His art name was Namppo (남포; 南圃), and his courtesy name was Seongun (성운; 聖雲).

He had a half-brother Yun Chi-ho (1865–1945), some thirty years his elder, whose mother was their father's wife, Lee Jung-Mu (1844–1936).

In 1911, he entered Suwan Agricultural High School, but in 1912 he dropped out, and in 1913 went to participate in independent activities in China.

In 1914, on Kim Kyu-sik's advice, he went to study at the University of Glasgow.

In 1948 he enlisted in the South Korean Army as a medical officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel.