Kang Chang-il was born in 1952 in Jeju Island and graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Korean history. He completed a master's and doctorate degree in humanities and sociology at the Graduate School of Tokyo University and served as a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo. He served as a professor at Baejae University and as a director and chairman of the Jeju4·3 Research Institute. He served as a member of the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th National Assembly members, and served as secretary-general and chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Federation. He was an endowed chair professor at Dongguk University and an ambassador to Japan. Many books include 『Modern Japanese Invasion of Korea and Asianism』 (2002).