Sim Gyeol (沈決, 1419–1470) was a scholar-official of Joseon. He was the son of Chief State Councillor Sim On and the younger brother of Queen Soheon. Therefore, he was the brother-in-law of Sejong and the maternal uncle of Munjong and Sejo. He was also the younger brother of Chief State Councillor Sim Hoe, Prince Consort Cheongsong. His courtesy name was Tongji (通之), and his posthumous name was Jeongi (靖夷).
Life
Because of the involvement of his father, Sim On, who was executed for treason, he was implicated and could not take office for a time.1 During the reign of Munjong, he was appointed to office together with his elder brother Sim Hoe, his nephew Sim Mi (沈湄, son of his eldest brother Sim Jun), and his nephew Kang Hui-an, and became Sub-Secretary of the Office of Royal In-laws (敦寧府注簿).2 During the reign of Danjong, he became Vice Minister of the Office of Royal In-laws (同知敦寧府事).3 During the reign of Sejo, he rose to Minister of Public Works (工曹判書)4, Chief of the Jungchuwon (判中樞院事)5, and Chief of the Yeongjungchubu (領中樞府事).6 During the reign of Seongjong, he became Acting Chief of the Jungchubu (行 判中樞府事) with the title Grand Minister of Meritorious Service (大匡輔國崇祿大夫)7 and Chief of the Donnyeongbu (判敦寧府事).8
Haeng Pan Donnyeongbu-sa (Acting Chief of the Office of Royal In-laws) Sim Gyeol died. Court assemblies were suspended, and funeral rites and a state burial were conducted in the usual manner. Sim Gyeol's courtesy name was Tongji, and he was the younger brother of Queen Soheon (昭憲王后) 689), whose father Sim On had died as a criminal, so he was deprived of office and could not take up a post (廢錮) 690). In the Gyeongtae era, the year Gyeongo 691), Munjong first recalled him and made him Sub-Secretary of the Office of Royal In-laws, and he quickly rose to Vice Minister of the Office of Royal In-laws. In the year Euhae 692), Sejo again promoted him to Vice Chief of the Jungchuwon with the rank of Tongjeong Daebu (通政大夫). In the year Byeongja 693), he was raised to Assistant Vice Chief of the Jungchuwon with the rank of Gayeon Daebu (嘉善大夫). In the Cheonsun era, the year Jeongchuk 694), he was raised to Gajeong Daebu (嘉靖大夫). In the year Gimyo 695), he was transferred to Magistrate of Insun Prefecture (仁順府尹), and soon he rose to Jeongheon Daebu (正憲大夫). In the year Gyeongjin 696), he rose to Jigungchuwonsa (知中樞院事) with the rank of Sungjeong Daebu (崇政大夫). In the year Sinsa 697), he became Minister of Public Works with the rank of Sungnok Daebu (崇祿大夫). In the year Gyemi 698), he was transferred to Pan Jungchuwonsa. In the year Byeongsul of the Chenghua era 699), he rose to Yeongjungchubusa with the rank of Bogug Sungnok Daebu (輔國崇祿大夫), and soon he was transferred to Pan Jungchubusa. In the year Gichuk 700), he rose to Pan Donnyeongbusa with the rank of Daegwang Bogug Sungnok Daebu (大匡輔國崇祿大夫), and at that time he died, at the age of 52. He was given the posthumous name Jeongi (靖夷): one who humbly governed himself and spoke little is called Jeong (靖), and one who calmed his mind and loved stillness is called I (夷). Sim Gyeol's character was gentle and good by nature, and his appearance and manners were upright. When Sejo summoned him inside, he treated him with the courtesy of a family member, calling him maternal uncle and not using his name. He had a son, Sim Jeongwon (沈貞源).
— Seongjong Sillok, year 1 (1470), 8th month, 6th day, 11th article – Obituary of Haeng Pan Donnyeongbu-sa Sim Gyeol
Family
- Great-grandfather: Sim Yong (沈龍)
- Grandfather: Sim Deok-bu (沈德符)
- Father: Sim On (沈溫)
- Mother: Lady Ahn of Sunheung (順興府夫人 安氏)
- Eldest brother: Sim Jun (沈濬)
- Nephew: Sim Mi – Governor of Hwanghae Province
- Nephew: Sim Chi – Magistrate of Hansung Prefecture
- Second brother: Sim Hoe
- Nephew: Sim In – Vice Minister of the Byeongjo
- Nephew: Sim Han – Meritorious Subject of Jwari, Cheongcheon-gun, Vice Magistrate of Hansung Prefecture
- Nephew: Sim Won – Judge of the Naejasi
- Eldest sister: Queen Soheon
- Eldest brother-in-law: Sejong
- Second brother-in-law: Kang Seok-deok (1395–)
- Third brother-in-law: No Mul-jae
- Fourth brother-in-law: Yu Ja-hae
- Fifth brother-in-law: Yi Sung-ji
- Sixth brother-in-law: Park Geo-so
- Wife: Lady Shin of Geochang (cousin of Geochang Buwon-gun Sin Seung-seon)
- Eldest son: Sim Jeongwon (沈貞源) – Naval Commander of the Left Jeolla Province
Appearances of Sim Gyeol in works
Notes