29 Facts About Kim Koo

Kim Koo was the sixth, ninth and later the last President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, a leader of the Korean independence movement against the Empire of Japan, and a reunification activist after 1945.

Kim Koo was assassinated by Korean lieutenant Ahn Doo-hee in 1949.

Kim Koo was born in Teot-gol, Baek-un-bang, Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, Korea, the only son of the farmers Kim Koo Soon-young and Kwak Nack-won.

Kim Koo is the 22nd generation descendant of Kim Sa-hyeong was one of the meritorious retainer at the founding of the Joseon dynasty.

Kim Koo's descendant becoming his 7th great-grandfather Kim Dae-chung escaped to Hanyang to Haeju and later concealed his identity.

Related searches

Under the instruction of Donghak leader Choi Si-hyung, Kim Koo's troops stormed the Haeju fort in Hwanghae-do, but the army was eventually defeated by governmental forces.

In February 1896, Kim Koo stayed at an inn in Chihapo, Hwanghae Province while traveling to southern regions.

However, Kim Koo argued in his autobiography that Tsuchida was concealing a sword and had identification papers that showed him to be a Japanese army lieutenant.

In prison, Kim Koo had a chance to read newly published textbooks about Western culture and science such as Taeseo Shinsa and Saegye Jiji.

Kim Koo was deeply impressed by the strengths of the new Western science and recognized the importance of education for the Korean people.

Kim Koo started to teach about 100 illiterate fellow prisoners.

Kim Koo participated in a mass protest against the treaty in Seoul and presented a memorial to Emperor Gwangmu urging him to withdraw from the treaty.

In 1908, Kim Koo joined New People's Association, a national-level underground organization established by Ahn Changho for nonviolent Korean independence movement.

Kim Koo, who was a close friend of An, was suspected of being an accomplice and arrested as well.

Kim Koo tried to kill himself with a self-inflicted injury in his head, but failed.

Kim Koo stated in his biography that the change of his name symbolized breaking free from Japanese nationality records and that he chose the pen name Baekbeom, which means "ordinary person", hoping every ordinary Korean person would fight for the independence of Korea.

Kim Koo exiled himself to Shanghai, China in 1919 after a nationwide non-violent resistance movement, known as the March 1st Movement, which was violently suppressed by the Japanese imperialist government.

In Shanghai, Kim Koo joined the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which vowed to liberate Korea from Japanese occupation.

Kim Koo was re-elected to the office many times by the Provisional Assembly.

Kim Koo arranged for the Korean Liberation Army to advance to Korea in 1945 but, days before the departure of the leading unit, the war ended.

Kim Koo returned to Korea upon the Japanese surrender to the Allies in 1945.

Kim Koo was known as "the Assassin" and reportedly travelled with an entourage of gunmen and concubines.

Kim Koo did not know about his nomination until after the election.

Kim Koo did not approve the nomination, considering it a ploy to discredit him.

Kim Koo was posthumously awarded the Republic of Korea Medal of Order of Merit for National Foundation, the most prestigious civil decoration in the Republic of Korea, as well as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's National Reunification Prize.

Related searches

Kim Koo's autobiography, Baekbeomilji is an important source for study of history of Korean independence movement and has been designated as cultural treasure No 1245 by the Korean government.

Kim Koo has been constantly regarded as one of the greatest figures in Korean history.

In 2007 national surveys, Kim Koo received the most votes as the Korean historic figure whose portrait should be featured in new Korean banknotes to be issued in 2009.

Kim Yong-man appointed second lieutenant of Korean Air Force, and in 2011, Kim Dong-man was appointed second lieutenant of Korean Air Force.