The Development and Meaning of Kim Hong-won's Plot Treason Case in 1629

This paper described the whole story and background about Kim Hong-won's exile in 1629 that was caused by the information of his concubine, Malchi(唜致). Kim Hong-won, a Buan Kim family, was swept by plot treason case due to the information of concubine, in his age 59. He had survived the period of intensified political strives such as 1592 Japanese Invasion of Korea, the Manchu war of 1636 and King Injo's coup, but was exiled for 4 years and 3 months by his concubine. This paper, being based on the life of Kim examined by earlier studies, concentrated upon the matters concerning to Malchi that were not mentioned or mentioned insufficiently in earlier studies. It was found the interrogation progress of Malchi case was focused on the revealing of further crimes of the concerned of Song Gwang-yu case. After judgment, Kim Gyeong-hyeon, who actually took the lead of Malchi's information, was awarded for the information. However, Malchi's information finally proved to be false accusation. King Injo and Court officials were tensely divided in their opinions on the final judgment of Malchi's information case. Kim Hong-won wrote a defending argument at exile place. His son Kim Myeong-yeol pleaded his father by appealing to King and his son-in-law also pleaded in writing. The writings of the family described the case in different views or attenuated certain parts intentionally. It can be said they tried to cut down the facts and meaning of Malchi case on purpose by literature works.