The memorial service in commemoration of the 57th anniversary of Haegong Shin, Ik-Hee was held at the tomb located in Suyu-ri, Seoul on the 5th (Sunday) supervised by the Commemoration Service Association of Haegong Shin, Ik-Hee (President: Deok-wu Nam). Haegong Shin, Ik-Hee was the first dean of Kookmin University and he was the one who laid the groundwork for parliamentary democracy as Chairman of the National Assembly after the national independence. He consecutively held various positions like Attorney General and Minister of the Home and Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

In this service that was hosted by the Commemoration Service Association of Haegong Shin, Ik-hee, about 200 people including Executive Vice-President of Kookmin University Cha-Kyun Shin, President of Kookmin University Alumnus Jong-Ung Yun, Deputy Administrator of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Yang-seong Jeong, Vice-President of the Restoration Society Yu-gil Kim, President of the Republic of Korean Parliamentarian Society Yo-sang Mok, representative of the deceased, and students.

The service was progressed in the order of opening address, profile report by former assemblyman Chung-hwan Kim, condolence address by the Deputy Administrator of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Vice-President of the Restoration Society, President of the Republic of Korean Parliamentarian Society, and Vice-President of Kookmin University, followed by the flower offering and incense burning.

Through the condolence address read by the Vice-President of Kookmin University Cha-gyun Shin, he pledged, “Haegong Shin, Ik-hee established today’s Kookmin University facing the necessity of cultivating the national history. Thus, he set the school motto as ‘Never forget about the rises and falls of the nation while reading’ and ‘Love your school as your own home.’ Likewise, he was a prominent educational pioneer who emphasized devotion to the academe as well as harmonization of private and public affairs.” He also added, “We will develop Kookmin University into an academic organization that produces excellent human resource based on such noble founding philosophy.”

◈ Contribution of Haegong Shin, Ik-hee ◈

Haegong Shin, Ik-hee was born in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province (July 11, 1892 ~ May 5, 1956). After graduating from Hanseong Foreign Language School in 1908 and Waseda University majored in political management, he returned to Korea in 1913 and opened the Dongmyeong School. He taught students in Jungdong School in Seoul and became a professor of Boseong Law and Commercial College in 1917.

During the March 1st independence movement in 1919, he took charge as an overseas liaison and at that time, he sought asylum in China and had a secret meeting to organize a provisional government. He started a provisional meeting with parliamentarians and proclaimed resolutions regarding the name of the country, legal system, government officials, and provisional charter as a way to contribute to the birth of the historical Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

Along with the establishment of the provisional government, he consecutively served in various positions including Attorney General, Vice-Deputy General of the Home and Foreign Affairs, Secretary-General of State Council, Minister of Justice, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of the Home, Foreign Affairs, and Education. With unwavering commitment and steadfast dedication, he devoted himself for the independence movement against Japanese imperialism through the provisional government.

After the national independence, he carried out his duties as the vice-president of Korean National Association of Independence Promotion, president of Jayu Newspaper, and first dean of Kookmin University while working as the chair of lawmakers in 1947 and vice-chair of the members of the Constituent Assembly in 1948.

Also, he organized the Democratic People's Party in 1949 and was inaugurated as the chair while being elected as the 2nd national assemblyman in 1950. He then expanded and developed the Democratic People's Party into Democratic Party in 1955 and became the chairman of the supreme council. He ran for presidency in 1956 under the nomination of the Democratic Party, but he died during his campaign.

In commemoration of his invaluable contribution, the Korean government conferred the posthumous Order of Merit for National Foundation, Republic of Korea Medal in 1962.