김재로 金在魯

Noron Cheongmyeong faction leader and Chief State Councillor under Yeongjo; pen name Cheongsa; posthumous title Chungjeong

Life & career

Gim Jae-ro (1682-1759) of the Cheongpung Gim clan served under Sukjong, Gyeongjong and Yeongjo, with courtesy name Jungrye, pen names Cheongsa and Heojuja and posthumous title Chungjeong. His father was Right State Councillor Gim Gu and his grandfather the Jeolla governor Gim Jing; his cousins included the Noron hardliner Gim Sang-ro and Left State Councillor Gim Yak-ro, and his son was Gim Chi-in.

He passed the civil examination under Sukjong and in 1716 impeached the Soron figures Yu Bong-hwi and Jeong Sik. Under Gyeongjong he was exiled in the Sinim purge. Early in Yeongjo’s reign he, as Censor-General, led the call for the execution of Gim Il-gyeong; dismissed in 1727, he was named magistrate of Chungju in 1728 and helped quell Yi In-jwa’s rebellion, earning first-class merit.

In 1738 he went to Qing China as an envoy and brought back the History of the Ming; in 1740 he became Chief State Councillor, and spent about half his career as a senior minister alternating between chief and left councillor. He took part in compiling the Revised Gyeongjong Veritable Records and cleared the names of Gim Chang-jip and Yi I-myeong. His writings include Cheongsa Yujip and Cheongsa Ilgi.

Leader of the Cheongmyeong Faction

Unlike his cousins he did not join the Noron hardliners, nor the moderates, but became a leader of the Cheongmyeong line; his son Gim Chi-in and great-nephew Gim Jong-su followed it.

The History of the Ming and Rehabilitations

Bringing back the History of the Ming from the 1738 embassy and rehabilitating the victims of the Sinim purge, Gim Chang-jip and Yi I-myeong, are among his best-known acts. Gim Chang-jip belongs to the Andong Gim clan.

Grave

His tomb is said to be designated Incheon Metropolitan City Monument No. 3.

Descendants

His son Gim Chi-in and great-nephew Gim Jong-su both became leaders of the Cheongmyeong faction.

Other 청풍 김씨 figures