Kim Jeong-ho (

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

Gosanja; ‘the guy of old mountain’ 1804–1866?) was a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n geographer and cartographer. He was born in Hwanghaedo. It is believed that he walked the entire length and breadth of the

Korean peninsula Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

, through mountain and valley, in order to research and compile his ''

magnum opus A masterpiece, ''magnum opus'' (), or ''chef-d’œuvre'' (; ; ) in modern use is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, ...

'', the ''

Daedongyeojido Daedongyeojido (also Daedong yeojido, ko, 대동여지도, 大東輿地圖, lit. "The Great Map of the East Land") is a large scale map of Korea produced by Joseon dynasty cartographer and geologist Kim Jeong-ho in 1861. A second edition was print ...

,'' (대동여지도, 大東輿地圖) a map of Korea that was published in 1861, from which a single-sheet version, the '' Daedongyeojijeondo'' (대동여지전도 大東與地全圖), was subsequently made. The events surrounding Kim's death are obscure. Following the publication of a later version of the ''Daedongyeojido'' in 1866, Kim is not heard from again. The document from the

Governor-General of Korea Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

asserts that the Korean regent

Daewongun Heungseon Daewongun (흥선대원군, 興宣大院君, 21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898; ), also known as the Daewongun (대원군, 大院君), Guktaegong (국태공, 國太公, "The Great Archduke") or formally Internal King Heungseon Heon ...

, upon viewing the later version of Kim's great map, became incensed by its inclusion of details of a sensitive nature critical to national defense. According to the document, the Daewongun had Kim arrested and jailed and the maps had been destroyed. However, the original wood printing block of ''Daedongyeojido'' can still be found in the

Soongsil University Soongsil University (SSU) is the first modern university in Korea, dating its history back to 1897. It was founded under the Christian missionary William M. Baird. The campus is located in 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Histo ...

and also in the

Korea University Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities. The ...

, contradicting the Governor-General’s document. Furthermore, others who helped develop the map, such as

Choe Han-gi Choe Han-gi (; 1803 – 1877) was a Korean Confucian scholar and philosopher. He is known for integrating Eastern philosophy with Western science in pre-industrial Korea. Names His pen name was Hyegang (), and according to some sources, it ...

and Shin Hun, were not convicted at all. The Korean historical community generally believe that the document was a fabrication by the General-Government, which was under control by Japan during the

Japanese colonization of Korea Between 1910 and 1945, Korea was ruled as a part of the Empire of Japan. Joseon Korea had come into the Japanese sphere of influence with the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876; a complex coalition of the Meiji government, military, and business offici ...

.Lee Sang-tae, 〈고산자 김정호의 생애와 사상〉, 1991, page 141 The

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

95016 Kimjeongho is named in his honour.

Gallery

File:Daedongyeojido 1860.jpg, Daedong Yeoji Jeondo File:Daedongyeojido 1861.jpg, Daedong Yeoji Jeondo, another version File:Korean map-Yeoji jeondo-01.jpg, Yeoji Jeondo File:Korea-Joseon map-Suseon jeondo.jpg, Suseon jeondo File:Dongyeodo.jpg, Dongyeodo

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading