Jangheung Im clan () is one of the

Korean clans Bon-gwan (or Bongwan) is the concept of clan in Korea, which is used to distinguish clans that happen to share the same family name (clan name). Since Korea has been traditionally a Confucian country, this clan system is similar to ancient Chinese ...

. Their

Bon-gwan Bon-gwan (or Bongwan) is the concept of clan in Korea, which is used to distinguish clans that happen to share the same family name (clan name). Since Korea has been traditionally a Confucian country, this clan system is similar to ancient Chinese ...

is in Jangheung County,

South Jeolla Province South Jeolla Province (; ''Jeollanam-do''; ), also known as Jeonnam, is a province of South Korea. South Jeolla has a population of 1,902,324 (2014) and has a geographic area of located in the Honam region at the southwestern tip of the Korean ...

. According to the research in 2015, the number of Jangheung Im (or Yim) clan was 37,584.

Goryeo Dynasty

Their founder is Im Ho (Hangul: 임호, Hanja: 任顥) who settled in Jangheung. His son Im Ui (Hangul: 임의, Hanja: 任懿) became the highest-ranking government officer (Hangul: 중서문하평장사, Hanja: 中書門下平章事) under King

Yejong of Goryeo Yejong of Goryeo (11 February 1079 – 15 May 1122) (r. 1105–1122) was the 16th monarch of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the eldest son of Sukjong of Goryeo, King Sukjong and Queen Myeongui, and succeeded to the throne upon his father's dea ...

and was the grandfather of

Queen Gongye Queen Gongye of the Jangheung Im clan (; 2 October 1109 – 2 December 1183) was a Korean queen consort as the 3rd wife of King Injong of Goryeo. As his favourite and beloved wife, she was the mother of his three successors ( Uijong, Myeongjon ...

. He also became Duke of Jangheung region that back then included the current Jangheung County and large parts of some adjacent counties, such as

Boseong Boseong County (''Boseong-gun'') is a county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Boseong is famous for its green tea leaves, with 26.71 hectares of land dedicated to its production. It is also the birthplace of the Korean independence activ ...

Suncheon Suncheon () (''Suncheon-si'') is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is a scenic agricultural and industrial city of around 250,000 people near Suncheon Bay. It is located in the southeastern corner of Jeollanam-do, just over an hour ...

Haenam Haenam (''Haenam-gun'') is a county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The capital of Haenam-gun is Haenam-eup (Haenam town). The economy of the county is based mainly on agriculture, with rice and radish being the two most common crops. Hist ...

Goheung Goheung County (''Goheung-gun'') is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, county in Jeollanam-do Province, South Korea. Naro Space Center The Naro Space Center was completed during 2008 in southern Goheung and is operated by the state-run Ko ...

, and

Gangjin Gangjin County (''Gangjin-gun'') is a county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Gangjin county proper was established in 1895. The county office is located in Gangjin-eup. The Gangjin Kiln Sites are a noted area for the production of tradi ...

. During the

Goryeo dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

, Jangheung Im clan produced three

prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

s (Hangul: 삼중대광 정1품 품계, Hangja: 三重大匡文官) and many minister-level officers. Jangheung Im was one of the ten clans who were allowed to marry the King's family members. For example,

is from the Jangheung Im clan and three of her sons became kings of the Goryeo dynasty. They are King

Uijong of Goryeo Uijong of Goryeo (23 May 1127 – 7 November 1173) (r. 1146–1170) was the 18th monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He honored his advisors with many ceremonies but hated the warriors, often forcing them to participate in martial arts compet ...

, King

Myeongjong of Goryeo Myeongjong of Goryeo (8 November 1131 – 3 December 1202) (r. 1170–1197) was 19th monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the third son of King Injong. Although it was intended that Injong's second son should succeed his father,It wa ...

, and King

Sinjong of Goryeo Sinjong of Goryeo (11 August 1144 – 15 February 1204, r. 1197–1204) was the twentieth monarch of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. The fifth son of King Injong, Sinjong took the throne after his brother King Myeongjong was sent into exile by Ch ...

Joseon Dynasty

Because Jangheung Im clan had such a close relationship with the royal family of Goryeo dynasty, Jangheung Im clan avoided government officer positions during the first 200 years of

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

. Later when Joseon dynasty suffered from various internal and external events, some members of Jangheung Im clan started to help the regime by becoming generals, mayors, and righteous army leaders. Some of them (e.g., Im Gye-young) fought against foreign armies when they invade. Some others were scholars. For example, Im Hui-jong (Hangul: 임희중, Hanja: 任希重) founded a school and taught many students. One of his books is now kept in the UC Berkeley East Asia library.{{Cite web, url=http://kostma.korea.ac.kr/dir/viewIf?uci=RIKS+CRMA+KSM-WC.1912.0000-20090720.RICH_0618, title=상세보기::해외한국학자료센터, website=kostma.korea.ac.kr, language=ko, access-date=2018-09-03

Republic of Korea

Jangheung Im clan produced a Korean war hero, General

Im Chung-shik IM Chung-Shik (Hangul: 임충식; Hanja: 任忠植; also translated YIM Chung Sik (April 23, 1922 - December 9, 1974) was a South Korean general and politician. His service started during the Korean War. His Bon-gwan is Jangheung. Education Im' ...

, who served as a national defense minister, a former minister of agriculture, Dr. Im Sang-gyu, and a politician,

Im Jong-seok Im Jong-seok (; born 24 April 1966) is a South Korean politician and former Chief Presidential Secretary, Chief of Staff for Moon Jae-in currently serving as Moon's Special Advisor for Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy to UAE. Im served as Moon' ...

. As well as some other various parliament members, high-rank government officers, mayors, lawyers, and scholars.

Goryeo Dynasty

Joseon Dynasty

Republic of Korea

References