Jeong Yu-gil (鄭惟吉, 30 November 15151 – 28 September 1588) was a civil official of the mid-Joseon period who served as Left State Councillor during the reign of King Seonjo. He was the grandson of Chief State Councillor Jeong Gwang-pil and the eldest son of Jeong Bok-gyeom (鄭福謙), Magistrate of Ganghwa. His family seat was Dongnae, his courtesy name was Gilwon (吉元), and his pen name was Imdang (林塘).
Family relations2
- Paternal grandfather: Jeong Gwang-pil (鄭光弼, 1462 – 1538)
- Paternal grandmother: daughter of Song Sun-nyeon (宋順年), Eunjin Song clan
- Father: Jeong Bok-gyeom (鄭福謙)
- Mother: daughter of Yi Su-yeong (李壽永)
- Father-in-law: Won Gye-chae (元繼蔡, 1492 – 1539)
- Mother-in-law: second daughter of Yi Gyeom (李慊), Hoengcheon Dojeong (橫川都正), Jeonju Yi clan (1490 – ?)3
- Wife: Wonju Won clan (1514 – ?)4
- Eldest daughter: Jeong Hwan (鄭還, 1533 – ?)
- Son-in-law: Yun Seon-won (尹善元), Magistrate (郡守) of the Chilwon Yun clan
- Maternal granddaughter: wife of Yi Dae-ro (李大老)
- Second daughter: Lady Bongwon (蓬原府夫人) Jeong Yang-jeong (鄭楊貞, 1541 – 1620)
- Son-in-law: Ryu Ja-sin (柳自新, 1541 – 1612), Lord Munyang Buwon-gun (文陽府院君)
- Maternal grandson: Ryu Hui-gaeng (柳希鏗, 1561 – ?)
- Maternal grandson: Ryu Hui-dam (柳希聃, 1563 – ?)
- Maternal grandson: Ryu Hui-bun (柳希奮, 1564 – 1623)
- Maternal grandson: Ryu Hui-bal (柳希發, 1568 – 1623)
- Maternal granddaughter: Ryu Ok-yeong (柳玉英, 1570 – ?)
- Maternal granddaughter: Ryu Jung-yeong (柳重英, 1572 – ?)
- Maternal grandson: Ryu Hui-yang (柳希亮, 1575 – 1628)
- Maternal granddaughter: Lady Munseong (文城郡夫人, 1576 – 1623)
- Maternal granddaughter: Ryu So-yeong (柳小英, 1576 – ?)
- Maternal grandson: Ryu Hui-an (柳希安, 1581 – 1628)
- Third daughter: Jeong Mal-jeong (鄭末貞, 1542 – ?)
- Son-in-law: Kim Geuk-hyo (金克孝, 1542 – 1618)
- Maternal grandson: Kim Sang-yong (金尙容, 1561 – 1637)
- Maternal grandson: Kim Sang-gwan (金尙寬, 1566 – 1621)
- Maternal grandson: Kim Sang-geon (金尙謇, 1567 – 1604)
- Maternal grandson: Kim Sang-heon (金尙憲, 1570 – 1652)
- Maternal grandson: Kim Sang-bok (金尙宓, 1573 – 1652)
- Fourth daughter: Jeong Hye-jeong (鄭蕙貞, 1546 – ?)
- Son-in-law: Han Wan (韓浣, 1547 – ?), Magistrate (都事) of the Cheongju Han clan5
- Maternal grandson: Han Sa-geom (韓師儉, 1564 – ?)
- Maternal granddaughter: Han In-yeong (韓寅英, 1566 – ?)
- Maternal grandson: Han Sa-go (韓師古, 1567 – ?)
- Maternal granddaughter: Han Gye-yeong (韓季英, 1568 – ?)
- Maternal grandson: Han Sa-seon (韓師善, 1570 – ?)
- Maternal granddaughter: Han Sin-yeong (韓辛英, 1571 – ?)
- Maternal granddaughter: Han Jong-yeong (韓終英, 1572 – ?)
- Son: Jeong Chang-yeon (鄭昌衍, 1552 – 1636)
- Daughter-in-law: daughter of Han Se-geon (韓世健), Byeoljwa (別坐), Cheongju Han clan
- Grandson: Jeong Gwang-seong (鄭廣成, 1576 – 1654)
- Grandson: Jeong Gwang-gyeong (鄭廣敬, 1586 – 1644)
- Fifth daughter: Jeong Yun-yang (鄭胤養, 1559 – ?)
- Son-in-law: Yi Seong-rin (李成麟)
Life
He passed the civil service examination during the reign of King Jungjong and served as Gongjo Jwarang (工曹佐郞) and Jeong-eon (正言) of the Office of Remonstrance. Later, after serving as Jeong-eon and Jeongrang (正郞) of the Ministry of Personnel, he impeached Hong Eon-pil, Yun In-gyeong, Seong Se-chang, Yu Gwan, Yun Im, Jeong Sa-ryong, Sin Gwang-han, Sim Yeon-won, Yu In-suk, Kwon Byeok, Yun Gae, and Yun Won-no, among others, and had them exiled. Then, during the reign of King Myeongjong, he served as Uijeongbu Geomsang (議政府檢詳) and Uijeongbu Sain (議政府舍人), and after Geomsang and Sain he was promoted to Sahongbu Jipyeong (司憲府執義). He then served as Bujeong (副正) of the Sansimsi (司僕寺) and became Vice Director (副校理) of the Hongmun-gwan, then Sidokgwan (侍讀官), and was favored by King Myeongjong. After serving as Sigang-gwan (侍講官), while serving as Gyori (校理) he impeached Yun Won-hyeong several times together with Yi Jun-gyeong, Yi Yun-gyeong, Sim Yeon-won, Hong Seom, and others. Later he was promoted to Vice Responder (副應敎) and Responder (應敎) of the Hongmun-gwan, and in doing so he allied with the remaining forces of the Great Yun faction. He was respected by the Hungu faction, the Soyun faction, and the Sarim faction alike. Afterward, after serving as Sigang-gwan and Sain, he rose to the senior rank (堂上官) as Right Assistant Royal Secretary (東部承旨), and he won the favor of King Myeongjong. He strove to reform the abuses of Joseon at that time, and then, through the king's favor, he was promoted to Left Assistant Royal Secretary (左部承旨). Afterward, after serving as Chamchan-gwan (參贊官) and Saeungji (色承旨), he became Right Royal Secretary (右承旨). He then became (都承旨), and during his time as Chief Royal Secretary he impeached Yun Won-hyeong several times together with , , , , and others, but he failed to remove Yun Won-hyeong. Afterward he became Vice Director (副提學) of the , and stood against the anti-Yun Won-hyeong forces together with , , , , , , , , , and . He concurrently served as Chamchan-gwan and joined the faction of Yi Ryang, and he impeached Yun Won-hyeong several times together with , , , , , , and others. Afterward he became Dongji Jungchubusa (同知中樞府事) and was again made of the . He then concurrently served as Chamchan-gwan while serving as Chief Royal Secretary, after which he became of the , and while concurrently serving as Vice Director of the , he was promoted to , Vice Minister of Rites, and , and soon thereafter was promoted to and . He later rose to , , and , but was accused of belonging to the faction of , was impeached, and withdrew from court. However, through his continued ties with the Hungu faction and the Seoin faction, he later became Jungchubusa, and after and he rose to Sungjeong Daebu (崇政大夫) and concurrently served as Teukjingwan (特進官). He again became , rose to and , then served as and , and after he reached .
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