2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Baekbeom Kim Gu. June 26 also serves as a reminder of the day he was assassinated at the Gyeonggyeong Hall. While the death of one individual signifies an end, for some, it marks the beginning of an era. This is true for Baekbeom Kim Gu.
This year, UNESCO designated Kim Gu as a '2026 World Commemorative Figure.' He is the third Korean to receive this honor, following Jeong Yak-yong and Father Kim Dae-geon, and the fourth global independence activist recognized after Gandhi, Ho Chi Minh, and Mandela. This recognition is not merely ceremonial; it indicates that the world is once again calling upon Kim Gu. While we have often expressed our respect for him, how well do we truly understand his life?
This question is at the heart of Im Soon-man's novel, 'Lying Down in the Baekbeom Mountains.' This work is not just a historical novel; it seeks to restore the conscience of an era and poses an ethical inquiry to us today.
Im Soon-man, a former journalist who served as an editor at the Kukmin Ilbo, dedicated nearly ten years to this project, spending five years on research and interviews and three years on writing. As a result, the novel features no fictional characters; all figures are real, and events are meticulously based on historical records. Although it is a novel, it approaches history with greater depth.
The narrative does not dazzle readers with ornate language. Instead, its simplicity creates a deeper resonance. The stripped-down prose brings into sharper focus Baekbeom's solitude and resolve. It does not glorify failure or excuse defeat, allowing readers to see not a hero, but an unyielding human being.
The novel consists of 24 chapters, beginning with the suffering of Kim Chang-soo, who was born into a lowly status, and covering his failures in past examinations, the Cheeha Incident, Donghak activities, exile, the struggles of the Shanghai provisional government, the actions of Lee Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil, the founding of the Korean Liberation Army, the division of the nation after liberation, and culminating in his final moments at Gyeonggyeong Hall. While it flows chronologically, it essentially traces the trajectory of human ethical choices.
Notably, the titles of the first two chapters are symbolic: 'I Offer My Life' and 'I Receive Your Life.' These are not merely records of armed struggle; they signify that the independence movement is, at its core, an ethical responsibility where one person sacrifices their life, and another bears the weight of that sacrifice.
In the scene leading up to Yun Bong-gil's act of resistance, Kim Gu is not just a leader; he is a person sending others to their deaths, fully aware that they may not return. Thus, the independence movement is framed not as a strategy but as an ethical imperative.
Im Soon-man does not portray this scene merely as a heroic tale; instead, he reveals the weight of human emotion. Baekbeom does not guarantee victory; he simply does what must be done.
One of the most memorable scenes in the novel involves his time with Zhu Aibo, a Chinese woman who sheltered him after Yun Bong-gil's act of resistance. They live together as if they were a couple.
The author writes: 'Spending the night on the boat with the teacher, Zhu Aibo falls into thought. She senses that behind his few words and stoic demeanor lies the weary past of someone who has crossed great mountains. Though outwardly dry, she feels a shared flow of time that brings them together, like water flowing into the sea.'
This scene humanizes Baekbeom, reminding us that before he was a revolutionary, he was simply a man.
The greater the person, the deeper their loneliness.
Another significant moment in the novel is the description of 'rice.' 'Rice is food given by heaven. Made from the earth's strength and human sweat, rice resembles the life-giving nature of heaven. It is a blessing because it follows the natural order.'
This statement encapsulates the essence of Baekbeom's philosophy. Before grand ideologies, the fundamental human act of feeding the hungry and maintaining one's humanity takes precedence. The quest for a nation must ultimately be about preserving life.
Thus, Baekbeom stood not as a politician but as a guardian of ethics.
He resolved to travel to Pyongyang to prevent the division of the nation, despite widespread predictions of failure, which ultimately came true. Yet he stated, 'If I go to North Korea and fail, a record of that failure will remain, and if such attempts continue, someone will eventually surpass that failure.'
This statement reflects the dignity that today's politicians have lost. He prioritized what needed to be done over the likelihood of success, focusing on responsibility rather than self-interest. Baekbeom was that kind of leader.
He viewed division not as an ideological issue but as a temporal one. He understood that without communication, war would ensue, and over time, hatred would become entrenched. Therefore, he went, fully aware of the potential for failure.
This is Baekbeom.
And finally, Gyeonggyeong Hall.
On June 26, 1949, Baekbeom was shot by Army Second Lieutenant Ahn Du-hee at Gyeonggyeong Hall in Seoul. He was killed in the very heart of the nation he had longed for in a liberated Korea. It was one of history's cruelest ironies.
The novel does not exaggerate this moment; it presents it with a calm demeanor, making it even more chilling. 'The assailants took the life of Kim Gu with a gun, but they could not steal the tears of the villagers who gathered outside, weeping in droves beyond the shattered glass.'
This single sentence encapsulates everything. Guns can kill people, but they cannot kill history.
At that time, Seoul's population was 1.4 million, and records indicate that 1.24 million came to pay their respects. This is not just a number; it is a testament to public sentiment. The people knew who truly lived for the nation.
Politically, Baekbeom failed. He could not prevent division, did not seize power, and was ultimately assassinated. However, history remembers those who, despite failing, did not compromise, more than those who succeeded.
He was defeated but unbroken.
The cultural power he envisioned is more urgent today than ever.
'The only thing I desire for our country is the power of high culture.'
Baekbeom did not wish for a nation that suppressed others through military might. He envisioned a dignified nation where no one is oppressed and no one oppresses others. In an era where BTS and K-culture are shaping the world, we are beginning to understand his words.
Culture is not an ornament but a way of existence. It is not about being a strong nation but a beautiful one. That was Baekbeom's dream.
Now, one question remains: How will we honor Baekbeom?
Building memorial halls is necessary. Erecting statues is also important. However, the more crucial task is to keep his spirit alive in our lives today.
Restoring politics as an ethics of responsibility rather than a technique of power. Rebuilding the economy not as a victory of greed but as a community of dignity. Returning education from a tool of competition to a training ground for humanity. This is true commemoration.
East Asia remains unstable. The division of the Korean Peninsula, the U.S.-China power struggle, historical conflicts with Japan, and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are shaking the world once again with a power order. Yet Baekbeom asks:
Will we dominate through power or coexist through culture?
The Bible states, 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.'
Baekbeom's life was the historical embodiment of this statement. He fought for peace, endured loneliness for justice, and dedicated his life to freedom.
Thus, Baekbeom is not a figure of the past. He is an unfinished sentence.
Im Soon-man's 'Lying Down in the Baekbeom Mountains' asks what we should write on that unfinished sentence today. On which side will we stand? What will we live for? Can we do what must be done, even knowing the potential for failure?
Baekbeom continues to ask quietly.
And the Baekbeom Mountains are still waiting for that answer.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.