Kim Hong-sin

Kim Hong-sin (金洪信, born March 19, 1947) is a South Korean novelist and politician. He served as a member of the National Assembly in the 15th and 16th terms. His family seat is Gimhae, and he was born in Nonsan.

Career

After graduating from the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Konkuk University in 1971, he served as an officer in the Army of South Korea and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1974. In 1993, he received a doctorate in literature (Doctor of Literature) from Konkuk University.

In 1976, he was recommended to the literary magazine 《Hyundae Munhak》 (現代文學) with the works 〈Mulsal〉 and 〈Bonjeondaek〉, and made his debut. His major works include 《Insan Sijang》 (Human Market), 《Baram Baram Baram》, and 《Insan Sucheop》, and he mainly wrote works that seek to deeply expose the contradictions and corruption of industrial society.¹

Kim's full-length novel 《Insan Sijang》, published in 1981, holds the record for being the first book in South Korea to surpass one million copies sold. In 2007, after withdrawing from politics and returning to work as a novelist, he published 《Daebalhae》, a long-form historical novel, which was his first work after returning.²

He also served as a member of the National Assembly in the 15th and 16th terms. In 1996, he was nominated as the fourth candidate on the proportional representation list of the Democratic Party and was elected to the 15th National Assembly, marking his entry into politics. Afterward, in 1997, the New Korea Party and the Democratic Party merged, and he became a member of the Grand National Party.

During the 1997 presidential election, he supported the Grand National Party candidate Lee Hoi-chang. On December 14, during a televised debate campaign speech, he made excessive slanders, saying that "if Kim Dae-jung becomes president, the country will inevitably be ruined and become unstable," which sparked controversy.³