**Cho Pak** ([[Korean language|Korean]]: 조박; [[Hanja]]: 趙璞; 1356 – December 22, 1408[^1]) was a Korean civil official during the late [[Goryeo]] and early [[Joseon]] era. The brother-in-law of [[King Taejong]], Cho was a contributor to the founding of the Joseon dynasty.

## Biography

Cho Pak was born in 1356 as a member of the [[Pyongyang Cho clan]]. Cho was the son of Cho Sagyŏm (조사겸; 趙思謙), who served as *chŏnŭiryŏng* (전의령; 典儀令). Cho Pak's art name was Ujŏng and his courtesy name was Ansŏk. In 1382, Cho passed the [[Gwageo|literary examination]].[^2]

As the brother-in-law of [[Yi Pangwŏn]], son of [[Yi Sŏnggye]], Cho Pak was a supporter of Yi Sŏnggye and his ambitions. As a result, [[Chŏng Mong-ju]], Yi's political rival, demoted Cho to the post of magistrate of [[Cheongju]].[^3] On April 23, 1392, Cho was stripped of his post as magistrate and exiled.[^4] However, Chŏng was killed and Yi Sŏnggye was able to found the new Joseon dynasty. As a reward for his contributions, Cho was awarded Dynasty Founding Merit Subject First Class (개국공신 1등), given the office of Minister of Rites (예조 전서; 禮曹 典書; *yejo chŏnsŏ*), and enfeoffed as the Lord of Pyeongwon (평원군; 平原君). A month after the founding of the new dynasty, Cho was also given the post of surveillance commissioner of Yanggwang Province (양광도 안렴사; 楊廣道 按廉使; *Yanggwang annyŏmsa*). In 1394, he was appointed as the governor of Jeolla province.[^3] However, on March 8, 1395,[^5] he was jailed in [[Gongju]] for his failure to conduct a head count of the provincial army.[^6] He was pardoned on April 10.[^7][^8]

In 1398, Cho was appointed as inspector-general (대사헌; 大司憲; *taesahŏn*). He helped his in-law, prince Yi Pangwŏn, to triumph in the First Strife of the Princes and was made a merit subject. In 1400, he was exiled to [[Icheon]] for false accusations against Cho Chun. However, in the same year, he was recalled from exile and given the post of assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery (참찬문하부사; 參贊門下府事; *ch'amch'an munhabu sa*). In 1401, Yi Pangwŏn, now King Taejong, made Cho a merit subject for his achievements in bringing Taejong to the throne. In 1408, he was appointed the Minister of Taxation (호조판서; 戶曹判書; *hojo pansŏ*) and the provincial garrison commander of Tongbungmyŏn (동북면도제찰사; 東北面都體察使; *Tongbungmyŏn to chech'alsa*).[^2] On December 22, 1408, Cho Pak died.[^9]

## Notes

[^1]: In the [[Korean calendar]] (lunisolar), he died on the 6th day of the 12th Lunar month of the 6th year of Taejong's reign (1408).
[^2]: ["조박"](https://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000952609). *Doopedia* (in Korean). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
[^3]: 박, 천식. ["조박 (趙璞)"](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0051772). *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture* (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
[^4]: ["공양왕(恭讓王) 4년 4월"](https://db.history.go.kr/goryeo/itemLevelKrList.do?itemId=kr&parentId=kr_046r_0020_0040&types=r). *고려시대* (in Korean). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
[^5]: In the [[Korean calendar]] (lunisolar), the 17th day of the 2nd Lunar month of the 4th year of Taejo's reign (1395).
[^6]: Ch'oe, Pyŏng-hyŏn (2014). *The annals of King T'aejo: founder of Korea's Chosŏn Dynasty*. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 474\. [[ISBN (identifier)|ISBN]] 9780674281301.
[^7]: In the [[Korean calendar]] (lunisolar), the 21st day of the 3rd Lunar month of the 4th year of Taejo's reign (1395).
[^8]: Ch'oe, Pyŏng-hyŏn (2014). *The annals of King T'aejo: founder of Korea's Chosŏn Dynasty*. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 483\. [[ISBN (identifier)|ISBN]] 9780674281301.
[^9]: ["호조 판서 조박의 졸기"](https://sillok.history.go.kr/id/kca_10812006_003). *sillok.history.go.kr*. Retrieved 1 December 2024.