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Shim On (1375 – 18 January 1419) was a Korean politician. He was the Chief State Councillor of the
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
n
Joseon 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 re ...
from September 1418 to December 1418 and the father of
Queen Soheon Queen Soheon (소헌왕후 심씨, 12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Do, King Sejong and the mother of Yi Hyang, King Munjong and Yi Yu, King Sejo ...
and father-in-law to
King Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...
. He is known for his treason charges, which eventually led to his death and further strengthening of the royal power.


Family

*Father: Shim Deok-bu (심덕부), Count Cheongseong (청성백) *Mother: Lady Mun of Incheon Mun clan (인천 문씨), daughter of Mun Pildae ( 문필대) *Wife: **Internal Princess Consort Samhanguk of the Sunheung Ahn clan (? – 1444) (삼한국대부인 순흥 안씨), daughter of Ahn Cheon-Bo (안천보) **Son: Sim Jun (심준) (? - 1448) ***Daughter-in-law - Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨); Queen Wongyeong's grandniece ***Grandson: Sim Mi (심미) ***Grandson: Sim Chi (심치) **Son: Sim Hoe (심회, 沈澮) (1418 - 1493) **Son: Sim Gyeol (심결, 沈決) (1419 - 1470) **Daughter:
Queen Soheon Queen Soheon (소헌왕후 심씨, 12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Do, King Sejong and the mother of Yi Hyang, King Munjong and Yi Yu, King Sejo ...
of Cheongseong Sim clan **Son-in-law: King Sejong of Joseon ***Granddaughter: Princess Jeongso (1412 – 25 February 1424) (정소공주) ***Grandson: Yi Hyang, King Munjong (15 November 1414 – 1 June 1452) (조선 문종) ***Granddaughter: Princess Jeongui (1415 – 11 February 1477) (정의공주) ***Grandson: Yi Yu,
King Sejo Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468), personal name Yi Yu (Korean: 이유; Hanja: 李瑈), sometimes known as Grand Prince Suyang (Korean: 수양대군; Hanja: 首陽大君), was the seventh ruler of the Joseon dynasty of K ...
(2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468) (조선 세조) ***Grandson: Yi Yong, Grand Prince Anpyeong (18 October 1418 – 18 November 1453) (이용 안평대군) ***Grandson: Yi Gu, Grand Prince Imyeong (7 January 1420 – 21 January 1469) (이구 임영대군) ***Grandson: Yi Yeo, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong (2 May 1425 – 7 December 1444) (이여 광평대군) ***Grandson: Yi Yu, Grand Prince Geumseong (28 March 1426 – 21 October 1457) (이유 금성대군) ***Grandson: Yi Im, Grand Prince Pyeongwon (18 November 1427 – 16 January 1445) (이임 평원대군) ***Grandson: Yi Yeom, Grand Prince Yeongeung (23 May 1434 – 2 February 1467) (이염 영응대군) **Daughter: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨) ***Son-in-law - Kang Seok-deok (강석덕, 姜碩德) (1395 - 1459) of the Jinju Kang clan (진주 강씨) ****Grandson: Kang Hui-an (강희안, 姜希顔) (1419 - 1464) ****Grandson: Kang Hui-maeng (강희맹, 姜希孟) (1424 - 1483) ****Granddaughter: Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jinju Kang clan (영빈 강씨) (? - 1483)Married
Sejong of Joseon Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...
****Granddaughter: Lady Kang of the Jinju Kang clan  **Daughter: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨) **Daughter: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨) **Daughter: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨) **Daughter: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨) **Unknown: ***Son: Sim Jang-su (심장수, 沈長壽) ***Son: Sim Jang-gi (심장기, 沈長己


Background

Born of the Cheongsong Shim clan (靑松 沈氏), during the late
Goryeo Dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...
, he passed the examinations and entered the government at age eleven. At that time, general
Yi Seong-gye Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...
had full control of the government and had eliminated most of his rivals throughout Goryeo. Shim On, fully realizing that the Goryeo dynasty was at its end, joined Yi's faction and worked hard in bringing about a new dynasty. Finally, when General Yi rose to the throne in 1392, Shim On was one of those who gained a new post and influence in assisting Yi found 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 re ...
. In 1411, under
King Taejong Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won ( Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he ...
's rule, Shim On was appointed to the post of administrating the province of Hamgyong-do. He dismissed corrupt sheriffs and judges, and toiled in improving the governmental power in the region. As Shim On was a very capable civil administrator, he was promoted several times, and also worked in the roles of the Minister of Industry, Civil Affairs and
Agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
. When the court began selecting the candidates for the
princess consort Princess consort is an official title or an informal designation that is normally accorded to the wife of a sovereign prince. The title may be used for the wife of a king if the more usual designation of queen consort is not used. More informal ...
of Chungnyeong (later King Sejong]), he included his daughter in the candidacy, resulting in her selection. When Chungnyeong became king in the year 1418, Shim's daughter "Lady Shim" (심씨; 沈氏, women were referred by only their family names) became Queen Soheon, and Shim On rose to the office of Chief State Councilor the highest non-royal role in the country.


Scandal and demise

When Shim On was appointed to the office of Chief State Councilor, the office of the Left State Councilor was occupied Park Eun (박은; 朴訔), of the Park (Korean surname), Bannam Park clan. The relationship between these two ministers was hostile, and there were frequent disputes between them. At the time, King Taejong had resigned from his post of monarch and occupied the post of Retired King (태상왕; 太上王). However, most of the nation's internal and external affairs were run by Taejong, and the current King Sejong remained as a figurehead. As he was a general during the late Koryo days, Taejong was a firm, conservative,
totalitarian Totalitarianism is a form of government and a political system that prohibits all opposition parties, outlaws individual and group opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high if not complete degree of control and regul ...
despot. He frequently worried about the fact that, in the future, the dynasty would be ruled mostly by ministers, rather than by the Crown, like the Goryeo Dynasty. Therefore, he took extensive measures to strengthen the authority of the royal court. Due to this fact in the government, Shim-On's younger brother Shim Jeong, complained that the King's power was totally limited by the looming presence of Taejong. When this statement reached the ears of the Retired King, he condemned the whole Shim family. As Shim-On, Chief State Councilor and father of the queen, was one of the most influential men of the country, his presence could not be ignored. Furthermore, Left State Councilor Park Eun framed Shim On by revealing that On's influence was overflowing. At this time, Shim-On had fulfilled his duty of Chief State Councilor by visiting the Ming Empire as an emissary of Joseon at Saeunsa (사은사; 謝恩使). He was just returning from his trip when he was arrested at the Korean territory of
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 ...
(의주; 義州) and transported under custody to the capital Hanyang, then to the city of
Suwon Suwon (, ) is the capital and largest city of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea's most populous province which surrounds Seoul, the national capital. Suwon lies about south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety". With a populati ...
(수원; 水原). At Suwon he was tortured into admitting his crimes. Led by Park Eun, who had framed Shim in the first place, the torture eventually achieved its goal of a confession of crimes from Shim On. Just before the Chief State Councilor was executed, however, he muttered the famous phrase, "My descendants. . .Do not marry a Park. It will bring shame and misfortune to the family."


Aftermath

After Shim On was executed for his fabricated crimes, Park Eun was promoted to Chief State Councilor. Many of the Shim family were condemned, and even the Queen Soheon was threatened to be stripped of her title as queen. However, King Sejong tried to protect her, and succeeded. King Taejong also supported Queen Soheon, telling the minister not to mention the matter of stripping Queen Soheon's title. However, Shim-On's name became a taboo during the remainder of Taejong's presence. Even Sejong could not regain the dignity of the minister's name. However, when Sejong and Queen Soheon's son King Munjong rose to the throne, Shim-On was absolved of his crimes, and posthumously reinstated to the office of Chief State Councilor. He was also made a lord, and is also known as Lord of Anhyo (안효공; 安孝公). The Shim family continued to prosper, with Shim-On's second son Shim Hwe becoming Chief State Councilor during
King Sejo Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468), personal name Yi Yu (Korean: 이유; Hanja: 李瑈), sometimes known as Grand Prince Suyang (Korean: 수양대군; Hanja: 首陽大君), was the seventh ruler of the Joseon dynasty of K ...
's reign.


Controversy

700 years after the incident, the Shim and Park families have still not reconciled about the incident, with the Shim family blaming Park Eun for the framing about treason. However, historians generally agree that Park was merely a tool in Taejong's master plan of royal totalitarianism. As Taejong was a conservative king, he did not want a queen's family gaining power and influence over the Joseon Dynasty. As his mindset was educated in the Goryeo Dynasty, he had come to believe in the danger of handing over power to another, non-royal family.but he knew alone Sim On was direct decendent of king jumun of korye dynasty.


In popular culture

* Portrayed by Choi Sang-hoon in the 2008
KBS2 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, a ...
TV series ''
King Sejong the Great Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...
''. * Portrayed by Han In-soo in the 2011 SBS TV series ''
Deep Rooted Tree ''Deep Rooted Tree'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Han Suk-kyu, Jang Hyuk and Shin Se-kyung. Based on the novel of the same name by Lee Jung-myung, it aired on SBS from 5 October to 22 December 2011 on Wednesdays and Thu ...
''. * Portrayed by Jung Kyu-soo in the 2015 MBC TV series ''
Splash Splash Love ''Splash Splash Love'' () is a South Korean television series starring Kim Seul-gi and Yoon Doo-joon. It initially aired on web platform Naver TV Cast in a 10-episode format. It was then broadcast by MBC on December 13 and 20, 2015 in two 60-mi ...
''.


References


External links


Chongsong Shim Family Clan homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sim, On 1375 births 1418 deaths 15th-century executions 15th-century Korean people Executed Korean people Joseon scholar-officials People executed by Korea People from North Gyeongsang Province