Kim Shimin

His Excellency Generalissimo Kim Shimin
Official portrait of Kim Shimin, taken in 1956.
8th Chancellor of the Republic of Zhenia
In office March 18, 1955 – November 29, 1979
Preceded by	Choi Yoondeok
Succeeded by	Li Shan
1st President of the National Reconstruction Council
In office February 13, 1955 – March 18, 1955
Preceded by	Gwanho Liu
Succeeded by	Position merged into Chancellor
Commander-in-chief of the Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces
Incumbent
Assumed office February 14, 1955
Preceded by	Choi Yoondeok
Succeeded by	Li Shan
Personal details
Born	Kim Shimin (金時敏) (1894-10-26)October 26, 1894 Dongdo, Haedong Prefecture, Empire of Zhenia (modern-day Haedong SAR
Died	June 4, 1982(1982-06-04) (aged 87) Dongdo, Haedong Special Administrative Region, Zhenia
Resting place	Kim Shimin Memorial, Dongdo, Haedong Special Administrative Region, Zhenia
Political party	Nationalist Party
Spouse	Hamin Cho (1920-1975)
Children	Kim Jinseok (1933-) Kim Jongseo (1937-)
Alma mater	Republic of Zhenia Military Academy
Occupation	Revolutionary, military leader, statesman
Awards	Medal of the Phoenix
Ethnicity	Jin Zhenian
Military service
Allegiance	Zhenia
Branch/service	Republic of Zhenia Army (1915-1949, 1953-1979)
Rank	Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces
Commands	Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces
Battles/wars	First Great War Second Great War Coup of 1955

Kim Shimin (Zhenian: 김시민/金時敏), was a Zhenian military leader and statesman who served as the 8th Chancellor of the Republic of Zhenia from 1955 to 1979, during the Third Republic. With a term length of over 24 years, he retains the title of the longest-serving Chancellor in Zhenian history. Prior to his term as Chancellor, he had served as a military leader of the Republic of Zhenia Army during the First and Second Great Wars, having been responsible for the Indian Campaign (1939-1940) and the Australian Campaign (1941-1943) in the southern front.

Born in modern-day Dongdo on October 26, 1894, Kim Shimin became a military officer of the Republic of Zhenia Army after graduating the Republic of Zhenia Military Academy, summa cum laude, in 1914. Having led his company in the first landings during the Eurian Campaign, he was awarded the Medal of the Phoenix for his bravery during the campaign. Following the end of the First Great War, he served under the Governor-Generals of Yinguo and was ultimately promoted to lieutenant general by 1937, becoming the youngest lieutenant general in GEUDEF history at the time. During the Second Great War, he oversaw major Zhenian campaigns in the southern front, most notably the Indian and Australian campaigns; he was displaced to oversee the defense effort of the mainland by 1945, staying near Daedo until the end of the war. Although he had been formally released from service directly after Zhenian defeat of the Second Great War, he returned to become a lieutenant general of the Second Corps amid the restoration of the GEUDEF.

In February 13, 1955, Kim Shimin led a military coup alongside the Front of National Salvation against Choi Yoondeok's government, effectively ending the Second Republic. After the coup's success, he temporarily headed the National Reconstruction Council and was eventually elected into Chancellor in the elections that were held in May. After purging political opponents and strengthening his monopoly over the nation's politics, his regime led the post-war reconstruction effort of Zhenia, resulting in an economic boom later known as the Miracle of the Danbon River.

National Reconstruction Council

Main article: Coup of 1955