Kim Ch’ung-sŏn: an atypical hero in the contested national history of South Korea

Introducing the novel concept of the ‘low-key hero’ and an approach based on uncovering a group’s ‘pantheon of heroes’, this paper contributes to a neglected aspect of the role of heroes in national identity. It examines the commemoration in South Korea of Kim Ch’ung-sŏn, a relatively unfamiliar historical figure. Against the backdrop of the progressive-conservative schism, I identify the country’s pantheon of heroes and analyse Kim’s memorialisation within its context. I argue that Kim is an atypical hero. His memorialisation – conceivably a byproduct of ‘authoritarian nostalgia’ – eliminates Japan as a ‘significant other’, contributing to the conservative historical narrative.