평안남도 순천에서 태어난 정한경은 상동청년회에서 세운 순천사립시무학교에서 신학문을 배우고, 그곳에서 만난 독립운동가 박용만과 박용만의 삼촌 박장현의 영향을 받아 1904년 어린 나이에 미국으로 떠났다. L.A.에 잠시 거주하던 그는 1906년 박용만이 정착한 네브래스카로 이동해 미국인 가정에서 집안일을 돕고 숙식을 제공받으며 학업을 이어갔다. 어린 나이에도 조국의 독립을 위한 노력을 아끼지 않았던 그는 박용만이 세운 한인소년병학교에 입학해 유한양행의 설립자 유일한 등과 함께 훈련을 받으며 한국의 독립에 대한 열망과 의지를 키워나갔다.
정한경은 네브래스카주립대학에서 정치학 학사와 석사를 받고, 워싱턴D.C.로 건너가 아메리칸대학에서 정치외교학으로 1921년 박사학위를 받았다. 1919년 4월, 이승만, 서재필과 함께 미주에서의 3·1운동이라 불리는 1차 대한인총대표회의를 주도했으며 이후, 광복 전까지 워싱턴에 머물며 임시정부 구미위원부 위원으로 외교 선전활동을 전개했다.
특별히 영어에 능통했던 정한경은 일본의 억압적인 통치와 한국의 3·1운동을 <뉴욕타임즈> 등의 주요 언론매체에 기고해 한국의 독립 의지를 서구세계에 호소했다. 이로서 당시 일본의 왕성한 선전활동으로 일본의 식민지배에 우호적이었던 미국 여론의 변화를 이끌어냈다. 또한, The Oriental Policy of the United States, Korean treaties, The Case of Korea 등의 책을 집필하면서 일제하 한국의 실정을 해외에 알리고자 노력했다. 1962년 한국 정부로부터 독립운동 지원의 공로를 인정받아 건국훈장 독립장을 수여받았다.
Henry Chung was born in Suncheon, South Pyeongan province and studied modern sciences at the private Simu School in Suncheon, which was established by the Sangdong Youth’s Association. He met the independence activist Park Yong-man and his uncle Park Jang?hyun there, and left for the U.S. at a young age in 1904. He was briefly in L.A. before moving to Nebraska, where Park Yong-man settled in 1906, and continued his studies at an American household, helping with household chores in return for bed and board. Even at his tender age, Henry did not hesitate to work for the his homeland’s independence, and joined the Korean Boy Soldier School established by Park and received training alongside boys such as Yoo Il-han, who would later found Yoohan Pharmaceuticals, and nurtured his passion and will for Korea’s independence.
Henry received a bachelor and master of political science from the Nebraska State University, and acquired a doctorate in political science in 1921 from the American University in Washington D.C. In April of 1919 he and Rhee Syngman and Suh Jai-pil (Philip Jaisohn) organized the The First Korean Movement, called the March 1st Movement of the Americas. Afterwards, he resided in Washington until Korea’s liberation, pursuing diplomatic propaganda activities as a member of the Provisional Government’s Korean Commission to America and Europe.
Henry was particularly fluent in English and contributed writings about Japan’s oppressive rule and Korea’s March 1st Movement to major news outlets such as The New York Times to appeal for Korea’s will for independence to the Western world. He was able to affect a change in American public opinion, which had hitherto between favorable of Japan’s colonial rule thanks to Japan’s vigorous propaganda activities. He also attempted to reveal the reality of Korea under Japan’s rule by writing books such as The Oriental Policy of the United States, Korean Treaties, and The Case of Korea. His effects in supporting the independence movement were recognized by the Korean government and he received the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal in 1962.
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