A Prophetic “Saint,” Geoduri Bo-han Lee (1872-1931)

Abstract

In the early 20th century, the Japanese rule over Korea was an unpleasant experience for Koreans. Japan annexed Korea and used her as an advanced military base for invading East Asia. Many young Koreans were recruited as soldiers by the Japanese army or as low-level workers in factories and their labor was thoroughly exploited. Moreover, Koreans were humiliated and coerced into changing their names to sound like Japanese names. Some Korean women were mentally and physically abused and were deemed to be "pleasure girls" for the Japanese military against their will. During this unfortunate period, Korean intellectuals employed several measures to try and restore Korea's independence and sovereignty. While some resorted to armed uprisings, others engaged in a non-violent criticism of society. These individuals instilled hope in the Korean population. This study examines the life of Bo-han Lee, who helped the Koreans envision a better future at the time using strange language and gestures, and focusing on three areas of his “prophetic” criticism—society, politics, and religion.