Kim Ŭngu

Kim Ŭngu was a Mangyongdae farmer who was the great-grandfather of Kim Il Sung and ancestor of the Kim family. In North Korea, he is a national hero.

Life

He was born on June 17, 1848, in the Mangyongdae settlement of Joseon as the eldest child of Kim Song-ryeong. He had three brothers: Kim Ŭiguk, Kim Chongsu, and Kim Insŏk. The first name of his wife is unknown, but it is certain that he married a lady with the surname Ri. Only one son was born from their marriage, who was named Kim Pohyŏn.
According to official North Korean accounts, Kim led a group of volunteers to attack the USS General Sherman. The story states that they sank the ship by burning it with firewood. The story says that a second ship, the Shenandoah, was sent by the United States, but Kim destroyed this one as well. There is no historical evidence that Kim was actually involved in the event.
Kim Ŭngu is considered the patriarch of the Kim family, and he is remembered to this day as the leader of the attack on the General Sherman and a national hero in North Korea.