Min Pil-ho

Min Pil-ho (閔弼鎬, 7 February 1898 – 14 April 1963) was a Korean independence activist, politician, and diplomat. He was born in Hodong (壺洞), Seoul, the fourth son of Hyoheon Gong (孝獻公) Min Chi-heon (閔致憲, 1844–1904), who had served as Vice Minister of the Uijeongbu (正2品 議政府贊政), and of his mother, Jeonju Yi clan (全州 李氏, 李憲卿). The independence activist Min Je-ho (閔濟鎬, 1890–1932) was his second elder brother. His family seat was Yeoheung (驪興), his courtesy name was Jungu (仲禹), and his art name was Seokrin (石麟). He is also known as "Min Seok-rin" because he used his art name as a pseudonym. His alternative names were Lim Dong-ban (林東潘) and Wang Ryang-seong (王良誠). He was an independence activist who worked in the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea from its founding until his return to Korea. After returning home, he was dispatched to the Republic of China through the arrangement of Syngman Rhee and worked as a diplomat.

생애

He was born into the Yeoheung Min clan. After graduating from Hwimun Institute, he went to study in Shanghai in 1911, and then attended the Bakdal Academy (博達學院) and a postal technical school. In 1912 he joined Shin Gyu-sik's Dongjesa and began his independence movement at an early stage. He subsequently converted to Daejonggyo.

When the Provisional Government was established in Shanghai (上海) in 1919, he took part in it as secretary to Shin Gyu-sik (Minister of Justice and Premier of the Provisional Government), and he married Shin's daughter and became his son-in-law. From 1923 he served for thirteen years as secretary to Yi Si-yeong, Minister of Finance of the Provisional Government. In 1924 he was elected Commissioner of Education on the board of directors of the Korean Residents' Association (韓人僑民團) in China. He then served as a member of the Provisional Assembly of the Republic of Korea and also served as head of the propaganda department of the Korean Independence Party. During this period he took part in publishing the Independence News (《독립신문》), and as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Office of the Provisional Government, he negotiated with the Chinese government to organize an armed guard unit. He also served as Director of the Office under , the Chairman of the Provisional Government, and is therefore also called Kim Gu's secretary.