Kim Chung-seon

Infobox Korean name
hangul=김충선
hanja=金忠善
rr=Gim Chung-seon
mr=Kim Ch'ungsn
hangulja=선지
hanjaja=linktext|善|之
rrja=Seonji
mrja=Snji
hangulho=모하당
hanjaho=linktext|慕|夏|堂
rrho=Mohadang
mrho=Mohadang

Kim Chung-seon (1571 - 1642) born Sayaga ( _ja. 沙也可) and often known by his pen name Mohadang, was a Japanese general who defected to Korea during the Japanese invasion.

Kim Chung-seon had been the commander of the right army for Katō Kiyomasa, leading more than 3,000 troops. He defected shortly after arriving on Korean soil, surrendering to Gyeongsang commander Pak Jin. This choice has been traditionally attributed to his respect for Korean culture.

After his defection, Kim served in the Joseon army, contributing to Korean victories over Japanese forces in the battles of Dongnae and Ulsan. Thereafter he was granted his Korean name, on the recommendations of Gwon Yul and others, and was made part of the Gimhae Kim lineage.

Kim continued his military service after the end of the Japanese invasions in 1598, working for 10 years on securing the northern border. He fought the rebellion of Yi Gwal in 1624, personally capturing Yi's lieutenant Seo A-ji (서아지 / 徐牙之). In 1636, he participated in the defense against the Second Manchu invasion of Korea, credited with the death of some 500 Qing troops at the battle of Ssangnyeong.

After Joseon's surrender to the Manchus, Kim retired from military life, moving to Daegu where he married the daughter of the "mok" commander Jang Chun-jeom (장춘점 / 張春點). They settled in present-day Urok-ri, Gachang-myeon, Dalseong-gun. Kim devoted himself to Confucian ethics, promulgating "gahun" (family principles) and "hyangyak" (village creed).

The Nokdong Seowon in Urok-ri was erected in his memory in 1789. This seowon was abolished in 1864 as part of the regent Daewon-gun's general campaign against seowon, but was reestablished in 1914 under the Japanese colonial regime. The seowon remains a popular destination for Japanese tourists in Daegu. [cite web|url=http://www.daegutour.or.kr/eng/citytour/citytour3_15a.html|title=Nokdong Seowon|work=Daegutour.or.kr|author=Daegu Tourist Information Center|accessdate=2007-02-03]

Kim's 6th-generation descendants compiled his collected works, which exist in two editions.

Notes

ee also

*Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)
*List of Joseon Dynasty people

References and further reading

*cite journal|url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/view/ar_view.asp?pid=200&isid=34480&arid=715936&topMenu=&topMenu1=|title=Kim Chung-Sun, a Japanese Surrendered General|author=Han Moon-Jong|accessdate=2007-01-31|journal=한일관계사연구 24|year=2006

Persondata
NAME=Kim, Chung-seon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=김충선, 金忠善, Sayaga, 沙也可, Mohadang, 모하당, 慕夏堂, Seonji, 선지, 善之
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Japanese-Korean general
DATE OF BIRTH=1571
PLACE OF BIRTH=Japan
DATE OF DEATH=1642
PLACE OF DEATH=Daegu, Korea (?)