Kim Bu-sik

Kim Bu-sik

Portrait of Kim Bu-sik
Korean name
Hangul 김부식
Hanja 金富軾
Revised Romanization Gim Busik
McCune–Reischauer Kim Pusik
Pen name
Hangul 뇌천
Hanja 雷川
Revised Romanization Noecheon
McCune–Reischauer Noech'ŏn
Courtesy name
Hangul 입지
Hanja 立之
Revised Romanization Ipji
McCune–Reischauer Ipchi

Kim Busik (1075–1151) was an official and a scholar during Korea's Goryeo period. He is best known for compiling the Samguk Sagi, the oldest extant record of Korean history.

Kim Busik was the great-grandson of Kim Wi-yeong, who was submitted to the Goryeo Dynasty court that replaced Unified Silla, becoming the governor of Gyeongju Province. Kim Busik's father and three brothers were also officials of the Goryeo court.

Although he was a practicing Buddhist, he supported Confucianism over Buddhism as the guiding principle of governance, and favored presenting tributes to the Chinese emperor to prevent a conflict and in deference to the lofty (Sadae).

In 1121 Kim Busik was appointed as Royal Diarist, or ji, to the court of Emperor Yejong. In 1123, along with two other historians, was charged with preparing Yejong's Veritable Records (Sillok).[1]

See also