09/15/2026
독립유공자 故 오창익 지사 건국포장 전수식 개최(9.13)
주호놀룰루총영사관은 하와이에서 활동했던 독립유공자 故 오창익 지사에 대한 건국포장 전수식을 오창익 지사의 후손(제프리 케빈 오, 코트니 오)과 국가보훈부 관계자, 동포사회 주요인사들이 참석한 가운데 개최하였습니다. 동 건국포장은 2022년 추서되었으나 후손을 찾지못해 미전수된 상태였으며, 독립유공자를 기리기 위해 총영사관이 비석에 설치했던 표식을 통해 후손과 연락이 닿아 미전수되었던 포장을 전달하게 되었습니다.
故 오창익 지사는 1909년 국민회 가피우지방회 가입을 시작으로 대한인국민회, 하와이 한인협회, 중한민중동맹, 조선민족혁명당 하와이 총지부, 재미한족연합회 등에서 조국의 독립을 위해 헌신하시고 독립운동 자금을 지원하셨으며, 대한민국 정부는 이러한 공훈을 기리어 2022년 건국포장을 추서하였습니다.
하와이 동포사회는 미주지역 독립운동의 중심이자 대한민국 임시정부에 독립운동 자금을 지원한 주요 기여자로서 대한민국 독립운동사에서 핵심적인 역할을 하였습니다. 그러나 현재까지 서훈된 하와이 지역 독립유공자는 90여 명에 불과하여 아직도 많은 분들의 공적이 충분히 발굴·인정되지 못하고 있습니다. 주호놀룰루총영사관은 앞으로도 하와이 독립운동 역사를 발굴하고 독립유공자와 후손을 찾기 위한 노력을 지속해 나갈 예정입니다.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu held a ceremony to present the National Foundation Medal to the family of the late Mr. Oh Chang Ik, a Korean independence activist in Hawaii. The ceremony was attended by his grandchild, Jeffrey Kevin Oh and great granddaughter Courtney Oh, officials from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and representatives of the Korean community.
The National Foundation Medal was posthumously conferred upon Mr. Oh in 2022, but had remained unclaimed because his descendants could not be located. The Consulate General was able to reach his descendants after they noticed a plate placed at his gravestone by the Consulate General in honor of Korean independence activists. This ultimately led to the presentation of the medal to his family.
Originally from Jaeryeong, Hwanghae-do, Mr. Oh Chang Ik joined the Korean National Association’s Hawaii Chapter in 1909. Since then, he dedicated himself to the Korean independence movement through various organizations, including the Korean National Association, the Korean Association of Hawaii, the Sino-Korean Alliance, the Hawaiian Headquarters of the Korean National Revolutionary Party, and the United Korean Committee in America. He also provided financial support for the independence movement. In recognition of his contributions, the Government of the Republic of Korea posthumously awarded him the National Foundation Medal in 2022.
The Korean community in Hawaii played an important role in the Korean independence movement in the United States, providing substantial financial support to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and other independence efforts. Despite Hawaii’s significant role in the Korean independence movement, only about 90 patriots associated with Hawaii have been recognized with government honors by the Republic of Korea to date, while the contributions of many others have yet to be officially officially recognized.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu will continue its efforts to uncover the history of the Korean independence movement in Hawaii and to locate Korean independence activists and their descendants.