Korean anarchist (1898–c. 1958)
Kim Won-bong (Korean: ; 1898 – c.1958) was a Korean independence activist, Korean anarchist, communist, and later statesman for North Korea.
His art name was Yaksan (; ). He used a variety of pseudonyms during his exile abroad in China, including Ch'oe Rim (; ), Yi Ch'ung (; ), Chin Kuk-pin (; ), and Ch'ŏn Se-dŏk (; ).
Biography.
Kim was born in 1898 in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, Korean Empire. He was born to father Kim Chu-ik (; ) and mother Yi Kyŏng-nyŏm (; ) and into the Gimhae Kim clan.
In his youth, he studied at a "seodang", a traditional Korean school. In 1908, he enrolled in a modern-style school. In 1910, he attended the Donghwa Middle School (; ). In 1913, he attended a school in Seoul. In 1916, he was in China, learning the German language. In 1918, he enrolled in the University of Nanking.
In February 1919, Kim entered the Shinhŭng 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, 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 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 "Ch'oe 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 Won-bong 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, Kim received extensive funding from the Chinese governor.
Kim served as the deputy commander of the Korean Liberation Army of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Legacy.
Kim Won-Bong remains a controversial figure in South Korea due to his defection to North Korea in 1948, and serving as North Korean Commander during the Korean War. On June 6, 2019 South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave a Memorial Day speech at Seoul National Cemetery, praising Kim Wong-Bong's activities in the Korean independence movement. The speech was slammed by Conservative Lawmakers.
Further reading.
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