Korean singer Lee Chan-won was deeply moved by the story of Dr. Yoo Il-han, drawing attention from viewers.
On the October 3rd episode of KBS2TV's 'Celebrity Soldier's Secret,' the tumultuous life of Dr. Yoo Il-han, founder of Yuhan Corporation and a symbol of Korean noblesse oblige, was depicted.
During the broadcast, Lee Chan-won, with guest Lee Sang-yeob, announced, "There is something to be praised." He revealed that Lee Sang-yeob had achieved the highest level in the Korean History Proficiency Test.
Lee Sang-yeob humbly stated, "Rather than thinking of it as studying, I approached it with the mindset of listening to Korean history." History creator Choi Hanna, listening nearby, praised his attitude, saying, "That's a great approach to studying."
As the story unfolded, Jang Do-yeon began, "Today's story starts on April 4, 1971." At that time, the chairman's will was revealed, estimating his fortune at a minimum of 5 billion won.
According to Jang Do-yeon, 5 billion won in 1971 is equivalent to approximately 108 billion won today. The will stated that his granddaughter would receive $10,000 for her education until graduation, and his son was expected to be self-reliant as he had already been supported through college. This chairman was none other than Yoo Il-han.
Yoo Il-han's decision to donate his wealth to society instead of passing it to his children remains a profound inspiration in Korean society. However, a surprising fact emerged. About 20 years after his passing, it was revealed that during the late Japanese occupation in 1945, Yoo Il-han participated as an elite special agent in a secret operation by the U.S. OSS, aiming to infiltrate the Korean Peninsula alongside the Korean Liberation Army's 'Eagle Project.'
Lee Sang-yeob expressed his admiration, saying, "He was truly a great figure of his time," and added, "It makes my heart swell with pride." Lee Chan-won was also astonished by Yoo Il-han's life story.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr