Kim Jeong-hui

Who was Kim Jeong-hui?

Kim Jeong-hui was one of the most celebrated practitioners of calligraphy, epigraphists, and scholars of Korea’s later Joseon period. He was a member of the Gyeongju Kim clan. He used various Ho: Wandang, Chusa, Yedang, Siam, Gwapa, Nogwa etc.. He is especially celebrated for having transformed Korean epigraphy and for having created the “Chusa-che” inspired by his study of ancient Korean and Chinese epitaphs. His ink paintings, especially of orchids, are equally admired.

As a scholar, he belonged to the Silhak school also known as the Bukhak. He was related to Queen Jeongsun, the second wife of King Yeongjo, and by his adoptive mother, Nam Yang-hong, he was a cousin to Namyeon-gun Yi Gu, who was destined to be the grandfather of King Gojong. Hongseon Daewon-gun, King Gojong’s father, who served as his regent and was also a noted calligrapher, was one of Kim’s pupils for a while.