Kim Won-Bong | |
---|---|
Deputy Commander of the Korean Liberation Army | |
In office 1941–1945 |
|
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Personal details | |
Born |
Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do milyanggun (now Miryang, South Korea) |
13 August 1898
Died | c. 1958 North Korea |
Nationality | Korean |
Political party | Independent (anarchist) |
Spouse(s) |
Park Cha-jeong Choi Dong-Seon |
Children | Kim Cheol-Geon Kim Joong-Geon Kim Hak-Bong |
Occupation | Politician, military general |
Military service | |
Allegiance | DPR Korea |
Service/branch | Korean Liberation Army |
Years of service | 1941-1945 |
Rank | General |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Kim Won-bong (김원봉, 金元鳳, August 13, 1898 – c.1958) was a Korean anarchist, independence activist, and statesman from North Korea.
Kim Won-bong was born on September 28 (August 13 in the lunar calendar), 1898 in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-Do province, Korea. His father was Kim Ju-Ik and his mother was Lee Gyeong-Nyeom. Lee died giving birth to Kim Won-bong's brother, Kyung-Bong.
In February 1919, Kim entered the Shinheung Military Academy (Hangul: 신흥무관학교; Hanja: 新興武官學校) and underwent military education for six months, after which he dropped out of the academy. On November 9th 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 leader position of the Heroic Corps, Kim Won-Bong found that he could not accomplish the aims of the Heroic Corps, as the organization 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 governor's conference site and resort. During his time there, Chinese governors insisted upon associating the united front against Japanese Imperialism. Before his return, Won-bong received extensive funding from the Chinese governor.