Sim Dal-won

Sim Dal-won (沈達源, 1494 – 20 November 1535) was a civil official of mid-Joseon Korea. His family seat was Cheongsong (靑松), and his courtesy name was Jayong (子容). He was listed among the Gimyo Myeonghyeon.

Family background

He was the great-grandson of Sim Hoe (沈澮), Prince Cheongsong, who served as Chief State Councillor during the reign of King Sejo. He was the second son of Sim Sun-mun (沈順門), who was posthumously appointed Chief State Councillor. He was the younger brother of Sim Yeon-won (沈連源), Prince Cheongcheon, who served as Chief State Councillor during the reign of King Myeongjong, and the elder brother of Sim Bong-won (沈逢源), a Vice Minister of the Dongnyeongbu, and of Sim Tong-won (沈通源), who served as Left State Councillor during the reign of King Myeongjong. He was also the son-in-law of Yun Hee-in (尹希仁), who served as Vice Minister of Personnel during the reign of King Jungjong. Later, he was adopted as the son of Sim Hyeong (沈瀅), a magistrate of Geumcheon, who was his second cousin on his father's side.¹

When he was still a student, in 1506, shortly after the Jungjong Restoration, he was selected together with his elder brother Sim Yeon-won as a third-rank Jeongguk Wonjong merit subject.² He studied under Kim An-guk and passed the special examination in 1509.

Career

In 1517, he passed the special civil service examination with a second-class rank. After serving as a probationary Junior Secretary of the Seungmunwon, he held posts in the Yemun-gwan as Compiler, in the Hongmungwan as Assistant Compiler, and in the Seungjeongwon as Royal Secretary. In 1519, while serving as Assistant Compiler of the and Left Secretary of the , he was appointed concurrently to a post in the because of his skill in . That same year, he passed through the post of Compiler of the and Reviewer as a Gyeongyeon lecturer. While on night duty as Assistant Compiler of the , the broke out. Because he was regarded as a follower of , he was the first to be imprisoned and was then exiled. Some time later he was released, and after serving as Left Secretary of the , he became Senior Lecturer of the in 1522. Because he was proficient in , in 1528 he accompanied the envoy to the for the Emperor's birthday (聖節使) as a . In 1523 (the 18th year of King Jungjong's reign), he became (Magistrate's assistant). In 1528, he became Deputy Commandant of the . In 1531, he served successively as Secretary of the , Jeong of the , and Jeong of the . Afterward, he was appointed Chief Examiner of the , but was later dismissed from office.