Chu Ki-chol

Chu Ki-chol (, born Chu Ki-bok, 25 November 1897 – 21 April 1944) was a Korean Presbyterian minister and martyr. After having dropped out of Yonhi College due to poor health and being briefly associated with the March 1st Movement for the independence of Korea, Chu attended a faith meeting of . Thereafter, he sought a career in ministry, enrolling first at the Pyongyang Theological Seminary becoming a deacon. Chu was ordained a minister in 1926 and served as one in Pusan, Masan, and Pyongyang.

Chu opposed Shinto practices forced on Korean Christians by the Japanese occupiers. He was first arrested in February 1938 and tortured in prison. Still defiant, the relieved him from ministry and the authorities arrested him three more times. His last arrest was in July 1940. He died of torture in prison on 21 April 1944.

After his death, the South Korean government has given recognition for him, including conferring upon him Order of Merit for National Foundation, Third Class. He was declared in November 2007. Despite him being revered as a Korean nationalist, in his sermons he explained that his actions emanated from his Christian faith.

Early life

Chu was born to Chu Hyun-sung and Cho Jae-sung on 25 November 1897 in Book-boo-ri, Woong-chung-myun, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Korea. He was the fourth of seven children of a Christian family.
His birth name was Ki-bok, but he changed it to Ki-chol (, meaning "devotee") to reflect his faith. Chu went to a private elementary school at age eight in Woong-chun-eup in 1904. In 1912 he moved on to Osan School