MARIA KIM 김마리아

(1892-1944)

Period of study: 1927-1928, Graduation year: 1928? 

Major: Sociology

Work & Experiences 

• Instructor, Chung Sin Girls' School (1914)
• Tokyo Women's College (1915-1919)
• President, Friendship Society for Women Students Studying Abroad in Tokyo, Tonggyŏng Yŏja Yuhaksaeng Ch’inmokhoe (1917)
• Participant, February 8th Declaration of Independence, March First Independence Movement (1919)
• Executive, Assembly Member, Shanghai Patriotic Women’s Association (1919)
• Ginling College (金陵大学), Nanjing (1920?)
• Bachelor’s Degree, Park College (1923-1925)
• Member, Social Service Club, University of Chicago (1927)
• Master’s Degree, Graduate School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago (1928?)
• Resolutions Committee Member, Korean Student Federation of North America (1927)
• Vice-Chairman, Korean Student Federation of North America (1928-1929)
• Master’s in Education Administration, Columbia University Graduate School of Education (1929)
• President, Kŭnhwahoe (Korean Patriotic Women’s Association in America) (1930)
• Bachelor’s of Religious Education, Biblical Seminary, New York (1931)
• Vice President, Korean Student Federation of North America (1928-1929)
• Order of Merit for National Foundation Independence Medal (1962)

Maria Kim was born to a family of Korean independence activists in Hwanghae County in 1891. Her father Kim Yun-bang contributed to the national enlightenment movement by establishing a local church and school. Her uncle-in-law Sŏ Pyŏng-ju and his son Sŏ Chae-hyŏn worked for the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai while her uncle Kim P’il-sun joined the independence movement in Manchuria. Maria Kim’s father was cousins with Kim Sun-ae, who worked as an independence activist in Shanghai alongside her husband Kim Kyu-sik. Beyond these individuals, the founder of the Korean YMCA and national educator Kim P’il-lye was Maria Kim’s fourth aunt. Thus Maria Kim’s love of fatherland likely sprouted naturally while growing up amongst a family of reform intellectuals and patriots. She was given the name Maria by her father Kim Yun-bang, who was a devout Christian.

After graduating from Chung Sin Girls' School, Maria Kim worked as an instructor at her alma mater until 1914, when she moved to Japan to study at Tokyo Women's College. In 1917 she was elected president of the Friendship Society for Women Students Studying Abroad in Tokyo (Tonggyŏng Yŏja Yuhaksaeng Ch’inmokhoe) and published the first Korean general interest magazine for women entitled Women’s World (Yŏjagye). Along with other central members of the Friendship Society such as Esther Hwang, Na Hye-sŏk, and Ch’a Kyŏng-sin, Maria Kim would become a prominent figure in the community of Korean women students in Japan. On the way back to Korea from Japan in 1919, Maria Kim hid within the obi of her kimono a copy of the February 8th Declaration of Independence drafted by Korean students in Japan, and after arriving in Korea, Kim participated in the March First Independence Movement. For these actions, Maria Kim was imprisoned and tortured, as a consequence of which she would endure health issues for the remainder of her life. Though she received a prison sentence in 1919 for her involvement in the Korean Patriotic Women’s Association, Maria Kim was eventually released on sick bail. With the assistance of an American missionary, she then escaped to Shanghai. Maria Kim became the first woman delegate to the Hwanghae Province of the Korean Provisional Government and took up studies at Ginling College in Nanjing before departing for the US to continue her pursuit of higher education. 

Maria Kim studied literature for two years at Park College, Missouri until 1927, when she entered the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Social Service Administration. Two years later, she received her Master’s degree. Regarding her degree, two different perspectives exist: the first is that Maria Kim received her Master’s degree from the University of Chicago (Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, National Institute of Korean History, Doosan Encyclopedia) while the second claims that she was enrolled at the University as a graduate research student [Independence Hall of Korea, Han'guk Kidok Kongbo (Christian press of Korea), Kim Maria Sŏnsaeng Kinyŏm Saŏphoe (Maria Kim Commemoration Foundation)]. During her time at the University of Chicago, Maria Kim joined the University’s Social Service Club as well as serving as both Resolutions Committee member and Vice-Chairman of the Korean Student Federation of North America. 

Maria Kim went on to study theology in New York. There she reunited with Esther Hwang and Pak In-dŏk. The three would form the Korean women’s association Kŭnhwahoe; with Maria Kim serving as President, Kŭnhwahoe would lead various patriotic activities. Though she returned to Korea in 1933, the Imperial Japanese authorities prohibited her from taking up residence in Seoul and teaching theology. She began working as an instructor at the Martha Wilson Memorial Women’s Theological Training School in Southern Hamgyŏng Province while also contributing to activities related to the Christian mission and theological education. Even at a time when most Christian denominations had surrendered to policies of forced Shinto worship, Maria Kim refused to participate. The lingering aftereffects of torture from decades earlier began to worsen around this time and in 1944, Maria Kim passed away at the age of 52. In accordance with her written will, Maria Kim’s ashes were scattered in the Taedong River. In 1962, Maria Kim was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation Independence Medal while her ancestral tablets were enshrined at Seoul National Cemetery.