Kim Yŏnggŏn ŭi Han’guk taeoe kwan’gyesa e taehan insik kwa haebang chikhu hwaltong” [Kim Yŏnggŏn’s perception of the history of the Korean foreign relations and his life, 1945-1949]

Kim Yŏnggŏn’s perception of the history of the Korean foreign relations and his life, 1945-1949 This study deals with Kim Yung-kun who survived the catastrophic period: Korean colonial and American military rule era. Kim, as was very rare case at the time, worked in the French Research Institute of Far East, Hanoi in Vietnam, 1931-1940 collecting and analysing some documents related to Japanese and South East Asia. Due to the political instability, he returned to Colonial Korea through Japan and began his study in the history of the Korean foreign relations. In that study, he focused on historical traces in Korea-South East Asia and Manchuria. At the time of Korean liberation from Japan, with his early interest in literature and Marxism, he developed his keen interest in Korean national issue. His international experience contributed to this new curiosity. Kim, therefore, participated in left-wing literature society, National Association for Chosun Cultural Organizations (Chosŏn munhwadanche chongyŏnmaeng) under the Democratic National Front (Minjujuŭi minjok chŏnsŏn) as well as “neutral” Tan'gun State Society (Chindan hakhoe). With history and literature writings, Kim was concerned with the boundary between politics and scholarly works while he touched on the reporter's job. Through the change of political atmosphere, his senior members crossed 38th parallel to the north, the change that elevated his position in left-wing organization. His activities based upon “scientific” approach to the world and firm belief in “democracy” lost its vital life following the political confrontation between North and South Korea. His case shows the fate of a nationalistic and left-wing intellectual just after Korean liberation from Japan.