Gim Gaesi

Gim Gae-Si (Hangul: 김개시, Hanja: 金介屎; ? - 1623), also known as Gim Gae-Hui (Hangul: 김개희, Hanja: 金介姬) or Gim Ga-Si (Hangul: 김가시, Hanja: 金可屎) and formally called Court Lady Gim (Hangul: 상궁 김씨, Hanja: 尙宮 金氏) was a Joseon Court Lady and a Korean Royal concubine of Seonjo of Joseon firstly, but later after his death, she become his son, Gwanghaegun of Joseon's concubine.^[1] During Gwanghae's reign, she was intervened in state affairs and wielded power but later was beheaded alongside with his deposition from the throne.^[1]

Biography[]

There was no special records about her family or her early life and it just recorded if she was a palace maid (춘궁) in Crown Prince Gwanghae's palace. Then, she received Seung-eun (승은, 承恩) from Gwanghae's father, King Seonjo^[2] and was favoured by him and become his favourite concubine.^[3] Even though she was not beautiful, but because of her agility and skill, she was favoured and liked by both of Seonjo and Gwanghae too. After Seonjo's death on 16 March 1608, she became Gwanghae's concubine^[1] because it was fine if the next Kings take their father's concubine besides the primary wife and their own biological mother. After Gwanghae took over the throne, she helped him with succeeding to confine his legal-adoptive mother, Queen Inmok, by killing her only son and the only legitimate son of Seonjo, Grand Prince Yeongchang (영창대군).

Beside her lowly background and status as a palace maid, Gim wielded power to the extent that she and Yi Yi-Cheom (이이첨), Gwon-Sin (권신) were paired with each other.^[4] That makes Yun Seon-Do (윤선도) and Yi-Hoe (이회) appealed several times and impeached them, but rather they were exiled.^[3] Her power surpassed Queen Yu (중전 유씨) whom was Gwanghae's primary wife and that directly made him decide to go to Gim's palace more often than the Queen's palace.

After learning the signs of rebellion and realized that the situation was so serious that it could not be prevented, she betrayed Gwanghae, received a bribe from Gim Ja-Jeom (김자점), the main of the rebellion, and condoned it as a condition of maintaining Gwanghae's power after the rebellion. It reassured Gwanghae, whom had been appealed several times over anti-political affairs. Then, he tried to listen her words but he dismissed them despite the fact that a specific anti-government list had been put up, and although appeals continued to come up a day. She succeeded in changing Gwanghae's mind.

Later, on 13 March 1623, after the future King Injo was crowned following a rebellion whom was led by Seo-in (서인, 西人), all of Gwanghae's people and supporters were executed.^[5]

Confrontatiton[]

• There was a confrontation about her and Queen Inmok when she tried to make the Queen's daughter, Princess Jeongmyeong (정명공주) and her legacy ended through a goblin commotion.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture[]

Drama & Television series[]

• Portrayed by Kim Bo-yeon in the 1982 MBC TV Series Woman Exhibiton in the West Palace? (여인열전 - 서궁마마).
• Portrayed by Won Mi-kyung in the 1986 MBC TV Series The Hoechun Gate.
• Portrayed by Lee Young-ae in the 1995 KBS2 TV Series West Palace.
• Portrayed by Lee Joo-hwa in the 2000–2001 KBS2 TV Series Roll of Thunder.
• Portrayed by Park Sun-young in the 2003–2004 SBS TV Series The King's Woman.
• Portrayed by Jeon Min-seo and Jo Yoon-hee in the 2014–2015 KBS2 TV series The King's Face.
• Portrayed by Shin Rin-ah, Jo Jung-eun, Kim Yeo-jin in the 2015 MBC TV series Splendid Politics.
• Portrayed by Min Ji-ah in the 2019 tvN TV series The Crowned Clown.
• Portrayed by Song Seon-mi in the 2021 MBN TV Series Bossam: Steal the Fate.

Film[]

• Portrayed by Lee Min-ja in the 1962 South Korean film Queen Dowager Inmok.

See also[]

• Jang Nok-su
• Jang Ok-jeong
• Jeong Nan-jeong

References[]