Cho Man-sik

Cho Man-sik
조만식
Cho Man-sik
Personal details
Born(1883-02-01)1 February 1883
Kangseo County, Pyeongan Province, Joseon
DiedOctober 1950 (aged 67)
Pyongyang, North Korea
Cause of deathExecution by firing squad
Spouse(s)• Lady Park
• Yi Eui-sik
• Jeon Seon-ae
Children• first marriage; 1 son

• second marriage; 2 sons, 2 daughters

• third marriage; 2 sons, 1 daughter
Alma materMeiji University
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
조만식
Hancha
Revised RomanizationJo Man(-)sik
McCune–ReischauerCho Mansik
Art name
Chosŏn'gŭl
고당
Hancha
Revised RomanizationGodang
McCune–ReischauerKodang

Cho Man-sik (Korean: 조만식; 1 February 1883 – 18 October 1950), also known by his art name Godang (고당), was a Korean independence activist.

He became involved in the power struggle that enveloped North Korea in the months following the Japanese surrender after World War II. Originally, Cho was supported by the Soviet Union for the eventual rule of North Korea. However, due to his opposition to trusteeship, Cho lost Soviet support and was forced from power by the Soviet-backed and pro Soviet communists in the north (a predecessor of the Workers' Party of Korea).[1]

Placed under house arrest in January 1946, he later disappeared into the North Korean prison system, where confirmed reports of him end. He is generally believed to have been executed soon after the start of the Korean War, possibly in October 1950.

  1. ^ Lankov 2002, p. 23.