김전 金詮
Chief State Councillor under King Jungjong, disciple of Kim Jong-jik; pen name Nahon, posthumous title Chungjeong
| Life | 1458 ~ 1523 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 연안 김씨 |
Life & career
Kim Jeon (1458-1523) was an early Joseon civil official and scholar of the Yeonan Kim clan, with courtesy name Jungnyun, pen names Nahon and Neungin, and posthumous title Chungjeong. He studied under Kim Jong-jik, was dismissed and exiled in the Literati Purge of 1498, and returned under King Jungjong to rise to Chief State Councillor.
Placed first in the civil examination, he served well as magistrate of Yean, where locals are said to have set up a living shrine to him. He took part in compiling the Veritable Records of King Seongjong and was granted reading leave in 1496 alongside Sin Yong-gae and Kim Il-son. He was dismissed in 1498 for being a Kim Jong-jik disciple, reinstated in 1501, and demoted in 1504.
After the 1506 coup he rose through vice-ministerial posts to Right Minister of Personnel, opposing the radical reforms of Jo Gwang-jo's circle. In the 1519 purge he cooperated in removing Jo's faction, became a Wonjong merit subject, and in 1520 reached Chief State Councillor. He also took part in compiling the Sokdongmunseon.
He is said to have been so frugal that he owned no house or field and amused himself with the geomungo and wine, yet later literati condemned him with Nam Gon as a traitor to their cause. His nephew Kim An-ro's later power added to the criticism.
Under Kim Jong-jik
Kim Jeon studied from youth under Kim Jong-jik, absorbing the Spring and Autumn principles and Zhu Xi learning, a line running from An Hyang through Yi Je-hyeon, Yi Saek, Jeong Mong-ju and Gil Jae. That discipleship brought him trouble in the purge of 1498.
Politics Under Jungjong
He was reluctant to join the 1506 coup but rose afterward. In the 1515 dispute over restoring Queen Danyeong he asked leniency for Bak Sang and Kim Jeong, drawing a rebuttal from Yi Haeng.
The 1519 Purge and Assessment
His cooperation in purging Jo Gwang-jo's circle in 1519 brought him lasting criticism from the Kim Jong-jik school, while his integrity and prose are praised. A granddaughter is recorded as the first wife of Yun Won-hyeong.
Descendants
His nephew Kim An-ro was a son of his elder brother Kim Heun. His great-grandson Kim Je-nam was the father of Queen Inmok, making Kim Jeon her great-great-grandfather. His own great-grandfather was Kim Ja-ji.
Grave
His tomb and spirit-way stele are at Wonheung-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang (Goyang Local Cultural Heritage No. 12, 1986). The stele was erected in 1611, with text by Sin Heum and calligraphy by his descendant Kim Rae.