Born in Okcheon, Chungbuk, Kim Hyun-gu studied at Yangjeong School and Boseong Middle School, where he became a member of the Enlightenment Movement organization, the Jaeganghoe. He moved to the United States in April 1909 for his studies and enrolled in Hastings Boys’ Military School, founded by Park Yong-man, where he received military training. In 1918, he studied political science and philosophy at Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.
In January 1919, he was appointed to the North American Korean National Association and served as the editor of the Shinhan Minbo. During his time at Ohio State, he was responsible for publishing “Young Korea,” a student publication that primarily encouraged the Korean independence movement. In 1920, he participated as a student representative in the founding committee of the Student Assembly in San Francisco and was active as a member of the Korean Independence League, which was formed by Park Yong-man, playing a key role in raising funds for military unification efforts.
In April 1927, he was appointed to the Overseas Korean Commission and worked in diplomatic affairs until 1929. In November 1929, he took on responsibilities with the Korean Community Association in Hawaii while also serving as the editor of the Kukminbo. In 1941, as a representative of the Hawaiian Korean National Association, he participated in the Overseas Korean Conference, where he helped establish the Korean American United Committee and became its Defense Chairman. In 1944, he was elected as a diplomatic commissioner for the U.S. Korean Commission, engaging in diplomatic activities for the independence of his homeland. In January 1951, he was elected as the president of the Hawaiian Korean National Association. He contributed to the study of the history of Korean independence movements in the U.S. by writing biographies of prominent figures known as “Three Thousand,” including Woo Nam Lee Seung-man, Woo Seong Park Yong-man, and Geomun Jeong Soon-man. In 1955, he was awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation by the government.
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