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

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Quick Facts Minister of State Control, 1st Cabinet of North Korea ...

Kim Won-Bong
Minister of State Control
1st Cabinet of North Korea
In office 9 September 1948 – 8 May 1952
Premier	Kim Il Sung
Preceded by	Post established
Succeeded by	Choe Chang-ik
Personal details
Born	c. 1898 Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, Korean Empire (now Miryang, South Korea)
Died	c. 1958 North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
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	Korea
Branch/service	Korean Liberation Army
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	General
Battles/wars	World War II
Korean name
Hangul	김원봉
Hanja	金元鳳
Revised Romanization	Kim Wonbong
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Wŏnpong
Art name
Hangul	약산
Hanja	若山
Revised Romanization	Yaksan
McCune–Reischauer	Yaksan

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In February 1919, Kim entered the Shinheung Military Academy (신흥무관학교; 新興武官學校) 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,^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[1]

Kim Won-Bong served as the deputy commander of the Korean Liberation Army of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.^[4]

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

• Heroic Corps
• Korean independence movement