Government to Repatriate Remains of Ahn Jung-geun's Nephew Ahn Won-saeng, Buried in the United States

Ahn Won-saeng died in Arizona, United States in 1982

The grave of Ahn Won-saeng, the nephew of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, has been discovered at Sunland Memorial Park in Arizona, United States. The government has decided to pursue the repatriation of his remains to Korea.

On the 3rd, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced, "The grave of Ahn Won-saeng, recipient of the Order of Merit for National Foundation, and nephew of Ahn Jung-geun (recipient of the Grand Order of National Merit), who died in Arizona, United States in 1982, has been identified." Ahn Won-saeng grew up in An-ak, Hwanghae-do. He went into exile in China with his family and graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

An Wonseong Branch (left) and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs at An's grave found in Sunland Memorial Park, Arizona, USA. Provided by the Ahn Junggeun Memorial Association and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs

He was also active as a football player in China. As a member of the Tianjin team, he led his team to victory against a Western merchants' team. He also served as the coach of the Peking Yenching University football team.

In 1925, he distributed leaflets and organized anti-Japanese demonstrations in the French Concession in Shanghai. In 1933, he engaged in publicity and promotional activities for the Provisional Government, served as a publicity committee member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government, and worked as an editorial committee member of the Provisional Government's publicity department. During World War II, he engaged in diplomatic activities, making contact with American and British officials.

After Korea's liberation, while staying in the United States, Ahn Won-saeng returned to Korea and worked at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. He also served as vice president of the Korea Scout Association and as an executive member of the Korea Football Association.

After the Korean War, it was only known that he had moved to the United States, but no further records of his activities exist. His year and place of death were also unknown.

Ahn Won-saeng died in Arizona, United States in 1982

The grave of independence activist An Wonsaeng, nephew of An Junggeun, buried at Sunland Memorial Park in Arizona, USA. Provided by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

In 1990, the government posthumously awarded Ahn Won-saeng the Order of Merit for National Foundation to honor his contributions.

At the end of last year, while conducting a survey of the graves of independence activists in the southwestern United States, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs identified Ahn Won-saeng's grave for the first time. Subsequently, by analyzing U.S. government and British diplomatic documents, they confirmed that Ahn Won-saeng's English name in the 1940s was 'David An.' Based on information that he had moved to the United States during the Korean War, they investigated burial records in the U.S.

Later, they confirmed that 'David W. S. Ahn' was buried at Sunland Memorial Park in Arizona, and visited the site to locate the grave. Through comprehensive analysis of various documents, they recently confirmed that the person buried under the name 'David W. S. Ahn' is indeed Ahn Won-saeng, the nephew of Ahn Jung-geun.

It has been confirmed that Ahn Won-saeng immigrated to the United States in 1952, lived in areas such as New York and Washington, D.C., and died in Sun City, Arizona in April 1982.