Kim Eok-chu

Kim Eok-chu (金億秋, 1548 – 1618) was a Joseon military officer of the mid-Joseon period. His family seat was Cheongju, his courtesy name was Bangno (邦老), and his posthumous name was Hyeonmu (顯武).

Life

He was born in Baksan Village, Jakcheon-myeon, Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province, the son of Kim Chung-jeong (金忠貞), Minister of War. In 1577 he passed the special military examination held on the occasion of a royal visit (알성무과). He became Musan Manho (무이만호) and achieved merit on the northern frontier, and while serving as magistrate of Sunchang, he was appointed defense commissioner (방어사) when the Imjin War broke out in 1592. He arrived in Pyeongan Province and defended the Daedong River. However, he was defeated in the First Battle of Pyongyang, and he left office as a consequence. In 1594 he became Chief Commandant of Manpojin (만포진첨절제사), and he later served as Magistrate of Jinju and Chief Commandant of Goryeongjin (고령진첨절제사). In 1597, as Right Naval Commander of Jeolla (전라우수사), he followed Yi Sun-sin, Commissioner of the Three Provinces Naval Forces (삼도수군통제사), and distinguished himself in the Battle of Eorandae and the Battle of Myeongnyang, and he was registered as a Meritorious Subject for Pacification (선무원종공신). He later served as Magistrate of Miryang, and in 1608 he rose to senior second rank (종2품) and became Commander of the Left Provincial Forces of Gyeongsang (경상좌병사) and Magistrate of Jeju. He resigned from office, returned to his hometown of Baksan Village in Gangjin County, and spent his remaining years there, dying at the age of 71.

Evaluation

In his diary, Yi Sun-sin recorded of Kim Eok-chu: "He would be fit for nothing more than a manho; he is not worthy of being a commander, yet he was forcibly appointed on the recommendation of Chief State Councillor Kim Eung-nam", and he criticized him for the Battle of Uldolmok (울돌목 싸움): while the Commissioner's flagship fought at the front, Kim Eok-chu, together with the other warships, withdrew to the rear and did not even dare to fight, and the ship he rode fled two (馬場) distances away, where it could barely be seen. This is also similar to the assessment by the Office of Remonstrance (司諫院) in the 4th year of Gwanghaegun's reign (1612), when he was dispatched as Magistrate of Jeju, that "he is dull by nature and has no reputation to begin with, so he absolutely cannot be trusted to govern a major garrison town alone."