Ham was an important Asian voice for human rights and non-violence during the 20th century, despite numerous imprisonments for his convictions.

He was also a poet and wrote about 120 poems such as “Song of the West Wind” written in 1983.

In 2000, Ham was selected by the Republic of Korea as a national cultural figure.

In 1919, he joined the March 1st Movement, the beginning of Korean resistance to the Japanese occupation.

In 1923 he graduated from Osan High School and went to Japan to study to become a teacher.