So Se-yang

So Se-yang (蘇世讓, 1486 – 1562) was a Korean scholar-official of the mid-Joseon period. His family seat was Jinju, his pen name was Eongyeom, and his courtesy name was Yanggok.

Life

During the reign of King Jungjong, he passed the civil service examination and served as Jeongyeong, Gisagwan, Busuchan, Geomtogwan, Suchan, Jeongeon, Sidokgwan, Jipyeong, Ijo Jeongnang, Jeommabyeolgam, Jangakwon Cheomjeong, and Jangnyeong, among other posts. He was dispatched outside the capital as a special investigator for Pyeongan Province, and after returning he served as Sain, Chamsigwan, Sidokgwan, Bodeok of the Sigangwon, Sagan, Munsagwan, Jibui, and Jeonhan. In 1521 he became Direct Learning Official of the Hongmungwan, and he was also appointed as a secretary (jongsagwan). Afterward he went to Ming China as a reception official (seonwisa), and in 1522 he was promoted to senior rank and became Left Assistant Secretary. He then served as Right Assistant Secretary while concurrently serving as a Chamchan-gwan; he was sent out as Governor of Hwanghae Province and, after returning, became Vice Minister of Personnel. In 1527 he was again sent out as Magistrate of Jeonju, then returned to the capital as Vice Minister of Rites, and was later sent out as Governor of Jeolla Province before returning to become Vice Minister of Justice. He was then appointed Naval Commander of Chungcheong Province, again going outside the capital. After that he passed through the post of Vice Minister of Rites and was appointed Governor of Chungcheong Province. Afterward he served as Mayor of Hanseong and then became Minister of Public Works, after which he served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Rites, concurrently serving as a special advisor (teukjingwan). Thereafter, while serving as Minister of Justice and Minister of Revenue, he went to China again as a reception official, and later became Minister of War, concurrently serving as a Sangsigwan. He was then appointed Minister of Personnel, and afterward, enjoying the favor of King Jungjong, became Right State Councillor. He later served as Left State Councillor, then Chief Royal Secretary (daejehak), and was again appointed Minister of Personnel. After that he was again made Left State Councillor, then passed through Pangjungchubusa and became Minister of Justice. After King Injong's accession, he was demoted following impeachment by the faction of Yun Im, but after King Myeongjong's accession, he contributed to driving out Yun Im's faction during the Eulsa Purge and was again made Left State Councillor. He later retired and moved to Iksan.

Anecdotes

He was an exceptionally outstanding scholar, and an anecdote about him and Hwang Jini has been passed down.