Kim was born in 1895 during the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, Joseon.[1] In 1917, he went to Japan to study abroad and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1920.[2] Kim then went to Germany where he studied law and politics at the University of Berlin from 1922 to 1924. In 1925, he worked for The Chosun Ilbo as a foreign correspondent in Moscow. Upon returning to Korea in 1926, he participated in the Korean independence movement by joining Singanhoe. He also worked as a lecturer at Boseong College and editor-in-chief for The Dong-A Ilbo.[1]
In 1928, Kim was arrested by Japanese authorities for his involvement with the Korean Communist Party and sentenced to seven years in prison. He rejoined The Dong-A Ilbo as editor-in-chief in 1934 after his release. In 1936, he resigned his post in the aftermath of the Japanese flag erasure incident [ko]. Following Korean's liberation, he joined the Korean Democratic Party.[1] On May 10, 1948, he won an uncontested election to the first National Assembly of South Korea as a representative of Yeongam County where he served until he lost his bid for re-election in 1950.[2]
From November 12, 1950, to May 6, 1951, he served as minister of justice.[3] He was then elected to the National Assembly in 1954. He left the Democratic Party and formed the Unification Party in 1957.[1] He was then re-elected to the National Assembly in 1958 and 1960. In 1963, he was elected as a member of the Liberty Democratic Party.[3] He was also the People's Party candidate for 1967 presidential election. He died in 1971.[1]
