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Born in Hwangsan, Pyongan Province, he learned classical Chinese from the age of 7 to 17 and joined the Methodist Church. In 1903, he applied for immigration through the American Development Company, went to Hawaii to learn English for a year, and then moved to the mainland United States.

He had known Ahn Chang-ho from his hometown, but they became close friends after moving to America and dedicated their lives to the liberation of their homeland and education. To afford school fees, he worked on a farm for seven months, growing asparagus and hops, and earned a hundred dollars. However, after meeting Ahn Chang-ho and following his advice, he gave up his studies and became involved in the Korean community in America. In San Francisco, he organized the Public Association with Ahn Chang-ho and became the chief editor of the Public Shinbo, enlightening the Korean community about improving their living conditions.

In Riverside, he cleaned the streets daily to win the favor of local residents in order to find work for the overlooked Korean immigrants. One day, an interested American heard his story and lent him money to establish a labor brokerage, enabling Korean immigrants coming to Riverside to find work at any time. In 1907, he went to Vladivostok, Russia, as a member of the Korean National Association’s executive committee, where he organized the New People’s Association and worked to eliminate traitors.

After the assassination of Ito Hirobumi by An Jung-geun, he arranged for a lawyer and raised funds to support the trial. He was arrested by the Japanese while giving a speech titled “The Situation of Korea and Educational Conditions” at a Chinese chapel and served three years in Namdaemun Prison. He then returned to Shanghai, where he conducted anti-Japanese activities for seven years, and in 1946, he returned to Korea and became the head of the Examination Department of the Heungsadan. In 1948, he established Kyemyung School and concurrently served as the principal of Namsan High School.

In 1962, he was posthumously awarded the National Funeral by the government.