Gim Myeong-won (Korean: 김명원; 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.
Kim Myeong-won 김명원 | |
|---|---|
| Left State Councillor | |
| In office 16 June 1601 – 21 January 1603 | |
| Preceded by | Yi Heon-guk |
| Succeeded by | Yun Seung-hun |
| Right State Councillor | |
| In office 10 July 1600 – 1 June 1601 | |
| Preceded by | Yi Heon-guk |
| Succeeded by | Yun Seung-hun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1534 |
| Died | 21 January 1603 (aged 68–69) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김명원 |
| Hanja | 金命元 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Myeongwon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Myŏngwŏn |
| Art name | |
| Hangul | 주은 |
| Hanja | 酒隱 |
| Revised Romanization | Jueun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chuŭn |
| Courtesy name | |
| Hangul | 응순 |
| Hanja | 應順 |
| Revised Romanization | Eungsun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ŭngsun |
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."