Ryu Seong-ryong (November 1542 – May 1607), was a scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He held many responsibilities including the Chief State Councillor position in 1592. He was a member of the "Eastern faction", and a follower of Yi Hwang.

Early life and education

Ryu was born in Hahoe Maeul,

Andong Andong () is a city in South Korea, and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 as of October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city. Andong is a m ...

Gyeongsang Gyeongsang ( ko, 경상도, ''Gyeongsang-do''; ) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea. The provincial capital was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the Kingdom ...

province (today a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to a '' yangban'' family of the Munhwa Ryu clan. Ryu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of Confucius and

Mencius Mencius ( ); born Mèng Kē (); or Mèngzǐ (; 372–289 BC) was a Chinese Confucianism, Confucian Chinese philosophy, philosopher who has often been described as the "second Sage", that is, second to Confucius himself. He is part of Confuc ...

at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong, he passed the ''

Samasi The ''gwageo'' or ''kwago'' were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty, Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' ability of writing composition and knowledge of ...

'' examination, and in 1566 he passed the '' Mun-gwa'' at a special examination, and then took the post of ''Gwonji bujeongja'' (권지부정사, 權知副正字).
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He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to

Ming The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peop ...

as a ''Seojanggwan'' (서장관, 書狀官, n°3 of the mission), returning to Korea the following year.

Career

Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics (경연검토관, 經筵檢討官) and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical (사가독서, 賜暇讀書). Subsequently, he held posts including ''Gyori'' (교리, ranked 5a) and ''Eunggyo'' (응교, 應敎, ranked 4a). He was appointed ''Jikjehak'' (직제학, 直提學) in 1575 and ''Bujehak'' (부제학, 副提學) in 1576. Continually he held posts including ''Doseongji'' (都承旨), ''Daesaheon'' (대사헌, 大司憲) and ''Daejehak'' (대제학, 大提學). In 1590, he was appointed Uuijeong (Third State Councillor), honored with the third rank of ''Gwanguk Gongsin'' (광국공신, 光國功臣), and appointed as ''Pungwon Buwongun'' (풍원부원군, 豊原府院君). In 1591, he was promoted to

Jwauijeong The ''Jwauijeong'' was the Second State Councillor of the Uijeongbu (State Council), subordinate in rank only to the Yeonguijeong, during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (1392 -1910). Only one official was appointed to the position and was variousl ...

(Second State Councillor) and Ijo Panseo (이조판서, Minister of Personnel, the first ranked of the six Ministries). However, the Easterners faction split into the Southerners and the Northerners. Ryu Seong-ryong was a Southerner (claiming exile, instead of death, for Jeong Cheol, the leader of the Westerners rival faction). He was in the rank of provincial ''Dochechalsa'' (도체찰사, 都體察使) when the

Imjin War The Imjin River ( in South Korea) or Rimjin River ( in North Korea) is the 7th largest river in Korea. It flows from north to south, crossing the Korean Demilitarized Zone, Demilitarized Zone and joining the Han River (Korea), Han River downstre ...

broke out. In 1592 he was appointed

Yeonguijeong ''Yeonguijeong'' () was a title created in 1400, during the Joseon Kingdom and the Korean Empire times (1392–1910) and given to the Chief State Councillor as the highest government position of "Uijeongbu" (State Council). Existing for over 500 ...

, the Chief State Councillor. Ryu Seongryong accompanied the royal family from Hanseong to Uiju. In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin and Gwon Yul to battle. He also fought on the Korean-Chinese allied forces side in the Siege of Pyongyang. He suggested of establishment the ''Hunnyeon Dogam'' (훈련도감, 訓鍊都監, Training capital garrison). In 1598, he was ousted by the Northerners faction. But King Seonjo rehabilitated him. However, he refused to take office as a minister in 1600. Nevertheless, in 1602, he was honored with the second rank of ''Hoseong Gongsin'' (호성공신, 扈聖功臣), and appointed again as ''Pungwon Buwongun''.

Later life and death

After which he spent his time on political writing until his death in 1607.

Legacy

Ryu's major writings are preserved in the ''Seoaejip'' (The Anthology of Seoae, 서애집, 西厓集), '' Jingbirok'' (The Book of Corrections, 징비록, 懲毖錄), and minor writings as ''Hwanghwajip'' (황화집, 皇華集), ''Jeongchungrok'' (정충록, 精忠錄). Ryu Seong-ryong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon and Hogye Seowon in

North Gyeongsang North Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상북도, translit=Gyeongsangbuk-do, ) is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, and remained a province of Korea until the ...

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Lee Jae-ryong in the 2004-2005

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, ...

TV series ''

Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin ''Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin'' (; lit. "The Immortal Yi Sun-sin") is a South Korean television series based on the life of Yi Sun-sin, starring Kim Myung-min in the title role. It aired on KBS1 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 from September ...

''. * Portrayed by Kim Sang-joong in the 2015

TV series '' The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War''.

References