Kim Gwang-chan

Kim Gwang-chan (金光燦, 1597 – 24 February 1668) was a scholar-official of mid-Joseon. His courtesy name was Sahoe (思晦), his art name was Unsu Geosa (雲水居士), and his family seat was Andong (安東). He was known as a calligrapher and served as magistrate of Cheongpung, Vice Minister of Public Works (Gongjo chamui), and Dongji jungchubusa. His father was Left State Councillor Kim Sang-heon, and his birth father was Magistrate of Jangdan Kim Sang-gwan. He was a direct ancestor of a powerful family: he was the father of the brother ministers Kim Su-heung and Munok Kim Su-hang, both of whom served as Chief State Councillor of the State Council, and the great-grandfather of Royal Consort Yeong Kim, a concubine of King Sukjong. He was also the sixth-generation ancestor of Prince Consort Yeongan Kim Jo-sun. He was also a nephew-in-law of Queen Inmok.

Life

Kim Gwang-chan was originally the son of Kim Sang-gwan, Magistrate of Jangdan and Left Assistant State Councillor (Jeung Jwachanseong), but his grandfather, Kim Geuk-hyo (金克孝), Dojeong, had him adopted by his uncle, Left State Councillor Kim Sang-heon (金尙憲). He married Yeonan Kim, daughter of Kim Gu (金琜), a son of Kim Je-nam. Kim Je-nam was the birth father of Queen Inmok, the second wife of Seonjo, which made Kim Gwang-chan a nephew-in-law of Queen Inmok.

He had no intention of seeking office, but after the Injo Restoration he took the civil examinations. In 1627 (the 5th year of Injo's reign) he passed the Saengwon examination in second place and became a Saengwon, and he also passed the Jinsa examination and became a Jinsa. He then entered office through the hereditary privilege system (eummo) and became Sejma of the Ikwisa (翊衛司洗馬). He later held several posts and served in the Hyeongjo Nangcheong (刑曹郎廳). In December 1636, when the Manchu invasion broke out, he followed his father in escorting into . In 1637, when his father attempted suicide while advocating opposition to peace (cheokhwa), he did not stop him, which caused controversy.