Synopsis UNDIVIDED HEART: A Korean Family’s Legacy

 Synopsis  

UNDIVIDED HEART: A Korean Family’s Legacy 

LJM’s Early Life of Resilience and Ups and Downs 

Born 1885 in Ulsan's farming region, Lee Jong-man led a life filled with numerous ventures and challenges. Here's a condensed overview: 

Early Strides and Setbacks (1901-1912): 

• At 16, illness forced him to stop his studies. 

• At 19, he married, worked on the family farm, and moved on to a small business. 

• His attempt at seaweed trading during the Russo-Japanese War proved disastrous due to the market crash after the war. 

• A venture into fishing met with similar misfortune, but made a small money from —— 

• His efforts to establish a one-room school for his villagers failed.   

• He nibbled on a mining company that also failed. 

Ambitions and Diversification (1914-1921): 

• Undeterred, LJM ventured into the timber industry in Mt. Kumgang but lost out to a disastrous flood. 

• He then embarked on ambitious rural development projects, including reclamation and mining operations, but faced repeated setbacks. 

• A grand vision to establish a 10 million won Korean Agricultural and Forestry Company was thwarted by Japanese interference. 

• Finally, LJM shifted focus to rural improvement and promotion in his hometown, Hyangri. 

Mining Success and Beyond (1923-1936): 

• LJM found a socialist intellectual, Lee Jun-yeol, who joined forces to operate a high school for his village until it closed two years later. 

• He ran a mining business in Myeongtae-dong for three years, aiming to build an ideal farming village, but financial difficulties persisted. 

• After managing the Yeongpyeong Gold Mine for some time, he finally struck gold with the discovery of the Bonanza Gold Vein in 1934. 

• This success propelled him to wealth and prominence, as he sold the Yeongpyeong Gold Mine for a substantial sum and became a millionaire in 1936. 

LJM's life story is a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit. Despite facing numerous setbacks and failures, he consistently pursued new ventures and remained dedicated to his rural development and progress vision. His eventual success in the mining industry is a remarkable achievement against the backdrop of a challenging life. Philanthropist and Land Reformer: 

• In 1937, LJM's company, Daedong, channeled significant resources towards social good. They invested 120,000 won in rural development, compensated miners and employees, donated to schools, and supported the underprivileged. They also established the Daedong Agricultural Company, purchasing farmland and implementing a unique sharecropping system. Tenants paid only 30% of the harvest, and ownership eventually rested with the company, preventing land sales and mortgages. Expansion and Wartime Challenges: 

• Daedong continued to grow, establishing Daedong Mining Co., Ltd., publishing a historical text, and even founding Daedong Technical College. However, the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941 brought an abrupt end to this prosperity. The Konzern (business group) structure collapsed, and Daedong Mining disintegrated under the pressure of the time. 

Post-War and Legacy: 

• After the war, LJM was hired by the Samchok Coal Company as the company president but worked on the side of the laborers, up against the government who owned it. He resigned and went north to attend the inter-Korean conference in Pyongyang in 1948, together with Kim Koo and Yeo Woon-young. He went back to PY in 1949 after the two men were assassinated. He ultimately remained in North Korea. 

LJM's Later Years 

Crossing the Border: 

In 1949, at 60, LJM made a remarkable decision. He crossed the 38th Line alone to attend the Congress for the Formation of Fatherland Unification and Democracy in Pyongyang. There, Kim Il-Sung highlighted LJM as a symbol of patriotic entrepreneurship. This marked a significant shift in LJM's political trajectory. 

Serving the New Regime: 

LJM's commitment to developing his homeland manifested in his active role within North Korea. He was a delegate to the 1st and 2nd Supreme People's Assembly (1949-1950), contributing to the fledgling government. His expertise in mining proved valuable, and he became an advisor to the Ministry of Mining in 1954. 

Leadership and Legacy: 

LJM's influence extended beyond technical advice. He became the first Chairman of the Central Committee of the Fatherland United Democratic Front (1955-56), a key organization advocating for reunification. LJM's dedication to his vision of a united Korea deserved recognition, even within the North Korean system. 

Final Rest and Enduring Impact: 

LJM passed away in 1977 at 93, leaving a legacy of entrepreneurial spirit, social commitment, and political engagement. His final resting place, the Patriotic Cemetery in Pyongyang, reflects the respect he earned in North Korea. 

LJM's Poignant Reunion and Enduring Legacy 

Six years after building a new life in Canada, LJM's youngest daughter, Nam Soon, discovered an article about him in Pyongyang. She was longing, and it overwhelmed her. In 1975, she bravely journeyed to see him. 

For three brief days in a small inn, they reconnected. Love bridged the gap between years and politics. As their time dwindled, LJM expressed his final wish: a united, neutral, peaceful Korea. 

Nam Soon held his words close to her heart. Even after his passing in 1977, they lit her way until she relocated to Korea in 2006 and passed away on Jeju Island. Today, her younger daughter strives for the dream of A Neutral Korea, forever remembering their poignant reunion.