He was early involved in the founding of the Communist Party of Korea and was an aide of Pak Hon-yong, and he participated in workers’ strike activities throughout the 1930s.

In September 1925, when the Communist Party of Korea was founded under the leadership of the Hwayo Association, he joined the Chosun Ilbo as a journalist.

In 1930, in Busan, Park Jang-song, Ahn Young-dal, and Kim Hyung-yun were arrested while attempting to produce and distribute a flyer called "Strike to the Combat Ship's Compressed and Exploited Class" underground.

In 1931, he campaigned to rebuild the Communist Party of Korea with Park Heon-young and Kim Dan-ya, but was arrested and frustrated.

In early 1948 he was arrested by the U.S Military Government, but managed to escape in August 1948, and went to the north of the 38th parallel with Ho Hon for the North-South negotiations and stayed there.

He was appointed chairman of the People's Censorship Committee in 1952, but was arrested in October 1952 for accusations of attempting to overthrow the government by the Kumgang Military Academy, a training center for the guerrillas, and was charged with anti-party sects and US spies the following year.