Choe Seok-hang

Choe Seok-hang (崔錫恒, 1654 ~ 1724) was a scholar-official of late Joseon. His family seat was Jeonju. His courtesy name was Yeogu (汝久), his pen name Sonwa (損窩), and his posthumous name Chunggan (忠簡). He was the younger brother of Chief State Councilor Choe Seok-jeong.

Biography

During the reign of King Sukjong, he passed the civil service examination and served as Reviewer (檢閱) and Bonggyo, among other posts. He then held the posts of Jeongeon and Jipyeong, and as a secret royal inspector (暗行御史) for Pyeongan Province he governed the people and exposed corrupt officials, earning King Sukjong's favor. He also served as Jeongeon, Jipyeong, and Assistant Director of the Royal Lectures, but was dismissed during the Gisa Purge (己巳換局). He was reappointed after the Gapsul Purge (甲戌換局) and served as Bodeok, Busuchan, Gyeompilseon, and Sain, then became Seungji. He later served as Daesagan and Daesaheon, and while serving as Seungji he opposed the execution of Lady Jang (Jang Huibin), for which he was pushed out as Governor of Gyeongsang Province. Afterwards he passed through Daesagan and Seungji, became Governor of Gaeseong, and then passed through Daesagan, Dosungji, Buje hak, and Daesaseong, Vice Minister of Personnel, and Jehak of Yemun-gwan, where he opposed the Noron ministers. He then served again as Vice Minister of Personnel, Daesaheon, and Jehak of Yemun-gwan, then passed through Vice Minister of Personnel, Buje hak, and Daesaheon before being promoted to Minister of Justice and becoming Minister of Personnel, where he clashed with Noron figures such as Kim Chang-jip and Yi I-myeong. He then served in succession as Minister of Justice, Minister of War, Left Assistant State Councilor, , , and , and as a close associate of King Gyeongjong he served as Vice Chief Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau. He then passed through , , , , and , concurrently serving as Vice Director of the Academy of Classics and Lectures and Chief Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau, and concurrently holding the post of Director of the Royal Medicine Office. After serving as Vice Director of the Academy of Classics and Lectures and Chief Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau, he was , then and , then of , , and Chief Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau. After serving as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, he became and , then Governor of Ganghwa, , Chief Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau, and . During the reign of King Gyeongjong he served as Chief Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau, , and . After the Sinim Purge (辛壬士禍), he took control of the government, concurrently serving as , and after passing through , , and , he became and was further promoted to .

Evaluation

He was one of the Four Great Ministers of the Soron faction of his time. His written work includes the Sonwa Yugo (損窩遺稿).