Late-Goryeo official, son-in-law of Choe U, father-in-law of King Wonjong and maternal grandfather of King Chungnyeol
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 전주 김씨 |
Kim Yak-seon (金若先, dates unknown) was a late-Goryeo official and royal in-law, the eldest son of the Pyeongjangsa Kim Tae-seo. His paternal grandfather was Kim Bong-mo, Jungseo Munha Pyeongjangsa and Taeja Taebu, and the line is said to come from the Silla royal house. The Korean Wikipedia entry on him gives the clan as Gyeongju, while the Jeonju Kim article presents him with Kim Gi-son and Kim Gyeong-son as middle founders, so this page records both statements. After several transfers he became Chumilwon Busa, and some sources say he served as Jeonseo and was enfeoffed as Prince Wanseong.
He became son-in-law of the Choe regime leader Choe U (Choe I). When Wonjong became crown prince in 1235, Yak-seon's daughter entered as crown princess; she was later known as Queen Sungyeong (also called Jeongsun) and bore Chungnyeol before dying early. He thus became Wonjong's father-in-law and Chungnyeol's maternal grandfather, and since his daughter-in-law was a daughter of Prince Yangyang Seo, son of Sinjong, he was doubly related to the royal house. The Goryeosa says that when his wife entered the inner palace on the evening of the lantern festival, King Gojong had her escorted as the crown princess's mother, but her carriage and clothing were like a queen's, and the learned said overstepping by inferiors is opened by those above.
His later years were not smooth. According to the records he had improper relations with unmarried women in Choe I's household, and when he found out that his wife, of the Ubong Choe, had committed adultery with a male slave, she slandered him to Choe I over another matter and Choe I killed him. Learning later that it was a false accusation, Choe I killed the slave and never saw his own daughter again until his death, and Yak-seon was later given the posthumous title Jangik (莊翼). His sons recorded are Kim Mi, Kim Wi-hang and Kim Pil-yeong, and Kim Mi was exiled by Choe Hang. A record says his younger brother Kim Gyeong-son informed Choe Hang for fear of reprisal, showing the tragedy among the brothers. He also appears in the MBC drama Mushin (2012).
The Korean Wikipedia entry on Kim Yak-seon gives the Gyeongju Kim as his clan, while the Jeonju Kim article presents him as one of the middle founders. Since one account says Kim Tae-seo branched off from the Gyeongju Kim and his descendants took Jeonju as their seat, the label seems to differ depending on the period.
This page does not decide which is correct.
His daughter became Wonjong's consort, Queen Sungyeong (also called Jeongsun), and his grandson was King Chungnyeol. Sons recorded are Kim Mi, Kim Wi-hang and Kim Pil-yeong; his brothers are Kim Gi-son and Kim Gyeong-son. See also the Jeonju Kim clan page.