How interesting story not many people would remember these days especially among our generation, Dr. Ohn, but every saga they recorded is quite correct in my knowledge. Indeed, I recall every bit of this intriguing story so vividly because our family happened to have very unique relationships/ties with 장덕수 and 송진우 through 김성수 who became the 사돈 to my uncle 이활 who founded 고려/보성 재단 with his donation of 3,000 석.

Indeed, 송진우, 김성수's confidante arranged the marriage between my uncle 이활's son and 김성수's daughter and also 장덕수 and his wife 박은혜- infamous(?) principal of 경기여고 many would remember- arranged the marriage for my uncle 이호. Interestingly, quite a few of 미아이(?)/match making/first encounter for our family members were made at 제기동 house so that I also recall 장덕수's 제기동 house where he was assassinated.

By the way, 송상현, two years younger than me, is the grandson of 송진우- I believe he is a classmate of Steve at Kyunggi?, with whom I grew up together at MyungYoondong; his father was the closest friend of my father through 중앙고보. 송상현 served as the chief judge at International Criminal Court at Haegue for many years before he retired back home in Seoul now serving for UNICEF.

Anyhow, after both 장덕수 and 송진우 were assassinated, 한민당 was virtually collapsed and SeungMan Rhee's era was started.

BB Lee

송상현은 본인의 동기입니다.

He was always a 점잔은 학자 type으로 동기 애들에게 존경 받는 존재였지요. 

서울법대에 들어간후 결국은 교수가 되더군요. 일생을 학자로 살었지요.

그녀석은 키가 커서, 작었던 키의 본인과는 가까이 지내지 않었고, 더구나

본인은 좀 "날라리" 판이였기에 너무 점잔은 그와는 어울리지 못했읍니다.

지금에야, 이선배님 소개를 듣고보니 당연히 그럴 만 했더군요. ㅎ,ㅎ,ㅎ.

"仁村 김성수(金性洙, 1891년 10월 11일 ~ 1955년 2월 18일)" 씨의 명성은 많이 들었지만

자세히 몰랐다가, 여기에서 우리의 선구자 한분이였던 것을 잘알게 되었읍니다.

특히 오죽지 않은 본인과 동명(한글로)이신 분이여서 관심이 좀 있었는데

이제야  자세한 얘기를 들었읍니다.

I never imagined that I would witness a live witness on my writing, Dr. Lee!

장덕수 proposed 김활란, but she did not take it. I can see your family 

was very influential at that time. By the way, my father graduated from 

보성전문 상과 and he talked about 김성수 quite often. 

See it is small world, after all, Dr. Ohn!

Every Korean has some mutual connection/acquaintance each other whenever we go over among Koreans sharing many common things! Yes, Steve, when I got your Korean name, I remembered it immediately because of 仁村 김성수(金性洙).

Indeed, 김성수 himself wasn't that bright man as I understand - don't quote me!- but he attracted so many brilliant people to work together so that he became the leader of 한민당.

Ironically, however, my big uncle, 이활 became victimized- on my interpretation!- to his relationship with 김성수 as his 사돈 because, when 리승만 called/invited him as his first prime minister/총리, he turned down his offer due to his commitment to his 사돈, 김성수 to lead the opposite party, 한민당 and instead he recommended 장면.

Besides, he wasted(?)- in my interpretation- 3,000 석 to found 고려/보성 재단 while all the glories of 고려대학 went to 김성수, which I feel outrageous since he didn't earn them but inherited from the family. BTW, 김성수 himself didn't have enouigh wealth to donate to 고려/보성 재단 as he pledged because actual wealth of Kim's father was given to his younger brother, 김연수 (because 김성수 was sent up to his big uncle as his 양자/stepson) who became the de facto heir for 전라도- wealthiest landlord/family, later represented by 삼양사  and 경성방직. The first son of 김연수, 김상협- later became the prime minister- became 송상현's father in law.

Anyhow, 송상현 is THE most brilliant guy I ever met in my life. I recall he was three years old and I was five when we tagged along our fathers to go to fishing at 창동, outskirt of Seoul, then, and he remained as my closest chum all through the life but regretfully so many peoples, as usual, got jealous to his brilliance that he had such hardships more than any others I know of.

But he happily settled at Haegue to show his outstanding knowledge in the criminal law- he studied this criminal law at Univ of Paris and further at New Orleans besides Yales to become a leading authority on the criminal law and I believe he still holds a few classes at Harvard - until he retired. He comes to visit us to Washington regularly to maintain the longest life-long friendship. I am so proud of him.

BB Lee

1936년 영국 런던에서 (좌측 김성수(金性洙, 1891~1955), 두 번째 이활(李活, 1907~1986), 우측 첫 번째 장덕수(張德秀, 1895~1947), 두 번째 신성모(申性模, 1891~1960))

1936년 콜럼비아대학에서 박사학위를 받은 장덕수선생은 해방정국에서 피살되었다 미군정은 즉각 김구를 배후로 의심하고 김구를 소환했을때 폭력행위를원치않는 이승만의 입장은 난처했다 이사건으로 이승만과 김구가 소원해지기 시작하였고 김일성을 그 틈새를 이용 성시백을 통해서 김구를 포섭했다 장덕수선생은 초대 경기여고 교장 박은호선생의 부군이다

Your big uncle 이활 looks great, Dr. Lee!

Holy cow, Dr. Ohn, where the hell did you get this photo, which I have never seen? I am so happy to have this photo to show to my kids since I didn't bring/have a single photo of my family/father's generation. Thaaaaanks!!!!

Yes, he went to London through Siberian Railway in early 30 and studied the economics under John Keynes- Mrs. Keynes was his private English tutor!- for 10 years till he returned to Korea.

But what I resent to 이활, my 큰아버지, is despite his father/my grandfather set aside 일만석 income every year equivalent to its one third of entire family asset 삼만석 and sent to him through Bank of London in Tokyo, he used them all for not much visible accomplishment even for the tenth of what he wasted while in London. And further he failed to manage his family fortune he inherited and lost all of them. Anyhow, he left so many family saga I still get upset.

BB Lee

P.S. By the way, 조선일보 selected our Lee clans/family as number one 조선명가 through 조선명가 series in early '90, with the property/asset of 오만석 as the wealthiest landlord in south Korea, but actually it was 삼만석 as I know of. Interestingly, 민비 일족 amassed 팔만석 and also 윤 (웅열-항열) 비 clans's property reached to 오만석, much more than our family's asset, 조선일보 excluded these two, though much richer, families because they made fortune unfairly- 민비 일족 stole the 인두세 they collected for the reconstruction of 덕수궁 while serving 평양감사 to reach 팔만석 while 윤 비 (치호) clans sold the certificates of 능참봉 to amass 오만석.  

Your uncle's photo is a public domain. A simple google search will find it.

He must have made a mark on Korean history because it was quite easy for me

to find it in the internet. Keynesian economics, the theory developed by John 

Keynes brought us out of Great Depression and other economic downturns.

Government interventions during pandemic is based on the theory. It is remarkable

that your uncle was a student of his in GB when GB was superpower.

이활(李活, 1899년 9월 8일 ~ 1982년 10월 6일)은 대한민국의 정치가이다.

Wow, learn every day, doc.

I never tried Korean website but it looks like from Korean Google(?) for Korean.

Do I have to install Korean Google software or go through English Google we use?

Anyhow, it is amazing all these stories are still available.

BB Lee

Google in Korean, that is all you have to do.