World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseHong Sa-ik was born in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. He entered the Korean military academy in 1905. In 1909, the academy was disbanded as the result of the Eulsa Treaty that made Korea a protectorate of Japan, and in the following year Korea was fully annexed into Japanese borders. Hong entered the Central Military Preparatory School in Tokyo, Japan together with Korean Crown Prince Euimin per orders of former Emperor of Korea Gojong. He moved on to the Japanese Army Academy and graduated with the 26th class in 1914. In 1923, he graduated from the Army War College.

ww2dbaseIn the early 1920s, Hong was contacted by Ji Cheong-cheon, a leader of Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea based in Shanghai, China. Hong refused to defect, but maintained contact with members of the group for years to come.

ww2dbaseBetween 1939 and 1940, Hong served with the China Expeditionary Army and fought in the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War that began in Jul 1937. Between 1940 and 1941, he served with the 1st Depot Division. In 1941, he became the commanding officer of the 108th Infantry Brigade at the rank of major general. In Mar 1944, he was transferred to the 14th Area Army and was given charge of all prisoner-of-war camps in the Philippine Islands. In Oct 1944, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2, Hong was imprisoned by the Americans and tried before an Allied military tribunal. On 18 Apr 1946, he was found guilty as a war criminal as he was found responsible for prison guards under his command, both Japanese and Korean in ethnicity, who committed numerous acts of atrocities against American and Filipino prisoners. He was given the death sentence. He was executed by hanging in Sep 1946 in Manila, Philippines shortly after he requested a minister to read to him Psalm 51 from the Christian bible.

Hong Sa-ik Timeline