Ri In-mo explained

Ri In-mo
Birth Date:24 August 1917
Birth Place:Kimhyonggwon County, Japanese Korea
Death Place:Pyongyang, North Korea
Nationality:North Korean
Known For:Political prisoner of South Korea
Hangul:리인모
Hanja:Korean: {{linktext|李|仁|模
Rr:Yi Inmo
Mr:Ri Inmo
Context:north
Text:[1]

Ri In-mo[2] (; 24 August 1917 - 16 June 2007)[3] was an unconverted long-term prisoner who spent 40 years in prison and under the restriction of freedom in South Korea.

History

Described by the Korean Central News Agency as "well-known among the DPRK people as an incarnation of faith and will"[4] and "a pro-reunification patriotic fighter,"[5] Ri was born in 1917 in Kimhyonggwon County during the Japanese occupation of Korea. He was arrested by South Korea while he was fighting as a guerilla in Jirisan in January 1952 while he served as a war correspondent of the Korean People's Army during the Korean War. Ri served 34 years in prison in South Korea.[6] During his incarceration, Ri was offered his freedom in exchange for signing a form renouncing his political beliefs but repeatedly refused.

Ri was released in 1988, but South Korean authorities continued to restrict his activities. He was repatriated to North Korea in March 1993 and was reunited with his wife and daughter.[6] Following his repatriation, Ri was in ill health, apparently due to the conditions he experienced in prison. He underwent medical treatment in the United States in 1996.[6] After his health improved, his suffering in prison was put into film by North Korea.[7] Ri's numerous public appearances made him popular in the North.[6]

Ri died on 16 June 2007 and was given a hero's funeral.[6] His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Yong-nam with Choe Thae-bok as its vice-chairman and had 55 members including Kim Yong-il.[8] A statue was erected in his honour in Pyongyang the following year.[6]

Works

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yi, In-mo, 1917- . Linked Data Service Library of Congress . 25 July 2015 .
  2. Book: Agency. Yonhap News. North Korea Handbook. 27 Dec 2002. M. E. Sharpe. Seoul. 9780765635235. 470. 18 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Ri In Mo Passes Away . KCNA . 17 June 2007 . 25 July 2015 . 12 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141012062314/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200706/news06/18.htm#3 .
  4. News: Ri In Mo, Incarnation of Faith and Will. 18 April 2015. Korean Central News Agency. 13 February 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150418195927/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2015/201502/news13/20150213-23ee.html. 18 April 2015.
  5. News: Learning from Spirit of Ri In Mo, Pro-reunification Patriotic Fighter, Encouraged in DPRK. 18 April 2015. Korean Central News Agency. 2 March 2015.
  6. Book: James Hoare. Historical Dictionary of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 13 July 2012. Scarecrow Press. 978-0-8108-6151-0. 327.
  7. Book: Burdick . Eddie . Three Days in the Hermit Kingdom: An American Visits North Korea . 26 May 2010 . McFarland . 9780786456536 . 300 . 18 April 2015.
  8. Web site: Ri In Mo Passes Away . KCNA . 17 June 2007 . 12 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141012062314/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200706/news06/18.htm .