Kim Myeon

Kim Myeon (金沔, 1541–1593) was a scholar and Righteous Army leader of the mid-Joseon period. He was of the Goryeong clan of Goryeong, with the courtesy name Jihae (志海) and the pen name Songam (松庵). He is counted among the three great Righteous Army leaders of the Imjin War of Joseon.¹

Life

He studied Neo-Confucianism under Toegye Yi Hwang and taught many students. He was recommended as a filial and upright man (효렴) and became a Chambong (참봉), but resigned. When he was recommended again, he was appointed Gongjo Jwarang (공조좌랑), but he resigned again. When the Imjin War broke out, he gathered troops in Geochang and Goryeong together with Jo Jong-do, Kwak Jun, Mun Wi, and others, and raised an army. He won his first victory in the Battle of Uchyeokhyeon, and together with Kim Si-min, the magistrate of Jinju, he repelled 100,000 enemy troops at the Battle of Jirye. For this achievement he became magistrate of Hapcheon, and he also won the Battle of Mugye. In 1593 he became Military Commissioner of Gyeongsang Right Province (경상우도병마절도사). While preparing to gather Righteous Army forces from Chungcheong Province and Jeolla Province, advance to Geumsan and Gaeryeong, and attack the Japanese forces in Seonsan, he suddenly died of illness. His written work includes the Songam Silgi (松庵實記).

Footnotes

Footnotes

1. 김면 - Academy of Korean Studies ↩