Kim Won-bong
Kim Won-bong (; 1898 – 1958) was a Korean anarchist, Korean independence activist, communist, and later statesman for North Korea.

Biography

In February 1919, Kim entered the Shinheung Military Academy () and underwent military education for six months, after which he dropped out of the academy. On November 9 of the same year, Kim organized a Korean nationalist underground organization known as the Korean Heroic Corps (의열단; 義烈團), with Yang Gun-ho, Gwak Jae-ki, Han Bong-Geun, Kim Ok, and others. Among the Heroic Corps aims were the assassinations of Japanese officials and their collaborators, coupled with attacks on Japanese bases. After assuming the position of leader of the Heroic Corps, Kim Won-Bong found that he could not accomplish the aims of the organization as it did not have a sufficient number of members. As a result, he joined the Whampoa Military Academy in 1926. Kim used the pseudonym "Choi Rim" and organized the Korean National Revolutionary Party, and the Joseon Communist Reconstruction Party.

The Korean National Revolutionary Party was formed in Shanghai in 1935 by a group of left-wing nationalist Korean parties, organized by Kim Kyu-sik, Kim Won-Bong and Cho Soang. On July 10, 1937, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of China, Kim went to Lushan, the Chinese government's conference site and famed resort. During his time there, Chinese government officials insisted upon associating the united front against Japanese Imperialism. Before his return, Won-bong received extensive funding from the Chinese governor.

Kim Won-Bong served as the deputy commander of the Korean Liberation Army (한국 광복군) of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

Legacy 
 Portrayed by Cho Seung-woo in the 2015 film Assassination.
 Portrayed by Yoo Ji-tae in the 2019 MBC TV series Different Dreams.

See also 
Heroic Corps
Korean Volunteer Corps
Korean independence movement

References

Further reading 

 
 
 

 
1898 births
1958 deaths
Korean anarchists
North Korean atheists
Suicides by cyanide poisoning
Korean generals
Kim Kyu-sik
Gimhae Kim clan
Whampoa Military Academy alumni
Members of the 1st Supreme People's Assembly
Members of the 2nd Supreme People's Assembly
1958 suicides
South Korean emigrants to North Korea
Suicides in Korea
Members of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
Koreans in the Republic of China Military Academy
Kim Ku
Militant Korean independence activists