Kim Gu

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Gu (Hangul: 김구, July 11, 1876 – June 26, 1949) was a Korean independence activist and politician. He was the President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea three times. Kim was the 6th, 12th, and 13th (and final) president. He was the leader of the Korean independence movement against Japanese Imperialism and a reunification activist. Kim was also called Baekbeom. It was his pen name. He is a well respected person to many Korean people. Prime Minister 1921 to 1927 and Interior Minister of Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea 1923 to 1924.

Early life

Kim was born in Hwanghae, Korea in 1876. At the age of 15, he studied the Chinese language. (한학; 漢學). In 1893, he joined the Donghak movement. He became the regional leader for Haeju. The next year, while he was leading the Donghak Peasant Revolution, he went to Manchuria to escape from Japanese soldiers. In 1896, he returned to Korea and killed Josuke Tsuchida, a Japanese soldier. He killed Tsuchida as revenge for the 1895 assassination of Empress Myeongseong of the Korean Empire. Empress Myeongseong was killed by Miura Goro, a Japanese assassin.

After the March 1st Movement in 1919, Kim Gu exiled himself to Shanghai, China. He joined the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. From that time, he started fighting against Japanese Imperialism. He wanted independence for Korea. He organized the Korea Patriotic Legion. It was a nationalist group. He told Yoon Bong-Gil to bomb the ceremony for the Emperor's birthday at Hongkeou Park in Shanghai. Also, he had Lee Bong-chang try to kill the Japanese Emperor Hirohito in Tokyo. This ended up with failure. Kim also created the Korean Liberation Army. He was re-elected several times as the leader of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

After the independence of Korea on 15 August 1945, he came back to Seoul. He worked as a right-wing politician with Lee Seung Man and Kim Kyu-sik. He tried to prevent the division of the Korean peninsula. In 1948, he tried to stop South Korea’s national election and to start negotiations between South and North Korea. This failed.

Death

In June 26, 1949, Kim was shot dead by a Korean soldier, Ahn Doo-hee. Ahn was later killed by a taxi driver in 1996. Many people think there must have been a conspiracy. Some people said that he was ordered by Rhee Syng-man. It is not known if this is true. In 1962, he was awarded the Republic of Korea Medal of Order of Merit for National Foundation. He wrote Baekbeomilji (Journal of Baekbeom). It is his autobiography. It is important both historically and education. His funeral was held at July 5,1949

Book

Autobiography, 《Dowaesilki》(도왜실기, 1932)
《Baikbumilji》(백범일지, 1947)

Kim Gu Media

Magoksa, the Buddhist temple where Kim stayed around 1898–1899 after escaping from prison. Picture from 2011
Kim Ku, with disfigured left ear after torture and imprisonment (1919)
Photo commemorating the closing of the 6th meeting of the Provisional Korean National Legislature (임시의정원). Kim is on the second row from bottom, far right (September 17, 1919)
Recreation of Kim's office in one of the original KPG buildings (now a museum) in Shanghai (picture from 2013)
Kim, with son In and wife Chun-rye in Shanghai (1921)
Kim Gu(1876 - 1949) is 1930's
윤봉길 의사 거사 직전의 김구와 윤봉길
Kim Ku's first hideout after escaping Shanghai, on 76 Meiwan Street in Jiaxing. The stone memorial to Kim can be seen in front. (2013)
Zhu Aibao, Kim's 'wife' for five years. After sending her back to her hometown in November 1937, Kim never saw her again.

Related pages

References

Definition in Knowledge Encyclopedia (in Chinese)^{[dead link]}

Preceded by Lee Dong-ryung	Presidents of Provisional Government of South Korea 1940-1947	Succeeded by Rhee Syng-man
Preceded by Roh Baik-Lin	Prime Minister(Acting) of Provisional Government of South Korea 1923-1924	Succeeded by Lee Dong-ryung