Kim Myeong-won

Infobox Korean name
hangul=김명원
hanja=金命元
rr=Gim Myeong-won
mr=Kim Myŏngwŏn
hangulja=응순
hanjaja=應順
rrja=Eungsun
mrja=Ŭngsun
hangulho=주은
hanjaho=酒隱
rrho=Jueun
mrho=Chuŭn

Kim Myeong-won (1534-1602) was a high official of the Joseon Dynasty, who served King Seonjo during the Seven Year War. Born to a yangban family of the Gyeongju Kim lineage, he was the son of another high-ranking official, Kim 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. [Lee et al. (1983), p. 1197] At this time, he received the title of "Prince Gyeongnim" (경림군).

Upon the outbreak of war in 1592, Kim 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, Kim retired from his post as general due to illness. [Lee ed. (1993), p. 123.] He subsequently served in four ministerial posts in turn, those of Punishments, Rites, Public Works, and Military Affairs. [Lee et al. (1983), p. 234.] Kim 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, Kim was given the posthumous title of "Chungik-gong" (忠翼公), "Loyal-winged general."

Notes

References

*cite book|title=새國史事典 (Sae guksa sajeon) (Encyclopedia of Korean history)|author=Lee, Hong-jik (이홍직) ed.|publisher=Gyohaksa|location=Seoul|year=1983
*cite book|title=인명국사대사전 (Inmyeong guksa sajeon)|author=Lee, Il-cheong (이일청) ed.|publisher=Goryeo Munhwasa|location=Seoul|year=1993

ee also

*List of Joseon Dynasty people
*Joseon Dynasty politics
*Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea
*List of Korea-related topics