Background
His father, Kim Young-jak, serve as "Kai-sung mayor" in Joseon Dynasty.
His father, Kim Young-jak, serve as "Kai-sung mayor" in Joseon Dynasty.
At first, His name was Kim Goeng-jip, then he changed name as Kim Hong-jip (Hangul: 김굉집). As a relatively young man in 1880, Kim had undertaken an official mission to Japan, where he learned first-hand of the modernizing reforms taking place in that country. This inspired in him a profound desire to effect such changes in of Korea.
After Gapsin Coup, he became the first vice-premier "Jwauijeong" and he enter into a "of Korea-Japan Treaty of 1885".
Then, in 1896, Hong-jip was appointed a Prime minister to suppress Donghak Peasant Revolution. When this period, he abolished caste system in Joseon Dynasty, and he carried out the ordinance prohibiting topknots.
After the assassination of Queen Minister, "pro-Japan cabinet members like Kim Hong-jip and O Yun-jung were killed."
During Donghak Peasant Revolution, at first Queen Minister asked for auxiliary troops to Qing dynasty but Japan infiltrated into Joseon based on Convention of Tientsin. Hong-jip formed cabinets in four times to enlist the help of Japan from 1894 until 1896.
The First Cabinet
July 23, 1894, Japanese troops attacked Gyeongbokgung Palace and taked over armory to help Hong-jip"s forces.
And Hong-jip organized the First Cabinet and became a Prime minister. He brought back Heungseon Daewongun from Qing. Then he proceeded with Gabo Reform.
He setted up an organization for reform,"Gungukkimucheo", and became a governor of that.
During the Gabo Reform, His cabinet abolished Gwageo, which was Joseon"s imperial examination. Also, They reformed the monetary system, government system, weights and measures system.
The Second Cabinet
December 17, 1894, Japan brought Heungseon Daewongun down because he didn"t follow Japanese way. Then, Japan broke up "Gungukkimucheo" and brought back Park Young-hyo who was in exile.
So the second cabinet was a Kim Hong-jip and Park Young Hyo"s coalition cabinet.
They wrote a doctrine, Hongbeom-14 articles" which contained a reformation spirit. But Hong-jip resigned from minister a short time later because of feuds with Park. The Third Cabinet
Kim Hong-jip"s third cabinet was organized after Qing-Japanese war.
As a result of Japanese victory, Japan occupied the peninsular Liaodung.
Other imperialist nation, France, Russia, Germany didn"t want Japan"s expansion. So they pressed Japan that was called the Triple Intervention.
In this period, Joseon consisted Russophilism cabinet, which header was Kim Hong-jip. Japan felt threatened, they killed Queen Minister and the third cabinet was collasped.
The Fourth Cabinet
The Fourth Cabinet was a last Hong-jip"s Cabinet.
This Cabinet was a pro-Japanese. At first, Kim Hong-jip rejected to be a minister, the king Gojong pleaded to him. But the King was afraid of Japan, he carried out "of Korea royal refuge at the Russian legation".
Hong-jip was surprised at that decision, He wanted to meet Gojong.
Unfortunately Gaozong issued order to arrest pro-Japanese officials. In the end, Hong-jip and his subordinates are killed by the publics.