[3] Kang was something of a prodigy and started teaching herself to read the Korean alphabet when she was eight years old using her step-father's copy of the Tale of Ch’unhyang at a time when female literacy was not greatly valued.

[3] In 1931 Kang began publishing her writing ("P'ag ŭm" or Broken Zither, 1931[4]), and moved to Manchuria as a newlywed, married to a communist who had divorced his first wife.

[4] Different from other prominent female authors of the time, such as Na Hye-sok and Heo Jong-suk, she focused solely on fiction and essay writing and did not branch out into other forms of artistic expression such as painting.

These include:[4] "The Broken Geomungo" (Pageum), "Vegetable Garden" (Chaejeon), "Football Game" (Chukgu jeon), and "Mother and Child" (Moja).

[5] From Wŏnso Pond (Feminist Press 2009) ISBN 978-1-55861-601-1 The Underground Village (Honford Star 2018) The Broken Geomungo (Pageum 1931) Mothers and Daughters (Eomeoni wa ttal 1931) Comet (Hyeseong 1931) The Front Line (Jaeilseon 1932) Vegetable Garden (Chaejeon 1933) Football Game (Chukgu jeon 1933) Existence, Nonexistence (Yumu 有無 1933) Fathers and Sons (Buja 1934) The Human Problem (Ingan munje 1934) Salt (Sogeum 1934) Drugs/Magic Medicine (Mayak) Mother and Child (Moja 1935) Writer's Fee: 200 won (Wongoryo Ibaekwon 1935) Layoff (Haego 1935) Underground Village (Jihachon 1936) Mountain Man (Sannam 1936) Darkness (Eodum 1937)