Ahn Chang Ho

An Chang-ho, or Ahn Chang-ho, pen name Dosan, (November 9,1878 - March 10,1938) was a Korean independence activist and one of the early leaders of the Korean immigrant community in the United States. He established the Young Korean Association (흥사단; 興士團) and was a key member in the founding of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. He was the father of Hollywood actor Philip Ahn.

Ahn was born in 1878 in Kangso, Pyeongan province, in present-day South Pyongan, North Korea.

Many consider Ahn Chang-ho to be one of the key moral and philosophical leaders of Korea during the 20th century. In the turmoil immediately before and during the Japanese occupation of Korea, he called for the moral and spiritual renewal of the Korean people through education as one of the important components in their struggle for independence.

In 1938, Japanese authorities arrested Dosan, but due to severe illness, he was released on bail and transferred to the Kyungsung University hospital where he died on March 10, 1938. A memorial park and hall were built to honor him in Seoul. Another memorial was built in downtown Riverside, California to honor him. The Taekwondo pattern Do-San was named after him.

See also

• Korea under Japanese rule
• Korean independence movements
• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Koreans

References

• Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Memorial Hall
• Patriot Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Memorial, International Relations Council of Riverside, CA.