Kim Mun-geun


Kim Mun-geun, posthumously called Duke Chungsung, was a Korean nobleman and politician during the late Joseon Period. He served in various high-ranking positions at the court of his son-in-law, King Cheoljong. He was also the father of Queen Cheorin, primary wife of King Cheoljong.
He was one of the famous political figures who came from the Andong Kim clan and was a 7th degree nephew of Kim Jo-sun, Internal Prince Yeongan ; the father of Queen Sunwon. When his daughter was chosen as Queen, he was honoured as Internal Prince Yeongeun.

Biography

Early life

Kim Mun-geun was born on November 25, 1801, as the son of Kim In-sun and his wife, Lady Shin of the Pyeongsan Shin clan. He was the great-grandson of Kim Seong-haeng, who was executed for supporting Prince Yeoning during the reign of King Gyeongjong. He was later adopted by Kim Yi-sun.
Kim married Lady Yi of the Yeonan Yi clan, but she died early, without any issue. She was later honoured as Internal Princess Yeonyang.
His second wife was Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan. With her, he had one son and one daughter.

Political career

In 1824, at the age of 23, Kim Mun-geun passed the civil service examination held by King Sunjo at Huijungdang Hall, ranking 3rd out of all examinees. This earned him the title of "Samha", a lower-level civil service rank. Despite not completing the required lower-level civil service examinations, he was granted the privilege of directly taking the highest-level civil service examination due to his exceptional performance in the Heungje exam. He enrolled at Sungkyunkwan, the prestigious Confucian university, as a government-sponsored student. In 1830, at the age of 29, he passed the civil service examination held by Crown Prince Hyomyeong at Chundangdae Hall. This remarkable achievement exempted him from taking the lower-level civil service examinations and granted him direct access to the highest-level civil service examination.
In 1841, he entered government service through the "Eumsoo" system during the reign of King Heonjong. In March of that year, he was appointed as the supervisor of the Seonggungam Gagyeok, a government office responsible for managing the royal ancestral shrines. Due to illness, he stepped down from this position but was later appointed to various other posts, including Geumbujeongsa, Haneungbu Panjeong, Sajoeksa Ryeong, and Haneungbu Pungnyeojang.
In June 1845, he was appointed as the magistrate of Gimhwa County. During his tenure, a stele praising his good governance was erected. In October 1846, his term as magistrate of Gimhwa County ended, and he was dismissed from his position.
In 1848, he was appointed to a military position and later became a Busikgwa. Following the accession of King Cheoljong, he was appointed as the Dongbu Seungji in the Seungjeongwon in August 1851.
In 1851, upon his appointment as Dongbu Seungji in the Seungjeongwon, Kim Mun-geun underwent three rounds of selection for potential royal consorts. On August 24, Queen Sundeok decided his daughter would be the new queen and bestowed upon her the title of Wangbi. He was temporarily transferred to the position of Hanbuhogyun before being promoted to Gukgu on the 24th of the eighth lunar month. He was further elevated to the ranks of Jeongipum and Bogeuksungrokdaebu and appointed as Yeongdonnyeongbusa and Yeongeunbuwongun.
Kim Mun-geun held a succession of high-ranking military positions, including Sanguiwonjejo, Geumwidaejang, Dansadaejang, Chonyongsa, and again Geumwidaejang, Howie Daejeong, and Hwaldong Daejeong. These positions allowed him to serve as a close advisor to King Cheoljong. Kim Mun-geun, along with Kim Jwa-geun and Kim Su-geun, emerged as prominent figures in the new power center of the Andong Kim clan. His appointment as Yeongdonnyeongbusa further solidified the clan's influence in the royal court. The Andong Kim clan enjoyed significant power and influence during this period.
In 1860, he faced criticism along with Kim Jwa-geun from the Count of Gyeongpyeong Yiho, the adopted son of Prince Punggye and his fifth cousin, according to the clan genealogy. This criticism led to Yiho's impeachment and punishment by Saheonbu Daesaheon Seo Dae-sun. Yiho was exiled to Gangjin in Jeolla Province, stripped of his military title, and expelled from his adopted position as the son of Prince Punggye. In the same year, Kim Mun-geun, along with Kim Jwa-geun, Kim Byeong-guk, and Kim Byeong-gi, were briefly expelled from the capital city. However, they were soon recalled by order of King Cheoljong. Despite the criticism and his brief exile, his political career remained strong. In December 1860, he was briefly appointed as the Governor of Gwangju-bu, but after just one month, he was reinstated as Yeongdonnyeongbusa. In 1861, he was again appointed as Sanguiwonjejo.
In 1862, when Lee Ha-jeon, Chief Secretary of the Office of Royal Relatives, was accused of treason after criticizing the powerful Andong Kim family, Kim Mun-geun filed an appeal requesting that Lee Ha-jeon be disposed of quickly. Kim Mun-geun's nephew, Kim Byeong-heon, formed a secret alliance with Heungseon Daewongun, promising to make Kim Byeong-heon's daughter the new queen in exchange for Heungseon Daewongun's support in placing his son on the throne. At first, Heungseon Daewongun agreed and succeeded in raising his son Gojong to the throne. However, upon gaining power, Heungseon Daewongun broke his promise to the Andong Kim clan, including Kim Mun-geun. The same year, he was appointed Bibyeonsadang Sang.

Later life

Kim Mun-geun died on November 6, 1863, just one month before the death of his ailing son-in-law, King Cheoljong. He was criticized for wielding power solely based on his family's influence and lacking merit or ability. Despite these criticisms, he was a skilled calligrapher and personally composed the epitaphs for his mother-in-law, Jeon Sangungbuin Lee, and his father-in-law, Jeongye Daewongun. In addition, he was specially granted his full salary for three years after his death. On November 7, after his death, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Yeonguijeong and concurrently Yeonggyeongyeon Hongmungwan Chunchugwan Seonggyungwan Gwan sanggamsae with the royal title of Daegwangboguksungrokdaebu. His tomb was located in Galhyeon, Gwacheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, but was later moved to Chohyeon-ri 167–1, Daesin-myeon, Yeoju-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. His tombstone was written by Kim Byeong-guk in January 1864.

Family

  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Saeng-hae
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Geuk-hyo
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • * Lady Jeong of the Dongrae Jeong clan
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Sang-gwon
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Gwang-chan
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • * Lady Kim of the Yonan Kim clan
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Su-hang
  • Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • * Lady Na of the Anjeong Na clan
  • Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Chang-jib
  • Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • * Lady Park
  • Great-Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Je-gyeom
  • Great-Grandfather
  • * Kim Seong-haeng
  • Grandfather
  • * Kim Yi-jik
  • Father
  • * Kim In-sun
  • ** Adoptive uncle - Kim Yi-sun
  • Mother
  • * Stepmother - Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan
  • * Stepmother - Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan
  • ** Step-grandfather - Yi Gwon-su
  • * Biological mother - Lady Shin of the Pyeongsan Shin clan
  • ** Grandfather - Shin Il-sik
Siblings
  • Older brother - Kim Jun-geun
  • Older brother - Kim Su-geun
  • *Sister-in-law - Lady Jo ; daughter of Jo Jin-Taek
  • ** Nephew - Kim Byeong-hak
  • *** Niece-in-law - Lady Yun of the Paepyeong Yun clan
  • *** Niece-in-law - Lady Yun of the Paepyeong Yun clan
  • *** Niece-in-law - Lady Yi of the Seongju Yi clan
  • **** Adoptive grandnephew - Kim Seung-gyu ; son of Kim Byeong-yu
  • ** Nephew - Kim Byeong-guk
  • *** Adoptive grandnephew - Kim Jeong-gyu ; son of Kim Byeong-mun
Wives and their issue

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