Consequences
"Ahn Jung-geun pursued action on a national level to save his country, not to selfishly satisfy his own desires. So, it is right to label him as a state prisoner of war. Also, it is right to judge him not with Japanese or Korean law, but with international law."
- Ahn's lawyer at the Japanese court, Mizuno
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Ahn was imprisoned at the Lushun prison in China before his trial. Japanese law was used to judge Ahn and decide upon the penalty for his "crime." "I wonder if what I am dealing with today is reality, or a dream. I am a confident Korean citizen but why am I imprisoned in a Japanese jail. Moreover, how can anyone explain to me the reason why I am being judged using Japanese law? Was I ever a Japanese resident? The judge is Japanese, prosecutor is Japanese, lawyer is Japanese, translator is Japanese, and the audience is Japanese. Is this a chance for me to talk with no one listening? This must not be a real world. If this is a dream, I truly wish that someone could quickly wake me up." |
"They didn't let him speak when the right time came, and the straightway began a patriotic harangue. Unconscious of surroundings, carless of the effect of his words might produce upon his audience, he told how Korea had been oppressed, and Prince Ito was the man who had oppressed her. 'Unless we put an end to Prince Ito's career, our country will be ruined for ever,' seemed to be the opinion of all the Koreans he met -- even of the farmers and simple village folk." A young 30-year old, Ahn Jung-geun, was able to make the most influential figure in the Japanese dictatorship into a shameless figure in one day. That day, Ahn was the true victor of the trial and he walked out of the court room with a crown." |
"To my son who I love so much. |
As Ahn had expected, the Japanese court sentenced him to execution .
Ahn was hanged on March 26, 1910.
Ahn was hanged on March 26, 1910.
"Listen to me.
If I die, bury my bones in Harbin Park and when my country finally gains its deserved independence, move me there and have my funeral. Even when I am in heaven, I will be using all my power to assist the Korean independence movement. You all go back home and tell all Koreans living outside the country that they have duties to carry out as Koreans. They should all join to make independence a reality. When I hear the sounds of independence and freedom in heaven, I will dance and sing the independence chant."
- Ahn Jung-geun, talking to his supporters including Father Wilhelm