Baek Yong-seong (May 8, 1864 – February 24, 1940) was a Buddhist monk and independence activist during the Japanese colonial period in Korea. His birth name was Baek Sang-gyu, his Dharma title was Yongseong, and his Buddhist name was Jinjong. In 1919, during the March 1st Movement, he participated as a representative of the Buddhist community and signed the Declaration of Independence as one of the 33 national representatives. For this, he was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
Even after the March 1st Movement, he continued to send funds to the Provisional Government of Korea in Shanghai, disguising them as Buddhist relics. In 1930, at Daegaksa Temple, he administered the Three Refuges and Five Precepts to patriot Yun Bong-gil, making him a Buddhist. In 1938, Baek traveled to China, where he met with Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang Xueliang, and Mao Zedong to request support for the Korean independence army. Upon returning to Korea, he attempted to recruit the Korean Medical Corps but was betrayed by a Japanese informant, leading to the discovery of the plan.
Baek also led efforts to purify Buddhism. In 1921, he published the first Korean-language edition of the Diamond Sutra, contributing to the popularization of Buddhism. In recognition of his contributions, the Korean government posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962.
Translation:
The rocks on the mountain peak stand sharp and tall,
Below the cliffs, the water is crystal clear.
As I gaze upon the countless layers of Gayasan,
It is easy to see, but difficult to paint.
