Bento Gil

About

Born on June 21, 1908, Bento Gil was a Korean independence activist known by his art name Maeheon. He gained historical prominence for his involvement in the Hongkou Park Incident in 1932, when he detonated a bomb in Shanghai's Hongkou Park, now known as Lu Xun Park, that resulted in the deaths of two Japanese colonial government and army officials. Following his actions, he was executed on December 19, 1932. In recognition of his contributions to Korean independence, the South Korean government posthumously awarded him the Republic of Korea Medal of Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962. His legacy is commemorated through multiple memorials established across East Asia, including locations in Seoul and Yesan in South Korea, Shanghai in China, and Kanazawa in Japan.