Jo Man Sik was an activist in Korea's independence movement. He became involved in the power struggle that enveloped North Korea in the months following the Japanese surrender after World War II, but the Soviet-backed communists eventually forced him from power. Placed under house arrest in 1946, he was reported to have died in a North Korean prison in 1950.


In 1905 Jo entered the Soongsil Middle School as a student. In his youth he was an activist within Korea's Christian community. After Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910 he became involved with his country's independence movement. His participation in the March 1, 1919. “3·1” (Korean: Sam-Il) peaceful protest marches against Japanese colonialism led to his arrest and detention, along with tens of thousands of other Koreans. After his release, he dedicated himself to the non-violent resistance of Japanese occupation, a stance which earned him the epithet "The Gandhi of Korea". He advocated the principle of self-sufficiency for Korea. Jo formed the Korean Products Promotion Society, intending to encourage Koreans to buy domestically-produced goods to instill Korean spirit.