Gim Myeong-won

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Kim Myeong-won
김명원
Left State Councillor
In office
16 June 1601 – 21 January 1603
Preceded byYi Heon-guk
Succeeded byYun Seung-hun
Right State Councillor
In office
10 July 1600 – 1 June 1601
Preceded byYi Heon-guk
Succeeded byYun Seung-hun
Personal details
Born1534
Died21 January 1603(1603-01-21) (aged 68–69)
Korean name
Hangul
김명원
Hanja
金命元
Revised RomanizationGim Myeongwon
McCune–ReischauerKim Myŏngwŏn
Art name
Hangul
주은
Hanja
酒隱
Revised RomanizationJueun
McCune–ReischauerChuŭn
Courtesy name
Hangul
응순
Hanja
應順
Revised RomanizationEungsun
McCune–ReischauerŬngsun

Gim Myeong-won (Korean김명원; Hanja金命元; 1534 – 21 January 1603), was a high official of the Korean state Joseon, who served King Seonjo during the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea.

Born to a yangban family of the Gyeongju Kim clan, he was the son of another high-ranking official, Gim Man-gyun. He passed the civil service examination with the highest score in 1561, and was made jwachamchan, a post of the second junior rank under the State Council. He gained prominence in 1589 when he exposed the treachery of provincial official Jeong Yeo-rip, who was plotting to attack the capital. [1] At this time, he received the title of "Prince Gyeongnim" (경림군).

Upon the outbreak of war in 1592, Gim took up military duty, leading the Joseon army to consecutive defeats at the capital and again at the Imjin River. However, he remained vital to the royal family, as he led the army which guarded their retreat to Sunan in the far north following the surrender of Pyongyang. After the first wave of the war was over, Gim retired from his post as general due to illness. [2] He subsequently served in four ministerial posts in turn, those of Punishments, Rites, Public Works, and Military Affairs.[3] Gim led the Joseon armies once again after the Japanese re-invasion of 1597. He was made Supreme Councillor (uuijeong, 우의정) of the State Council in that year.

After his death, Gim was given the posthumous title of Chungik-gong (忠翼公), "Loyal-winged general."

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Lee et al. (1983), p. 1197
  2. ^ Lee ed. (1993), p. 123.
  3. ^ Lee et al. (1983), p. 234.

References[edit]

  • Lee, Hong-jik (이홍직) ed. (1983). 새國史事典 (Sae guksa sajeon) (Encyclopedia of Korean history). Seoul: Gyohaksa. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  • Lee, Il-cheong (이일청) ed. (1993). 인명국사대사전 (Inmyeong guksa sajeon). Seoul: Goryeo Munhwasa. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)

See also[edit]