Won-il Kim
Won-il Kim (also known as Wonil Kim) was born on November 25, 1983, in Seoul, South Korea. His fascination with magic began during his elementary school years in Incheon, sparked by a magic book that included actual props.
In an era when imported magic literature was scarce in Korea, he dedicated himself to acquiring and studying countless international magic books. This deep dive led him to look beyond simple trickery, fostering a profound interest in the history of magic and the diverse lore surrounding the art. Today, he is recognized as South Korea’s preeminent and sole expert in magic history.
Since 2009, he served as an adjunct professor at the Department of Magic Entertainment at Dong-Pusan College, teaching Magic History, Magic Theory, and Children's Magic alongside his mentor, the late Professor Song-u An (Yuji Yasuda). He held this position until the college’s closure in 2016. He is credited with being the first to adapt Western (specifically American and British) children's magic theories into academic curricula, establishing the structural foundation for modern children's magic performances in Korea.
Driven by a mission to uncover the hidden history of Korean magic—which was previously thought to lack original historical records—he has spent over a decade since 2014 scouting used bookstores, antique shops, and auction houses across the country.
His tireless research led to the discovery of significant traces of modern Korean magic following the Korean War. Most notably, he unearthed a manuscript from 1907, identified as the oldest magic book discovered in Korea to date. Through this discovery, he formally proved that Korean magic history spans at least 120 years, supported by tangible historical evidence.
Currently, he operates Wonil Kim Magic Research Labs, where he publishes books on magic history and theory, provides expert consulting and advisory services, and serves as a judge for national magic competitions. He also creates and shares various content focused on the storytelling of magic history.
He holds the largest collection of rare Korean magic books and historical materials in the country. He also manages an extensive archive of North Korean magic data and information, inherited from his late mentor, Professor Yuji Yasuda.
website: www.instagram.com/kwimagiclabs
Coauthors: Chi-Yong Song
