Ryu Seong-ryong (November 1542 – May 1607), was a scholar-official of the

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

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 Yi Hwang (January 3, 1502– January 3, 1571) was the most important Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. He was a figure of the Neo-Confucian literati, established the Yeongnam School and set up the Dosan S ...

Early life and education

Ryu was born in Hahoe Maeul, Andong, Gyeongsang province (today a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

), to a ''

yangban The ''yangban'' () were part of the traditional ruling class or gentry of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The ''yangban'' were mainly composed of highly educated civil servants and military officers—landed or unlanded aristocrats ...

'' family of the Munhwa Ryu clan. Ryu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of

Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...

and Mencius at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong, he passed the '' Samasi'' 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).
유성룡 Naver Encyclopedia
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 Uuijeong ( ko, 우의정), also the Right State Councilor, was the Third State Councillor of the State Council of Joseon, Uijeongbu (State Council) during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (1392 -1910). The Uuijeong was variously referred to as ''Usang'' ...

(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 Jeong Cheol (Hangul: 정철, Hanja: 鄭澈; 18 December 1536 – 7 February 1594) was a Korean statesman and poet. He used the pen-names Gyeham (계함) and Songgang (송강), and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang. He was expelled by the ...

, 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 Demilitarized Zone and joining the Han River downstream of Seoul, near the Yellow Sea. The river i ...

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 5 ...

, the Chief State Councillor. Ryu Seongryong accompanied the royal family from

Hanseong Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

Uiju Ŭiju County is a kun, or county, in North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The county has an area of 420 km², and a population of 110,018 (2008 data). Name Ŭiju appears as Uiju in South Korea's Revised Romanization and as Yizhou in Chinese ...

. In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like

Yi Sun-sin Admiral Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral and military general famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty. Over the course of his career, Admiral Yi foug ...

and

Gwon Yul Gwon Yul (; December 28, 1537 - July 6, 1599) was a Korean Army General and the Commander-in-chief (도원수; 導元帥) of the Joseon Dynasty, who successfully led the Korean forces against Japan during the Japanese invasions of Korea (임진� ...

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 Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, politi ...

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 ''Jingbirok'' (; known in English as the ''Book of Corrections''), written in Hanmun, is a first hand account of the Imjin War written by high ranking Joseon scholar-official Ryu Seong-ryong. Party to high level decision making on the allie ...

'' (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 Andong,

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 Lee Jae-ryong (born September 24, 1964) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for starring in television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast vi ...

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 Kim Sang-joong (born August 6, 1965) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for starring in the television dramas '' My Husband's Woman'' (2007), ''City Hunter'' (2011), and ''The Chaser'' (2012). He won the Grand Prize at the MBC Drama Awar ...

in the 2015

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

References