Kim Yu-sin

Kim Yushin
Portrait of Kim Yu-sin in the "famous portrait photo book of Joseon" published in 1926
Born595
Died21 August 673
Burial placeGyeongju, South Korea
Other namesKing Heungmu
SpouseLady Jiso
Children10, including Kim Won-sul
Korean name
Hangul
김유신
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Yu-sin
McCune–ReischauerKim Yu-sin
Portrait of Kim Yu-sin at Namak Seowon, Jinju

Kim Yu-sin (595 – 21 August 673) was a Korean military general and politician in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean Peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol and King Munmu. He is said to have been the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya, the last ruler of the Geumgwan Gaya state. This would have given him a very high position in the Silla bone rank system, which governed the political and military status that a person could attain.

Much of what is known about Kim's life comes from the detailed account in the Samguk Sagi, Yeoljeon 1-3, and the much briefer record in the Samguk Yusa, vol. 1.