Neo-Confucian reformer of the Gimyo purge alongside Jo Gwang-jo; pen names Saseo and Dongcheon; posthumous title Munui
| Life | 1482 ~ 1520 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 청풍 김씨 |
Gim Sik (1482-1520) was a Joseon scholar-official of the Cheongpung Gim clan, active under King Jungjong. His courtesy name was Nocheon, his pen names Saseo, Dongcheon and Jeongudang, and his posthumous title Munui. His father was Gim Suk-pil and his mother a daughter of Mok Cheol-seong of the Sacheon Mok clan; he married a Jeonju Yi woman, a daughter of the royal kinsman Prince Yeongsin.
He passed the jinsa examination in 1501 but did not take office, devoting himself to Neo-Confucian study. Recommended early in Jungjong’s reign, he served as a registrar and then held posts in the Ministries of Punishments and Taxation and the Office of the Inspector-General. In 1519 he is said to have placed first in the Hyeollyang-gwa special recommendation examination, reportedly the only candidate with full marks in all seven criteria, and rose to Head of the Royal Confucian Academy.
He worked with Jo Gwang-jo on reforms such as revoking undeserved merit rolls, suppressing superstition and spreading village compacts. When the Gimyo purge struck in November 1519 he was sentenced to exile; the sentence was softened to Seonsan through the protection of Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil. Hearing he would be moved to an island after a further case, he fled to Geochang and took his own life on 16 May 1520, leaving a memorial for the king.
The 1519 Hyeollyang-gwa chose officials by recommendation. Gim Sik is said to have taken first place and was soon named head of the Royal Confucian Academy, joining the Jo Gwang-jo reforms such as revoking merit rolls and spreading village compacts.
His tomb stands in the Munui-gong cemetery in Sampae-dong, Namyangju, together with those of Gim Yuk and Gim Jwa-myeong. Rehabilitated under Myeongjong, he was posthumously raised to Chief State Councillor under Seonjo and is honored at Miwon Seowon, Hwanggang Seowon and Wangye Seowon.
His tomb lies in the Cheongpung Gim Munui-gong lineage cemetery in Sampae-dong, Namyangju. He is said to have been buried at Geumchon-ri, Yangju, in June 1520.
Descendants known include Gim Yuk, Gim Jwa-myeong, Gim U-myeong and Gim Seok-ju; he is a direct ancestor of Queens Myeongseong and Hyoui.