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| Kim Dong-gill, left, a professor emeritus of history at Yonsei University, speaks with Ahn Cheol-soo at Kim's residence in January this year when Kim was a supporter of then-presidential candidate Ahn. Kim passed away at the age of 94, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
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| Late history professor Kim Dong-gill / Yonhap |
Kim is known for his political commentary during the 1980s with his signature mustache and bow tie.
According to his family, Kim died at Severance Hospital in central Seoul. Kim had been infected with COVID-19 in February, but was hospitalized due to complications and was never able to recover. His family added that Kim donated his body to the medical school of Yonsei University.
Born in Maengsan, South Pyongan Province, now in North Korea, in 1928, Kim moved to the South upon the establishment of the Kim Il-sung regime in 1946 and studied English literature at Yonsei University in Seoul. He went to the United States and studied history at University of Evansville and earned a doctoral degree in philosophy at Boston University.
Upon returning to Korea, he taught history at his alma mater.
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| Professor Emeritus Kim Dong-gill lectures on the theme of the April 19, 1960 Revolution and democracy in this 1985 file photo. Yonhap |
While teaching at Yonsei University, he actively participated in political and social movements. He contributed writings critical of the military dictatorship in the 1970s and in 1974, he was indicted over the Federation of Democratic Young Students affair and sentenced for 15 years for supposedly being the "one who pulls strings behind student activists," but was granted a stay of execution.
He briefly entered politics as he joined the Unification National Party, established by Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung, and became a lawmaker from 1992 to 1996. He later joined the United Liberal Democrats, but retired instead of running for the next election.
He wrote over 100 books throughout his life including: "The Road Is before Us," "The Life of Lincoln" and "A Shout Out to Young Koreans."
In his later years, he was known as a "veteran of the conservative bloc." Earlier this year, Kim served as a patron for Ahn Cheol-soo, then the presidential candidate of the People's Party.
He started a YouTube channel, "Kim Dong-gill TV," at the age of 91. The channel offered mostly political content and has been deleted as of now.
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