Statue of Seo Jae-pil (Songjae)

This statue was erected in Seodaemun Independence Park to honor Seo Jae-pil, a reformist and independence activist from Boseong, South Jeolla Province. Songjae Seo Jae-pil published Korea's first private newspaper, 'The Independent' (Dongnip Sinmun), on April 7, 1896. With the cooperation of Yun Chi-ho and Yi Sang-jae, he founded the Independence Club (Dongnip Hyeophoe). They demolished Yeongeunmun, a symbol of subservience to China, and built Independence Gate (Dongnimmun) with public donations as a symbol of Korean independence. They also remodeled the former Mohwagwan into Independence Hall (Dongnipgwan), using it as a meeting place and office for the Independence Club. Through debates, he gathered citizens to discuss national independence and reform, and organized the All-People's Congress (Manmin Gongdonghoe) to oppose Russia's demand to lease Jeolyeongdo in Busan, greatly advancing the people's spirit of independence and civil rights. After the March 1st Movement in 1919, when the Provisional Government established the Korean Commission in Washington, D.C., he served as its chairman, conducting diplomatic activities for the independence movement. He devoted his entire fortune to the independence movement and dedicated himself to the liberation of his homeland, but passed away in the United States on January 5, 1951, at the age of 87.

Address: 251 Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Hyeonjeo-dong)