hunger strike within the National Assembly building calling for the suspension of Korea–Japan talks and cooperation between ruling and opposition parties (216 hours). Hospitalized for nine days at the Medical Center due to deteriorating health
1965. 6. 14. Founding congress of the Democratic Party (Minjung Dang). Elected as a steering committee member
1966. 3. 1. Published his autobiography <이렇게 싸웠다> and expressed his intention to run for president at a press interview
1967. 2. 20. Issued a statement refusing to join the New Democratic Party, the merged party of the Democratic Party and the Shinhan Party, and formally demanded his expulsion from the New Democratic Party
1967. 3. 13. Left the New Democratic Party and joined the Korean Independence Party
1967. 3. 16. At the 38th party congress of the Korean Independence Party, Jeon Jin-han was nominated as its presidential candidate
1967. 3. 24. Registered as a presidential candidate with the Central Election Management Committee
1967. 5. 3. Ran as a Korean Independence Party candidate in the 6th presidential election and lost
1967. Ran as a Korean Independence Party candidate in the 7th general election and lost (Jongno-gu)
1969. 12. 17. Received the Order of the Republic of Korea Mugunghwa Medal (member of the Constituent National Assembly)
1972. 4. 20. Died of laryngeal cancer at his home
1972. 4. 24. Funeral held as a social ceremony at Seoul Citizens' Hall