Powerful minister under Jungjong who rose to Left State Councillor; his son married Princess Hyohye; pen name Heuirakdang
| Life | 1481 ~ 1537 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 연안 김씨 |
Kim An-ro (1481-1537) was a mid-Joseon civil official and royal in-law of the Yeonan Kim clan, with courtesy name Isuk and pen name Heuirakdang. A nephew of Chief State Councillor Kim Jeon, he became a royal relative when his son Kim Hui married Princess Hyohye, eldest daughter of King Jungjong.
Placed first in the 1506 special exam, he held key posts in the Hongmungwan and Office of Censors. He was exiled in the 1519 purge but released after his son became the king's son-in-law. After impeachments and a short exile, he rose to Minister of Personnel.
After the fall of Nam Gon and Sim Jeong's faction in 1530 he seized power, allying with Yun Im under the pretext of protecting the Crown Prince, and purged Queen Munjeong's circle and literati. He became Right State Councillor in 1534 and Left State Councillor in 1535, and is blamed for several purges, including the Jakseo incident that killed Consort Gyeong of the Bak clan and her son, earning him a place among the 'Three Villains of 1537'.
In 1537 he tried to depose Queen Munjeong, was attacked by Yun An-in and Yang Yeon as his allies abandoned him, was exiled and then executed in October. He was a second cousin once removed of Queen Inmok.
His grandfather Kim U-sin was a magistrate and his father Kim Heun a Vice Minister of Works. He became a jinsa in 1501, studied at the Sungkyunkwan and placed first in the 1506 special examination, taking reading leave with Yi Haeng, Kim Se-pil and Kim An-guk.
Early on he held Hongmungwan and censorate posts, urging in 1516 pardon for those punished after a call for criticism, a cut in the number of officials, and removal of local shrines.
After returning in 1531 he allied with Yun Im and purged Jeong Gwang-pil, Yi Eon-jeok and Yi Haeng, among others, and brought about the deaths of Consort Gyeong and her son, leading to his label among the Three Villains.
His attempt to depose Queen Munjeong in 1537 failed; aides and former supporters turned against him, a secret order led to a memorial by Yun Eun-bo, and he was executed in exile. His family was linked by marriage to the houses of Jungjong, Queen Janggyeong and Queen Munjeong.
He was executed in 1537; the location of his tomb was not confirmed.