Kim Gwangje was born in Boryeong, Chungnam in 1866 and educated in traditional way. He was taught from Hwang Jaehyeon who was one of the local representative confucian scholars on the Wijeoncheoksa Theory. He passed the military service examination in...
Kim Gwangje was born in Boryeong, Chungnam in 1866 and educated in traditional way. He was taught from Hwang Jaehyeon who was one of the local representative confucian scholars on the Wijeoncheoksa Theory. He passed the military service examination in 1888 and entered the government. He worked as a Dongraegyeongmugwan and Samnamchalisa. However, his live of the service did not go smoothly. Although he tried to tighten discipline among government officials, it was not succeeded because of the various reasons such as a breach of the government system.
His nationalistic movement was involved in the Loyalism and Enlightenment. As a loyalist he suppressed the Donghak Peasant Movement in Naepo in 1894. He organized Yuhoegun and tried to disband armed peasants with Lee Seungu who was a governor of Hongju. Moreover he participated in Eulmi-righteous army. He tried to remove pro-Japanese people with Yun Ibyeong and Lee Sejin in Seoul but was exiled on Gogunsan Islands on charge of making a false accusation. After the event, he erected a monument for Empress Myeongseong and preserved 28 royal tombs of Shilla to promote the national glory. Also, he founded Gongjeso to block the use of Japanese bank bills and the expansion of Dongsuntae. the Chinese merchants association for economical independence.
Just after Eulsa Illegal Treaty, he founded the Gwangmunsa in Daegu with Seo Sangdon and devoted to public and educational activities. He expanded his activities cooperating and communicating with local government officials or community leaders such as Sin Taehyu. While he took part in various movements including activities for private school foundation, publication, the media and academy, he became one of the great activists in his time. He also joined in literature and publication movement in Masan in the 1910s organizing the Minuiso which claimed to stand for local self government to develop public intellect.
The trace of his life proved that he was an social activist deeply realizing the reality. It is not easy to judge him rightly as he was a man of action in various fields. Transformation from a follower of loyalism to that of enlightenment shows us his inner world.