He was born in Mangyongdae on August 19, 1871 as a son of Kim Ung U who had bravely fought in the van of the battle to sink the U.S. imperialist aggressors' ship General Sherman.

Having lost his father in his early years and lived bitter tenant's life, he had to undergo all sorts of hardships. He was possessed of unusually ardent patriotism of loving the country and people and a strong spirit opposing the foreign invaders.

Though living in dire poverty, he used to say to his children that they could live without money, but not without humanity.

He lamented that the destiny of the country and nation played into the hands of the Japanese imperialists. He not only let his sons and grandsons take part in revolutionary struggle but also fought resolutely against the enemies, saying that a man should die fighting the enemy on the battlefield.

When stooges of the Japanese imperialists tried to conciliate him with a bundle of money during the anti-Japanese struggle, he roared in a fury, "You despicable wretch, do you really expect me to exchange my grandson's life for money? Shut your mouth, you dog, and be off with you!"

He, indeed, was a man of uncompromising spirit with the enemies. When the Japanese imperialists forced him to change his name to Japanese one, he said: "We mustn't change our names on any account, even if it means we're beaten to death." He let the Mangyongdae family members hold out their surname and names.

Even after the liberation of the country, he diligently did farming, living a simple life although people dissuaded him from doing rough work as he was grandfather of the head of state.