Lyuh was a prominent figure in the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) and participated in the creation of the February 8 Declaration of Independence during the Japanese colonial period.

At around age 14, he married Yu Se-yŏng (유세영; 柳世永), but she died, and he remarried to Jin Sang-ha (진상하; 陳相夏).

[citation needed] In 1910, Lyuh dramatically parted from Korean tradition by freeing slaves owned by his household.

That year, he also visited Japan and met with several high-ranking Japanese politicians, during which he advocated for Korea's independence.

[2] In 1925, at the recommendation of Sun Yat-sen, he joined the Chinese Nationalist Party and worked to improve Sino-Korean ties.

[2] In 1944, in anticipation of Japan's defeat in World War II, Lyuh organized the secret Korean National Establishment Committee [ko] and served as its chairman.

[7] When the United States landed on the Korean Peninsula two days later,[8] General Hodge did not recognize the government of the People's Republic of Korea that Lyuh Woon Hyung established.

In October, he stepped down under pressure from the United States Military Government, and organized the People's Party of Korea, becoming its chairman.

[citation needed] On 19 July 1947, Lyuh was assassinated in Seoul by a 19-year-old man named Han Chi-geun, who fled from North Korea and was an active member of the right-wing terrorist group the White Shirts Society.

[citation needed] On 21 February 2008, Lyuh Woon-hyung was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation Republic of Korea Medal.