Build the 김해 김씨 family tree online

김해 김씨(金海 金氏) — The largest surname group in Korea, said to descend from King Suro (Kim Su-ro), founder of the Garak Kingdom.

About the 김해 김씨 clan

The largest surname group in Korea, said to descend from King Suro (Kim Su-ro), founder of the Garak Kingdom. In the 2015 Census the 김해 김씨 clan numbered about 4,456,700 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 김, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 김해) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.

Main branches (派)

Gyeong-pa, Sagun-pa, Samhyeon-pa, Mungyeonggong-pa

Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.

Notable figures

김수로왕(founder of the Gimhae Kim clan), 김유신(Silla general of the Three Kingdoms unification), 김대중(15th President of Korea), 김종필(Prime Minister)

Tap a name for the full profile (life, career, grave, descendants).

김해 김씨 — Independence patriots

김해 김씨 figures recognized as independence patriots (National Independence Hall / Gonghun public data). Tap a name for the citation.

김해 김씨 — Pro-Japanese collaborators

김해 김씨 figures listed by the Presidential Committee or the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators (Minjok Munje Institute).

The Gimhae Kim Clan and Its Founder, King Suro

The Gimhae Kim clan (金海 金氏), with its ancestral seat in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, is the most populous surname in Korea. Its founder is King Suro (金首露王), who founded the Garak Kingdom (Geumgwan Gaya) in the year 42. The legend of Gujibong Peak and the story of his queen, Heo Hwang-ok, said to have come from the Indian kingdom of Ayuta, are passed down about him.

From Gaya to Silla and Goryeo

Even after Geumgwan Gaya was annexed by Silla, the royal descendants were absorbed into Silla's jingol aristocracy, and from that line came Kim Yu-sin, the celebrated general of the unification of the Three Kingdoms. Flourishing greatly through the Goryeo and Joseon periods, the Gimhae Kim clan became the most widely distributed surname across the country.

Reference: Garakgukgi in the Samguk Yusa, among others. Detailed branches and lineages may vary by clan and genealogy.

How to build your 김해 김씨 tree

1. Start with yourself — sign in to get your own tree. Enter your name, birth year and clan seat (김해).
2. Add older generations — add parents and grandparents. For accuracy see tracing ancestors with jejeok records (usually to about 5 generations).
3. Link siblings & children — sort by generational name (hangnyeol) to see each generation at a glance.
4. Export & share — save the finished tree as a PDF and invite family to manage it together.

Related reading

김해 김씨 clan association

🔗 김해김씨대종중

For other branch associations, see the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.