Tae Kŭm-ch'wi (Korean: 대금취; Hanja: 大金就; fl. 1253–1260), also known as T'ae Kŭm-ch'wi, was a Goryeo military official during the Mongol invasions of Korea. A descendant of Balhae crown prince Dae Gwang-hyeon, Tae Kum-ch'wi was given the fief of Yeongsun (now modern-day Mungyeong) and became the intermediary ancestor of the Yeongsun Tae clan.[1]
Biography
On September 1, 1253,[a] lieutenant (교위; 校尉; kyowi) Tae Kum-ch'wi took 30 men of the Ubong Special Unit and defeated a Mongol force between Kŭmgyo (금교; 金郊) and Hŭngŭi (흥의; 興義).[2][3][4] By 1260, he had reached the rank of subcolonel (별장; 別將; pyŏlchang).On January 25, 1260,[b] Tae defeated another Mongol force near Kaesong, rescuing prisoners that had been taken captive by the Mongols.[5] Due to his achievements, Tae Kum-ch'wi was given Yeongsun as a fief. Yeongsun was originally a village called Imha, but it was upgraded to the status of county and renamed to Yeongsun in recognition of Tae's achievements.[1]
