Kim Hong-jip

Kim Hong-jip
Prime Minister of Joseon
In office August 24, 1895 – February 11, 1896
Monarch	Gojong
Preceded by	Park Jeong-yang
Succeeded by	Kim Byeong-si
In office August 15, 1894 – May 28, 1895
Monarch	Gojong
Preceded by	new position
Succeeded by	Park Jeong-yang
Chief State Councillor
In office June 25, 1894 – August 20, 1894
Preceded by	Kim Byeong-si
Succeeded by	position abolished
Left State Councillor
In office December 13, 1887 – May 1, 1888
Preceded by	Kim Byeong-si
Succeeded by	Kim Byeong-si
In office October 1886 – October 1886
Preceded by	Kim Byeong-si
Succeeded by	Kim Byeong-si
In office October 21, 1884 – January 12, 1885
Preceded by	Sim Sun-taek
Succeeded by	Kim Byeong-deok
Right State Councillor
In office December 7, 1884 – December 8, 1884
Preceded by	Sim Sun-taek
Succeeded by	Kim Byeong-deok
Personal details
Born	1842
Died	February 11, 1896(1896-02-11) (aged 53–54)
Korean name
Hangul	김홍집
Hanja	金弘集
Revised Romanization	Gim Hongjip
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Hongjip
Art name
Hangul	도원
Hanja	道園
Revised Romanization	Dowon
McCune–Reischauer	Towŏn
Courtesy name
Hangul	경능
Hanja	敬能
Revised Romanization	Gyeongneung
McCune–Reischauer	Kyŏngnŭng

Kim Hong-jip (Korean: 김홍집; 1842 – February 11, 1896) was a Korean politician best known for his role as prime minister during the Gabo Reform period from 1895–1896. His name was originally Kim Goeng-jip (김굉집) which he later changed to Kim Hong-jip. His father, Kim Yeong-jak, served as mayor of Kaesŏng in the Joseon Dynasty.

In 1880, Kim undertook an official mission to Japan where he learned first-hand of the modernizing reforms taking place in that country and inspiring in him a desire to effect such changes in Korea.^[1] After the Gapsin Coup, he became the first vice-premier 'Jwauijeong' and entered into the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1885. Then, in 1896, Hong-jip was appointed as prime minister to suppress the Donghak Peasant Revolution. During this period, he abolished the caste system of the Joseon Dynasty and carried out an ordinance prohibiting topknots. After the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, "pro-Japan cabinet members like Kim and O Yun-jung were killed."^[2]