Jeon Bong-jun

Jeon Bong-jun (; December 3, 1855 – April 24, 1895) was a Korean peasant revolutionary who was a prominent leader of the Donghak movement. During the Donghak Peasant Revolution, he led the initial revolt in Gobu and later led the Southern Jeob rebels. After his defeat at the Battle of Ugeumchi, he was captured and was later executed in April 1895. Due to his short physical stature, he was called "Nokdu Janggun" (녹두장군, General mung bean).

Early life Jeon Bong-jun was born on December 3, 1855, in Jeolla Province (now North Jeolla Province), as a member of the . Previously, Korean historians have suggested various places, including Wanju, Jeongeup, and Gochang as his specific place of birth. However, following the discovery of compelling evidence from a genealogy book of the Cheonan Jeon clan,

Jeon Bong-jun's father, Jeon Chang-hyuk , was a neo-Confucianist scholar who was a member of the Hyanggyo of Gobu. In 1940, writer Oh Ji-young, who had been an acquaintance of Jeon's, published a book containing a poem titled Baekgusi , which he claimed was written by Jeon when he was a child. However, this claim has been discredited by the historical community.

During his early adolescence, Jeon left Dangchon village with his father and migrated throughout multiple regions in Jeolla, probably in search of better livelihoods. During his late teenage years, Jeon migrated to a village in Donggok-ri, Taein, which was likely where he first met Kim Gae-nam.

Jeon made a living as a medicine seller, farmer, and village teacher. During an 1895 interrogation, Jeon recounted that he and his family had lived in poverty before his involvement in the revolt, and were barely able to "have rice as breakfast, and porridge as dinner." (동학 농민 운동에 가담하기 전 전봉준의 가정 형편을 알 수 있는 자료로는 1895년 공초 자료가 있다.) 이 자료에 따르면 전봉준은 “전답 3두락을 가지고 있으며 아침에는 밥을, 저녁에는 겨우 죽을 먹을 정도”라고 말하였다. In 1892, Jeon concluded his career as a retainer and returned to Gobu. and was executed by hanging on 24 April 1895.

Cultural depictions Portrayed by Choi Moo-sung in the 2019 SBS TV series Nokdu Flower. There is a statue of Jeon Bong Jun in Seoul, at the intersection of Jong-ro and Ujeongguk-ro.