"The key word that runs through the life of Kim Ku is not victory but responsibility. He failed to seize political leadership after liberation and could not prevent the division of Korea, yet he stood his ground with dignity as 'one who was defeated.'"
Author Lim Soon-man made these remarks at a press conference for his novel "Baekbeom Lies Down on the Mountains" held at the Kim Koo Museum and Library in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Kim Ku's birth, and UNESCO has designated him as a "2026 Person of the Year."
The author spent five full years researching extensive materials and writing the book, tracing Kim Ku's footsteps. He reflected that the process was not difficult at all. "I wrote with the spiritual strength given by independence activists, as if riding on the shoulders of giants," he said. "Whenever my creativity was depleted, I would visit the Kim Koo Memorial or the graves of independence patriots to regain strength."
The novel does not unconditionally glorify Kim Ku's life. Instead, it focuses on his resolute view of history—refusing to compromise even when he knew he would fail. While some critics argue Kim Ku was exploited by North Korea, Lim contends that Kim Ku viewed division not as "a matter of ideology" but as "a matter of time."
"Kim Ku believed that if the South and North did not meet, division would become permanent and war would erupt, making it difficult to overcome the wounds," Lim explained. "That is why Kim Ku said, 'Even if I go to North Korea and fail, if such attempts continue, someone will eventually overcome that failure.'"
He added, "Behind Kim Ku's uprightness lay immense anguish and wavering. While writing the novel, I tried to maintain balance between the two."
The book consists of 24 chapters, each readable as an independent short story. "I departed from a simple chronological structure and brought out the texture of a novel," the author said. "Unlike a biography, the novel as a genre can reveal the truth hidden behind events."
Kim Eon-ho, CEO of Hangilsa Publishing, said the novel was the company's first project marking its 50th anniversary this year. "This is a work that asks and answers how to live through the life of Kim Ku for younger generations who are not familiar with history," he said.
