Early Life and Career:
Dr. Jang In-hwan was born on March 10, 1876, in Sunchon, Pyeonganbuk-do. He lost his mother at the age of six and his father at sixteen. After finishing elementary school, he worked as a shop assistant and later ran a store in Pyongyang in 1895, which unfortunately failed. Distressed by the declining state of the nation and the subservience of national leaders to Japan, he decided to study abroad in America to restore the nation’s dignity. At the age of 28, he emigrated to Hawaii’s Kohala plantation as a laborer in February 1904. In July 1906, he moved to San Francisco, where many Koreans were settling.
During August and September, he endured hard labor laying tracks for the Pacific Railroad Company and suffered a back injury, leading to hospitalization at the San Francisco Public Hospital. He worked various jobs, including at a restaurant on Hyde Street and a boarding house on Jason Street. In the summer of 1907, he worked in an Alaskan salmon cannery, returning to San Francisco in September. He was a founding member of the Korean Methodist Church in San Francisco and joined the Daedong Bogukhoe, a Korean independence organization, where he became an active member.
Assassination of Durham Stevens:
On March 23, 1908, Jang In-hwan shot and killed Durham Stevens, a pro-Japanese diplomat, at the San Francisco ferry terminal, sacrificing his youth in prison for this cause. The Japanese authorities and the prosecution labeled Jang as a first-degree murderer, but his defense emphasized his act as a manifestation of patriotic resistance against Japanese aggression. After a 280-day trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder, driven by patriotic delusion, on January 1909. He served as prisoner number 23295 at San Quentin prison and was paroled on January 10, 1919, after ten years due to his exemplary behavior and persistent efforts by the Korean National Association for his release.
Life After Prison:
Upon release, Jang served as an external secretary for the Daedong Orphanage established by the Daedong Bogukhoe in Korea. Around the time of Stevens’ assassination, he was deeply involved in orphanage activities with his future wife, Kim Maria. He regretted not fulfilling his promise to send 100 won to the orphanage due to his imprisonment, but those aware of his situation helped fulfill his promise while he was incarcerated.
Jang’s Later Years:
After his parole, Jang continued to pursue his commitment to orphan care, raising funds across the United States for the Daedong Orphanage in his hometown of Sunchon. Despite successfully raising funds and purchasing land for the orphanage, increased surveillance by Japanese authorities forced him to return to the United States within a year. He opened a laundry in San Francisco with the help of friends but faced financial struggles and couldn’t reunite with his wife due to immigration laws. The death of his only daughter further deepened his sorrow.
Tragic End:
On May 22, 1930, Jang In-hwan committed suicide by jumping from a third-floor window of a hospital in San Francisco. His mental and physical health had deteriorated significantly due to his harsh prison experience. The Korean community mourned his death deeply, and his funeral, attended by many Koreans and foreigners, was held on May 26, 1930. He was initially buried at Cypress Cemetery in Colma, near San Francisco, with a headstone inscribed “Grave of the Korean Doctor Jang In-hwan.” In 1975, his remains were moved to the National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Seoul.
Legacy:
Jang In-hwan and Jeon Myeong-un’s assassination of Stevens is sometimes described as a coincidence in historical records, but in an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo on April 24, 1927, Jang stated that it was premeditated. The South Korean government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962.
Documents Related to Jang In-hwan:
- Shinhan Minbo, July 28, 1909: Recognized Jang for his commitment to studying English and contributing to the nation even while in prison.
- Shinhan Minbo, January 29, 1914: A letter from Jang expressing gratitude and encouragement to his fellow Koreans, emphasizing love and unity for national freedom.
- Shinhan Minbo, October 3, 1918: Reported on Jang’s imminent release, describing his aged and weakened state after ten years of imprisonment.
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