“President Lee Jae-myung, please raise the honor grade of independence activist Kim Jong-rim (1886–1973), who devoted his vast fortune to Korea’s independence.” (10th-grade student Kim Eun-sol)
“He was known as the ‘Rice King’ and played a key role in sustaining the independence movement by funding it with his wealth. His current fifth-class Order of Merit (Patriotic Medal) should be upgraded to first class so that his contributions can be properly recognized.” (10th-grade student Yoon Hae-ri)
Korean American students have sent heartfelt letters to President Lee Jae-myung calling for an upgrade in the state honor awarded to Kim Jong-rim, a leading figure in the Korean independence movement in the United States and a key contributor to the foundation of the Republic of Korea Air Force.
The same request was also delivered to Kwon Oh-eul, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, drawing quiet attention.
Kim Jong-rim devoted more than 35 years to Korea’s independence, beginning in 1909 through organizations such as the Gongnip Association and the Korean National Association. After achieving major success in rice farming in California and earning the nickname “Rice King,” he used his entire fortune to support independence efforts led by figures such as Syngman Rhee and Ahn Chang-ho, as well as the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai.
Despite financing the establishment of the Willows Korean Aviation School—the first Korean aviation school—he was posthumously awarded the fifth-class Order of Merit for National Foundation (Patriotic Medal) in 2005. However, the award, typically granted for more than two years of independence activities, has long been criticized as insufficient in light of his contributions.
Students from the Korean Schools of Northern California (KSNC), led by Kwak Eun-ah—including Kim Eun-sol and Yoon Hae-ri—wrote the letters on March 23, 2026 (local time) after researching Kim’s legacy at an “AI Diplomat Hackathon Camp” hosted by the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK), headed by Park Gi-tae.
Kim Ye-seo, a student from San Jose, wrote in her letter, “For us, independence activists are important symbols that shape our identity,” adding that “a proper upgrade would be a meaningful step toward restoring historical justice in Korea.”
Choi Ji-woo, a 9th-grade student from Pleasanton who also took part in the camp, wrote that Korea’s independence “was not achieved by a few well-known figures alone, but through the sacrifices of countless lesser-known individuals,” expressing hope that such figures will be more widely remembered.
The letter-writing campaign was carried out through the voluntary participation of Korean American youth.
Park Gi-tae, head of VANK, said the students’ policy proposal marks “a historic starting point” in which 7 million overseas Koreans move beyond being passive recipients of government policy to become active co-designers of Korea’s veterans affairs policies and national governance. He emphasized that remembering and honoring lesser-known independence activists in the United States, led by younger generations, represents both the true meaning of honoring patriots and a powerful form of future-oriented diplomacy.
Kwak Eun-ah, head of KSNC, also said it was deeply moving to see Korean American students propose policy directly to the president of Korea based on what they had learned in Korean language school classrooms.
The full policy proposal calling for an upgrade of Kim Jong-rim’s honor grade are available to the public through VANK’s national policy platform, Woollim, and the letters are available at the designated website (https://padlet.com/vankprkorea1999/ksnc).
VANK and KSNC said they will continue efforts to properly recognize the achievements of overlooked Korean independence activists in the United States and to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve.