Philip Jaisohn (Dr. Soh Jai-pil) English Edition
This book tells the story of an individual whose influence in Korea's modernization and in Korean-American relations was unparalleled at the time. His birth name was Soh Jai-pil, but upon immigrating to the United States, he changed his name to Philip Jaisohn. He was neither a minister, nor a president, nor a rich man. However, as time passed, his name shone brighter, and his deeds inspired many.
Unfortunately, Soh Jai-pil passed away without witnessing the realization of a unified and truly democratic homeland. Nevertheless, he believed that Korea's independence was a mandate of justice and history, and that an autonomous Korea was a prerequisite for peace in the East. His 88-year life was a tumultuous struggle for justice amidst adversity, yet he remained composed and maintained the dignity of a sage, whether in times of fortune or misfortune.
Soh Jai-pil's beliefs centered around unity and cooperation. Throughout his life, he passionately ignited the spirit of independence and democratic ideals among Koreans, as well as advocated for equality for all. He dedicated himself fervently as a doctor, healing the sick, and later had the fortune to collaborate with outstanding American physicians, who left their marks on the world's medical history.
Despite his extraordinary achievements, he lived a simple and humble life, demonstrating the true path of a Christian. Through this book, may we reflect on his noble life.
In 1983, Professor Channing Liem wrote a biography of Philip Jaisohn in English for the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1984, Dr. Yoo Ki-hong translated it into Korean. The main reason for preparing this new Korean edition of Dr. Jaisohn's biography is that Professor Liem's book has long been out of print in both its English and Korean versions, making it inaccessible to modern readers. To make the book more engaging for readers, relevant photographs were added from the internet, and Dr. Yoo's original Korean translation was updated into a more modern style, with dialogue rendered in the first person to add a sense of immediacy.
While about 20 books on Dr. Jaisohn have been published in Korea, most of their authors never met him personally. Professor Liem, however, spent many years conversing directly with Dr. Jaisohn and, after Dr. Jaisohn's passing, received all his remaining documents and letters. This makes Professor Liem's work unique, as it conveys Dr. Jaisohn's hopes, joys, sorrows, and struggles from a personal perspective.
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