김제남 金悌男
Father-in-law of King Seonjo and father of Queen Inmok; Prince Internal Yeonheung; posthumous title Uimin
| Life | 1562 ~ 1613 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 연안 김씨 |
Life & career
Kim Je-nam (1562-1613), of the Yeonan Kim clan, was a civil official and royal in-law, father-in-law of King Seonjo and father of Queen Inmok, with courtesy name Gongeon and posthumous title Uimin. He was a great-grandson of Kim Jeon.
Orphaned of his father at about three, he was raised by his grandmother. He passed the licentiate exam in 1585, served as magistrate of Yeoncheon from 1596, and is said to have raised volunteers during the Imjin War and contributed to the recapture of Pyongyang. He passed the 1597 special examination and held censorate posts in 1601.
When his daughter was chosen queen in 1602 he was promoted and made Prince Internal Yeonheung, declining several nominations for ministerial posts.
In 1613, in the Gyechuk affair, he was accused of plotting to enthrone Grand Prince Yeongchang and executed with three sons, on false testimony by Seo Yang-gap, who had been manipulated by the Great Northerners. After the deposition debate of 1616 his body was disinterred and mutilated, but he was rehabilitated after the 1623 coup and posthumously named Chief State Councillor.
During the Imjin War
As magistrate of Yeoncheon when the war broke out, he raised volunteers and is said to have contributed to the recapture of Pyongyang. His request to resign on grounds of illness was refused until 1600.
Careful as a Royal In-law
After his daughter became queen he reportedly declined each nomination as minister, apparently trying to keep distance from politics as a royal relative.
The Gyechuk Affair
After Seonjo's death and Gwanghaegun's accession, the Great Northerners moved to remove possible threats to the throne. In 1613 the illegitimate-born Seo Yang-gap, arrested for murdering a silver merchant, testified that he had plotted with Kim Je-nam to enthrone Yeongchang, widening the case and bringing Kim's execution.
Rehabilitation and Descendants
After the 1623 coup he was posthumously made Chief State Councillor and a shrine and stele were built. The Uimin-gong branch of the clan descends from him; a branch register, the Yeonan Kimssi Uimin-gong-pabo (1901), survives.
Grave
His tomb lies in Anchang-ri, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju, with the shrine Uiminsa built by order of King Injo and a stele (1624, text by Sin Heum), designated Gangwon Cultural Heritage Material No. 21 in 1984.