Ilgang Kim Cheol was born in Hamjeong-ri, Singwang-myeon, Hampyeong-gun on October 15, 1886 and studied Chinese classics as a child. He went to Gyeongseong Law School and graduated from Meiji University in Japan majoring in law in 1915. After returning home, he distributed his land to tenant farmers and emancipated slaves. Although the Joseon Governor General’s Office made every effort to win him over, he went to Shanghai as an exile in 1917 to join the independence movement. He returned home briefly in 1919 to plan the 3.1 Independence Movement and used his family assets to support the independence movement. He initiated the Provisionary Government in Shanghai and served as the Defense Minister, Finance Minister and Chief Presidential Secretary and led independent activities in cooperation with Bong-chang Lee and Bong-gil Yun in 1932.

He died of acute pneumonia caused by fatigue in a hospital in China on June 29, 1934 at the age of 48. He dedicated his entire life to the independence of Korea. In order to commemorate his patriotic spirit, a shrine, statue, memorial hall, training center and management office were established at a cost of 2.17 billion won from 1999 to 2003. Since it was opened at the end of 2003, it has been used as a place to educate about loyalty and devotion.