Im Eok-ryeong

Im Eok-ryeong (林億齡, 29 February 1496 (16th day of the 2nd lunar month) – 6 April 1568 (9th day of the 3rd lunar month)¹) was a civil official and poet of the mid-Joseon period. His family seat was Seonsan, his courtesy name was Daesu (大樹), and his pen name was Seokcheon (石川). He was a native of Haenam and a disciple of Park Sang.¹

Life

He was the great-grandson of Im Deukmu (林得茂), his grandfather was Im Su (林秀), and his father was Im Uhyeong (林遇亨). His mother was a daughter of Park Ja-hoe (朴子回) of the Eumseong Park clan. He lost his father at an early age and learned literature from the brothers of Park Sang.¹ In 1516 (11th year of King Jungjong's reign), he passed the lower civil service examination in 4th place overall and became a Jinsa (進士).² In 1525 (20th year of Jungjong), he passed the regular state examination (式年試) in 19th place in the third rank (丙科) and 29th overall.³ Afterwards he served as Vice Director of Education (부교리), Junior Councilor (지평) of the Saheonbu, Lecturer (교리) of the Hongmungwan, Vice Responding Lecturer (부응교), Chief Inspector (장령), Director of the Office of Remonstrance (사간), Chief Secretary (집의), Jeonhan, and Seolbo of the Crown Prince's Royal Lecture Office (세자시강원). He later became Senior Royal Secretary of the Right (동부승지) and then Grand Director of Remonstrance (대사간).

In 1545 (first year of King Myeongjong's reign), during the Eulsa Purge, he was serving as magistrate of Geumsan when his younger brother Im Baek-ryeong (林百齡) joined the Lesser Yun faction and expelled many scholars of the Greater Yun faction. Feeling remorse, he resigned from office. When Baek-ryeong sent him a certificate of merit (錄券) for the , he was enraged, burned it, and retired to seclusion in Haenam.