January 8, 1932, in front of Sakurada Gate in Tokyo, Japan. A man stood amidst a crowd of tens of thousands waiting for the Emperor returning from the New Year's military parade.
Hidden in his bosom were two grenades capable of stopping the heart of Japan.
His name was Lee Bong-chang. Why did this ordinary young man from Gyeongseong embark on a life-or-death gamble in this unfamiliar land, the capital of an enemy nation?
As noon approached, a magnificent procession of carriages appeared.
Patriot Lee Bong-chang had a hunch. 'Now is the time.' He threw the first grenade with all his might. However, the grenade exploded near the rear carriage carrying Imperial Household Minister Ichiki Kirukuro, rather than the Emperor's carriage. The explosive force fell short of expectations, resulting in injuries to only one cavalryman and one horse, and the Emperor escaped harm as he was riding in the third carriage. To make matters worse, the second grenade he attempted to throw failed to detonate. In that brief moment of sighing, "Is it a failure?", he did not flee. The scene became a scene of chaos. Japanese police rushed in, but Patriot Lee Bong-chang remained defiant.
He took the Taegeukgi from his bosom, waved it, and shouted as if to shake the heavens.
"Long live the Republic of Korea! Long live the Republic of Korea!
Even at the moment of his arrest, there was no cowardice or regret in his eyes.
This was because he knew that what he had thrown was not merely a bomb, but a message sent to the whole world that 'Korea is still alive.'
On September 30 of that year, a Japanese court sentenced him to death on the pretext of 'treason.'
And on October 10, at Ichigaya Prison in Tokyo, Patriot Lee Bong-chang ended his short yet passionate life at the age of 32.
Although he may not have achieved his direct objective of assassinating the Japanese Emperor. However, this incident ignited a massive spark within the stagnant Provisional Government and the independence movement. This became the decisive fuse that later led to Patriot Yun Bong-gil's bombing at Hongkou Park.
