An early Joseon scholar and educator who carried on the scholarly lineage of the Yeongnam Sarim
| Life | 1389 ~ 1456 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 선산 김씨 |
Kim Suk-ja (김숙자) went by the art name Gangho (江湖). Studying under Gil Jae (Yaeun), he inherited the orthodox line of Neo-Confucianism descending from Jeong Mong-ju, and passed it on to his son Kim Jong-jik, laying the foundation for the formation of the Yeongnam Sarim (Neo-Confucian literati) school.
He served as a local magistrate, including as county magistrate of Goryeong, as well as in offices at the Seonggyungwan (National Confucian Academy). In education he stressed a practical scholarly tradition rooted in the Sohak (Elementary Learning). He devoted himself to nurturing younger scholars and enlightening rural communities, firmly establishing the scholarly footing of the Sarim.
In 1871 he was granted the posthumous title Mun-gang (文康), and he was enshrined at Nakbong Confucian Academy in Seonsan.
His son Kim Jong-jik (1431–1492) became the leading master of the Yeongnam Sarim school.