Woo Deok-Sun

The success of Ito Hirobumi assassination in 1909 was a prominent and surprising event not only to Korean independent activists but also to other nearby countries, such as China, who feared the increasing power of Japan at that time ("단운 우덕순," 2017); this event is highly regarded in the history of the Korean Independence Movement. Woo Deok-Sun is one of the members that participated in this assassination plan, however, unfortunately, he failed due to Russian soldiers preventing them before practicing it ("안중근 의사 하얼빈 의거" 2020). Ahn Jung-Geun, who was waiting at the next station, succeeded in the uprising, and he is now well-known and still remembered to people as a national hero who achieved great results.

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Woo Deok-sun has lots of achievements throughout his life; not only he participated to the assassination of Ito Hirobumi but also he tried to publicize Ahn’s life and achievements more than anyone else as a comrade who watched Ahn Jung-geun the closest; even before planning the assassination, he contributed to many independence movements and he worked on youth education when Japan took away Korea’s right to educate itself. Despite Woo Deok-sun being one of the contributors to the assassination plan, he is not well-known as much as Ahn Jung-geun–due to failing it ("단운 우덕순," 2017). As the assassination of Ito Hirobumi was planned within the groups, Woo Deok-sun’s works and efforts need to be recognized to people more than today. Although he didn’t directly conduct, his noble spirit of patriotism and sacrifice that he prepared with Ahn must be remembered as a national hero, not just a comrade of Ahn Jung-geun. Until Ahn Jung-geun became known and recognized as the Koreans’ hero, it should be recalled that there were many people’s help, including that of Woo Deok-sun. Woo Deok-sun has to be remembered since this plan was made in group and was practiced together--despite the failure due to unfortunate circumstances.