Kim Ok-gyun
| Kim Ok-gyun | |
|---|---|
Kim Ok-gyun
|
|
| Born |
February 23, 1851 Chungcheongnam-do, Korea |
| Died | March 28, 1894 (aged 43) near Shanghai, China |
| Nationality | Korean |
| Kim Ok-gyun | |
| Hangul | 김옥균 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 金玉均 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Ok-gyun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Okkyun |
| Pen name | |
| Hangul | 고균, 고우 |
| Hanja | 古筠, 古愚 |
| Revised Romanization | Gogyun, Gou |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kogyun, Kou |
Kim Ok-gyun (김옥균; 金玉均; February 23, 1851 – March 28, 1894) was a reformist (Gaehwapa, 개화파) activist during the late Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He served under the national civil service under King Gojong, and actively participated to advance Western ideas and sciences in Korea. The goal of the reform movement was to develop Korea in government, technology, and military by using foreign resources, so that Korea would become stable enough in time to withstand increasing foreign encroachment. Kim was assassinated in Shanghai, and later was given the posthumous title "Chungdal".
Kim was born to Kim Byung-tae and his wife on 1851 in Chungcheongnam-do. His family was poor, and, by the age of four, they moved to Cheonan. His father opened a Seodang, or Korean verbal school, at which Kim was educated. When he was six, he was adopted by Kim Byung-gye, who had lost his son and was desperate to secure the continuation of his family lineage.
For four years, Kim stayed in what is today Seoul and, when Kim Byung-gye was named the governor in Gangneung state in spring of 1861, they moved once again. When Kim reached the age of fifteen, Kim Byunggye was named "Beopmubu Chagwan" in the judicial office, and his family returned to Seoul. There, Kim learned and competed with sons of other aristocratic families. He displayed his talents in playing the Kayakem, singing and dancing, poetry, calligraphy, and art. His fame and talents eventually reached the imperial palace, and "Daebi", or the mother of the king, invited him.
At the age of 22, Kim took the national civil service exam, and was ranked "Jang-won Geub-jae" (level 6), which was an amazing accomplishment. (Usually it took about ten years to achieve this status). To avoid the possible negative impacts of the internal political conflicts that could result on his adopted son, Kim Byunggye retired from his holding.
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Wikipedia