Kim Jwa-geun explained

Kim Jwa-geun
Office:Chief State Councillor
Term Start:20 October 1863
Term End:23 May 1864
Predecessor:Jeong Won-yong
Successor:Cho Doo-sun
Term Start1:3 April 1853
Term End1:14 February 1859
Predecessor1:Kim Heung-geun
Successor1:Jeong Won-yong
Office2:Right State Councillor
Term Start2:13 June 1852
Term End2:3 April 1853
Predecessor2:Yi Heon-gu
Successor2:Cho Doo-sun
Birth Date:1797
Father:Kim Jo-sun, Internal Prince Yeongan
Mother:Internal Princess Consort Cheongyang of the Cheongsong Shim clan
Country:Joseon

Kim Jwa-geun (; 1797 – 5 June 1869) was a Korean political figure from the Andong Kim clan, who held a number of high-ranking government positions in the late Joseon period, including Chief State Councillor at King Cheoljong's court.[1] He was the younger brother of Queen Sunwon.

Biography

Kim Jwa-geun was born in 1797, as a member of the Andong Kim clan . His father was Kim Jo-sun and his mother was Lady Shim of Cheongsong. He was the fourth child of seven children.

In 1802, his older sister became the Queen of Joseon at the age of 13, when she married King Sunjo during his second year of reign.

In 1825, at the recommendation of his father, Kim served as a vice-deputy of Mupomgwanik, and in 1834 was promoted to the position of Cheomjong. In the second year of King Cheoljong's reign, he was appointed to several important positions. On February 25, 1853, he was appointed as Chief State Councillor, and though he attempted to resign, he was not allowed to until April 19, 1862. However, in September 1863, he was ordered to "return as chief minister". In 1862, he served as governor while Lee Jeong-cheong was trying to quell the Imsul Peasant Revolt, which was arising from the disturbance of Samjeong.

Until her death, on September 21, 1857, his older sister, Queen Sunwon, who has served as Queen Regent two times, had given immense political influence to the Andong Kim clan, which was the central figure in politics up until 1863 to 1864, when Heungseon Daewongun, with the help of Queen Sinjeong, stepped in during the regency of his son, King Gojong. When Gojong became King and Heungseon Daewongun came to power, Kim Jwa-geun withdrew from the position of Chief State Councillor, but continued to participate in government affairs. Together with his adoptive son, Kim Byeong-gi, he helped Heungseon Daewongun in his regency, since he had difficulty in maintaining the affairs of the state as he came from a distant royal line.

When he died in 1869, he was given the posthumous title of Chungik .

In 1990, the descendants of his adopted son donated the house where Kim Jwa-geun and his family had lived to the Seoul National University.[2]

Family

In popular culture

Drama

Film

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 정자 . 박 . 김좌근 . . . 18 February 2021 . EKC.
  2. Web site: (박종인의 땅의 歷史) 100년 국정 공백은 정실 인사에서 비롯되었다. 19 February 2021.
  3. Web site: Muchadoboutlove. Women of the Joseon Dynasty (Part 1). The Talking Cupboard. The titles were given collectively to the wives of the officials according to their husbands' ranks, for instance jeongkyeong buin, which was given to the wives of the officials of 1st Senior Rank..