Dr. Won Kyum Kim
Dr. Won Kyum Kim: Our Father and Grandpa
Dr. Won Kyum Kim was a wonderful Korean-Canadian citizen and community leader who cared deeply for the Korean community and Canadian society.
Among his many awards and distinctions, he received the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal (2012) and was one of the 41 Exemplary Canadian Seniors named by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Minister Responsible for Seniors (2010).
Dr. Kim was born in a rural area Kap-San in North Korea in 1929, the fourth of eight children (five brothers and two sisters). His father was born in 1898 and mother in 1904. His father was the Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Union. While his parents served their communities tirelessly, they dedicated their utmost love, time and energy to their children
When the second world war ended, Korea was divided into two, South and North Korea. The North was occupied by the Russian Army and became a communist country. The South was occupied by Allied Forces, mainly by American troops, and became a democratic country. There were many demonstrations at high schools and universities in North Korea at that time.
Dr. Kim escaped from North Korea, crossing the 38th parallel line and moved to Seoul in South Korea in 1947. He was only 16 years old. He was separated from his parents and younger brothers and sisters. He was able to survive with two older brothers who were university students in Japan and came to Seoul after World War II ended. He and his two brothers tutored young students. Dr. Kim had to go to the library until midnight to study, because their rented room was too small for a desk. Although it was very difficult to go to school without financial support from their parents. Dr. Kim studied at Seoul High School and later attended Seoul National University on a scholarship. Despite the hardships they experienced, his oldest brother B. Kim received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Germany and his brother J. Kim became a renowned lawyer who later met with U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1959 to discuss the economic future for Korea.
During his studies at Seoul National University Dr. Kim met an excellent professor in the Botany Department. He was keen to understand “the origin of life”. Even though the Korean civil war was ongoing at the time, he completed his bachelor degree, majoring in plant biochemistry. He continued his studies for his Master and Ph.D. degrees. He was appointed the youngest instructor at the age of 26 at the Seoul National University.
In 1957, Dr. Kim came to the University of North Carolina to pursue his Ph.D. degree with financial support from the university. There he studied the effects of growth substances on respiration, free amino acid content, and DNA of algae with Drs. John Couch and Victor Greulach.
Dr. Kim brought many scientists from Korea and other countries (including Japan, China, Poland, Germany, and Australia) to train them in his laboratory. Dr. Kim also visited Korea many to present workshop and lectures and to cultivate the next generation of Korean scientists.
In 1959, after his Ph.D. degree dissertation he married Miss Yoon Tuk Kim at the University of North Carolina, blessed by Rev. Vance Barron with friends and professors of the Departments of Botany and Zoology. Yoon studied physiology and biochemistry and received her Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa, Canada. She later conducted research on bone marrow transplantation for cancer patients.
In 1961, Dr. Kim tried to continue his research in the United States. He had to leave the US, because he had a government visa, not a student visa. Dr. Kim applied to do research and was accepted at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, Canada. There he met many great researchers at NRC and acquired tremendous knowledge. He tried to go back to Korea, however there were no research station after the Korean civil war.
In 1963 Dr. Kim went to the University of Toronto as a research associate and worked with Dr. Tony Bidwell. He did research with radioactive materials and the most up to date research on molecular technology
In 1965, Dr. Kim moved to Winnipeg where he lived for the next 50 years. He was appointed as a molecular geneticist at the Agriculture Canada Research Centre and a professor at the University of Manitoba in the departments of Microbiology and Botany. He was a pioneer in the field of microbial genetics and biotechnology, investigating cereal diseases like wheat rust that threatened crops grown by Canadian and U.S. famers. Rust spores were flown into Manitoba from the United States and all parts of the world. He researched the molecular markers for rust resistance in wheat and barley genes to create crops that were resistant to this disease. His research not only helped the farmers, but also the Manitoba economy.
Dr. Kim brought many scientists from Korea and other countries (including Japan, China, Poland, Germany, and Australia) to train them in his laboratory. Dr. Kim also visited Korea many to present workshop and lectures and to cultivate the next generation of Korean scientists.
May 14th, 1970, Dr. Kim and his wife became Canadian citizen in a special citizen ceremony held at the Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall, followed by a concert by the Manitoba Folk and Arts Council. Robert Stanbury, the Federal Cabinet Minister without Portfolio, came to Winnipeg from Ottawa to present their citizenship.
In 1993, he organized the Korean-Canadian Biotechnology Symposium, a bilateral exchange program between Korea and Canada, supported by the National Research Council of Canada and Korea Institute of Science and Technology(Canada NSERC) through this program, he brought 12 renowned Canadian professors and research scientists to Korea where they visited Korean universities and research stations, presenting workshops and symposia. Dr. Kim also travelled widely, within Canada and abroad, to educate, mentor and collaborate with other scientists. He was invited to work and give lectures in the U.S., Korea, Japan, Germany, and Australia.
In 1981, Dr. Kim was invited as an exchange professor in Japan. He visited many universities and gave lectures on his research and patiently waited the unity of South and North Korean so that he could reunite with his parents in North Korea. The UN ambassador told him that Red Cross was working on it. North and South Korea were still divided.
In 1990 Dr. Kim was invited as a visiting professor to Aachen University, Germany and 8th International Virology Congress in Berlin, Germany. He gave many lectures.
In addition to his research, Dr. Kim was a community leader in Winnipeg. He served as president of the Korean Association of Manitoba, helping Korean newcomers by teaching them English language skills and Canadian culture. He was especially focused on promoting the equality of human rights and multiculturalism in Canada. He also volunteered his time as chairman of the Federation of Korean Associations in Canada (1989-1991) and was the founder of the Korean Heritage Language School in Winnipeg in 1973. This was the first Korean language school in Canada and was registered as a non-profit organization. Its goal was to teach Korean-Canadian children their own history and language, to connect them to philosophy, folklore and culture through language, and to encourage them to contribute to Canadian society and to global communities. In 1982, as the president of the Korean Association of Manitoba, Dr. Kim organized the 2nd National Conference of the Korean Community – Korean Language School Programs in Canada where all leaders of Korean-Canadian communities were invited to Winnipeg through a multiculturalism grant from the federal government. These leaders later formed Korean Language School in their own communities. For many years, he also served as the coordinator for Folklorama, Canada’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival, introducing Korean history, culture and food to Winnipeg residents and visitors.
In later years, Dr. Kim served as an executive committee member of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba (2002 – 2015) as well as the Board of Directors at Age and Opportunity for eight years (2000 -2008). He was also the principal of the Korean Senior School and the treasurer of Multi Purpose Senior Centre in Manitoba ( MAMPS).
Dr. Kim was a leader, a mentor and a teacher. He was also a wonderful father and grandfather. Throughout his life, he showed integrity, intelligence and generosity. He also never gave up hope that he would be reunited with his family members still in North Korea. Although he was tragically separated from parents by the Korean war, he remembered them every day and kept their photos next to his bed. Dr. Kim’s colleague (Dr. Moon) visited North Korea 30 years ago and found out his parents were deceased. His family and friends organized a small memorial service at his home. The main reason was to show his three children the traditions of Korean family life and respect for their grandparents.
Dr. Kim was a true Korean – Canadian whose legacy will live on for countless generations.