Soh Jaipil, also known as Philip Jaisohn, was a Korean American political figure, physician, and advocate for Korean independence, born on January 7, 1864, and passing away on January 5, 1951. He holds the distinction of being the initial Korean to attain naturalized citizenship in the United States and played a pivotal role in establishing Tongnip Sinmun, the very first Korean newspaper exclusively written in Hangul. Soh was actively involved in the unsuccessful Gapsin Coup of 1884, resulting in a conviction for treason. Fleeing to the United States, he pursued citizenship and achieved a medical doctorate. Upon his return to Korea in 1895, he was offered a prominent advisory role within the Joseon government but chose to advocate for democratic reforms, Korean autonomy, and resistance against foreign interference, championing civil rights and universal suffrage. Forced to revisit the United States in 1898, Soh participated in the First Korean Congress and fervently supported the March 1st Movement, urging U.S. Government backing for Korean independence. Post-World War II, he became a chief advisor to the United States Army Military Government in Korea, later serving as an interim representative in South Korea following the 1946 legislative election. Tragically, Soh passed away in 1951 during the Korean War, shortly after returning to the United States. In 1994, his remains were respectfully reinterred at the Seoul National Cemetery. Soh held a deep appreciation for American-style liberalism and republicanism, promoting reform and striving to modernize Confucianist culture and institutions in Korea.

Soh Jaipil - Wikipedia