Excavated through thorough historical research and photographs
The story of Kim Gu and the hidden independence activists in Nanjing!

Nanjing is a city with a long history in China and was one of the stages of activity for the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Mr. Kim Gu and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea were active in Nanjing to escape Japanese oppression, and this was also where they laid the foundation for the independence movement.
Activities in Nanjing played a significant role in the diplomatic and military activities of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and provided the strength to continue the independence movement through solidarity and cooperation with China.
The new book, “Kim Gu and the Independence Activists of Nanjing,” contains the stories of Kim Gu and the independence activists surrounding him who were active in Nanjing.


Although many books have already been published about Kim Gu, this latest book can be said to be a historical document that was personally observed and researched by urban researcher Dr. Jang Wi-wan-qing, who was interested in the period when Kim Gu stayed in Nanjing, while actually staying in Nanjing.
Through his research on Nanjing, Dr. Jang pointed out the problems with many existing studies on Kim Gu and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and thoroughly researched and revealed the details of history using historical records and photographic materials.

There are already numerous papers on Kim Gu and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Because of that, there seems to be no more meaningful or fresh topics to deal with.
However, from the perspective of Nanjing's urban history, the existing studies have common problems with their meaning and thorough research.
Because there are still many facts that have not been clearly revealed, it is not uncommon to find contradictory parts even in the same book.
There are also quite a few fields that are very important but have not yet attracted the attention of researchers.
Because of this, the materials I encountered in the early stages of my research consisted of vague and divided opinions and confusing and incoherent writings.
Of course, there was still a lot of room for research within that.


As I delved deeper into my research, I discovered that the scope of this research was very broad.
After sorting out various relationships, days continued that felt like seeing the sun hidden behind clouds, and the fun and joy deepened.
---From the "Preface"

That day, Kim Gu took the last local train on the Hohang Line.
Kim Gu initially disguised himself as a Western man to pretend to be a married couple with Geraldine Fitch.
And on the way to the station, I changed my clothes again in the car, and when I got off, I looked completely different.
He dressed up as a businessman, wearing a black hat, a long black shirt, and black leather shoes that were worn to a certain length.

Kim Gu and others got out of the car and walked straight across the wooden bridge toward the train station without looking back.
The Peach couple watched them from inside the car, their eyes glued to the car until they completely disappeared.
Even if you search related books, there is no information about when the Peach couple and Kim Gu met again after their separation.
However, Kim Gu wrote in Baekbeom Ilji that 'Later, Mrs. Peach used the home phone indiscriminately, which aroused suspicion and revealed her location', and this 'later' can be related to three times.
---From Chapter 2

Kim Gu believed that if he lived with a well-educated intellectual woman, his social status would be easily revealed.
So I thought it would be better to get help from the illiterate boatman, Zhu Ai Bao.
After coming to Jiaxing in 1932, Kim Gu lived with Zhu Aibao.
Later, he went to Nanjing with Zhu Aibao, and the two separated only when Kim Gu suddenly had to leave Nanjing in 1937.

Since the 1990s, novels and plays based on the stories of Kim Gu and Zhu Aibao have been published in China.
In 1999, the novel “Seonwol (船月)” was published by People’s Literature Publishing House.
The book also attracted attention in Korea, and a Korean edition was published.
---From Chapter 3

After meeting Kim Gu, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea's plan to train students as military officers.
On February 22, 1933, Chen Guofu sent a telegram to Xiao Zheng.
It was decided to open a class to train Korean comrades at the Luoyang Military Academy, and since Chiang Kai-shek had already given his approval, he was to immediately inform the Korean side.
Kim Gu immediately began recruiting students and seeking instructors.


In this way, the meeting between Chiang Kai-shek and Kim Gu is an important symbol of the cooperation between the National Government and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in the anti-Japanese struggle.
From that day on, Kim Gu organized the Korean National Party in 1935 with financial support from the National Government, and supported the provisional government, which was on the verge of collapse.
On November 3, 1935, the Provisional Government was reorganized, and seven of its members were executives of the Korean National Party.
Kim Gu assumed the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and seized control of the provisional government.
After that, the cooperative relationship between the National Government and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea began to become closer and deeper.
---From Chapter 4

On February 22, 1973, Xiao Zheng arrived in Seoul by plane.
After receiving an honorary doctorate in economics from Konkuk University on the 23rd, I went straight to Kim Gu's grave to pay my respects.
Later, Xiao Zheng wrote in his memoir:


“The reason I went to Korea to get my degree was actually because I wanted to pay my respects to the deceased.
After Kim Gu returned to Korea and was assassinated shortly thereafter, key figures in the provisional government, such as An Gong-geun, Park Chan-ik, Lee Cheong-cheon, Jo So-ang, and Min Pil-ho, also passed away.
Aside from the frequent correspondence with General Kim Shin over the past 20 years, I have no old friends in Korea that I can find, so I have not been able to come to Korea.
This trip to Korea is to visit Mr. Kim's grave and see where he lived.
General Kim Shin, now the Minister of Transportation, gave me a warm welcome when I arrived, and the day after I arrived, he accompanied me to Kim Gu's grave.
As I thought of my old friend in front of the grave, tears flowed without me realizing it.

---From the "Epilogue"