 He was a graduate of Seongkyungwan University (1955) and later a professor at the same school.Kim Gu-yong was born Kim Yeongtak on February 5, 1922, in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do.During Japanese colonial occupation, Kim resided at various Buddhist temples, including the Donghaksa Temple, studying Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist classic texts.