Pak Paeng-nyeon
Encyclopedia
Pak Paengnyeon was a scholar-official of the early Joseon Dynasty
, and is known as one of the six martyred ministers
. He was born to a yangban
family of the Suncheon Pak
lineage, and was the son of high minister Pak Jeongrim. He passed the lower national service examination
at a royal visitation in 1434, and was later appointed to the Hall of Worthies
by Sejong
. In the 1440s, he participated with other members of the Hall of Worthies in the creation of the Hunminjeongeum and the creation of the Hangul
alphabet. He passed the higher literary examination in 1447, and rose to vice-minister of justice under Danjong
in 1454.
In 1455, Danjong was overthrown by Sejo
, arising the ire of Pak and many other officials. Pak continued to serve in high office; he was appointed as governor of Chungcheong
in 1455, and again as vice-minister of justice in 1456. He joined in a plot to overthrow Sejo and restore Danjong in 1456, but the plot was uncovered through the betrayal of fellow plotter Kim Jil
. Sejo admired Pak's abilities and offered to pardon him if he were to deny his involvement and acknowledge Sejo as his king. When he refused to repent from his deeds, Sejo argued that it was useless to deny his authority now since Pak had already called himself a "royal servant" and received royal grains from him. Pak, however, denied this and it was indeed discovered that Pak purposefully misspelled words "royal servant" in all of his reports (He wrote word meaning "huge"(巨) instead of "royal servant", 臣)and never used royal grains but instead stored them unsused in a storage. Pak died in prison from torture. All the males in his family were executed and females were enslaved.
A shrine to Pak is located in Sinni-myeon, Chungju
City, Chungcheongbuk-do
. It was established in the 18th century, when Pak and his fellows had come to be viewed as model subjects. Another memorial dating to 1688 stands in Jayang-dong
, Dong-gu, Daejeon
, at the former site of his official residence. A few of Pak's sijo
poems have survived.
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, and is known as one of the six martyred ministers
Six martyred ministers
The six martyred ministers or Sayuksin were six ministers of the Joseon Dynasty who were executed by King Sejo in 1456 for plotting to assassinate him and restore the former king Danjong to the throne....
. He was born to a yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
family of the Suncheon Pak
Park (Korean name)
Park is a common and time-honoured Korean surname, founded by King Hyeokgeose. All Parks are descendants of him in principle except naturalized people...
lineage, and was the son of high minister Pak Jeongrim. He passed the lower national service examination
Gwageo
The gwageo were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects...
at a royal visitation in 1434, and was later appointed to the Hall of Worthies
Hall of Worthies
The Hall of Worthies or Jiphyeonjeon ' was set up by Sejong the Great of the Korean Joseon Dynasty in 1420. It consisted of scholars selected by the king....
by Sejong
Sejong the Great of Joseon
Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. During his regency, he reinforced Korean Confucian policies and executed major legal amendments . He also used the creation of Hangul and the advancement of technology to expand his territory...
. In the 1440s, he participated with other members of the Hall of Worthies in the creation of the Hunminjeongeum and the creation of the Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
alphabet. He passed the higher literary examination in 1447, and rose to vice-minister of justice under Danjong
Danjong of Joseon
Danjong of Joseon was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty.Danjong succeeded his father, Munjong of Joseon, at the age of 12...
in 1454.
In 1455, Danjong was overthrown by Sejo
Sejo of Joseon
Sejo of Joseon was the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He produced a coup d'etat and became king himself in 1455.-Reign:...
, arising the ire of Pak and many other officials. Pak continued to serve in high office; he was appointed as governor of Chungcheong
Chungcheong
Chungcheong was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Chungcheong was located in the southwest of Korea...
in 1455, and again as vice-minister of justice in 1456. He joined in a plot to overthrow Sejo and restore Danjong in 1456, but the plot was uncovered through the betrayal of fellow plotter Kim Jil
Kim Jil
Kim Jil , also often spelled Kim Chil, was a scholar-official of the early Joseon Dynasty. He is remembered today primarily for his participation in, and betrayal of, the conspiracy led by the six martyred ministers....
. Sejo admired Pak's abilities and offered to pardon him if he were to deny his involvement and acknowledge Sejo as his king. When he refused to repent from his deeds, Sejo argued that it was useless to deny his authority now since Pak had already called himself a "royal servant" and received royal grains from him. Pak, however, denied this and it was indeed discovered that Pak purposefully misspelled words "royal servant" in all of his reports (He wrote word meaning "huge"(巨) instead of "royal servant", 臣)and never used royal grains but instead stored them unsused in a storage. Pak died in prison from torture. All the males in his family were executed and females were enslaved.
A shrine to Pak is located in Sinni-myeon, Chungju
Chungju
Chungju is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Namsan is a mountain located on the outskirts of the city.The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon grew up here....
City, Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province...
. It was established in the 18th century, when Pak and his fellows had come to be viewed as model subjects. Another memorial dating to 1688 stands in Jayang-dong
Jayang-dong
Jayang-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Gwangjin-gu in Seoul, South Korea.-External links:* at the Gwangjin-gu official website...
, Dong-gu, Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
, at the former site of his official residence. A few of Pak's sijo
Sijo
Sijo is a Korean poetic form. Bucolic, metaphysical and cosmological themes are often explored. The three lines average 14-16 syllables, for a total of 44-46: theme ; elaboration ; counter-theme and completion [Ibid., Rutt, pp. 10 ff]...
poems have survived.
See also
- Joseon Dynasty politicsJoseon Dynasty politicsThe politics of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, were governed by the reigning ideology of Korean Confucianism, a form of Neo-Confucianism. Political struggles were common between different factions of the scholar-officials...
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of Joseon Dynasty people