Song Gyu-ryeom

Song Gyu-ryeom (宋奎濂, 1630 ∼ 1709) was a civil official of Joseon. His courtesy name was Dowon, his art name was Jewoldang, and his family seat was Eunjin. He was a disciple of Song Jun-gil and Song Si-yeol. He was a great-grandson of Song Nam-su. His posthumous name was Munhui.

He studied under Song Jun-gil, and later also entered the school of Song Si-yeol and learned under him as his teacher. He passed the Samasi examination at the age of 19, and in 1654, during the reign of King Hyojong, he passed the civil service examination and served as Jeongeon and Left Secretary of the Personnel Board, among other posts. He went out as magistrate of Seocheon County and achieved great merit in governance. In 1667 he rose to Vice Censor-General through the post of Sagan, and then to Chief Secretary of the Office of Inspection. During the reign of King Hyeonjong, as Sagan, he petitioned for the pardon of Song Si-yeol, Song Jun-gil, and others, and was dismissed from office for doing so. In 1680, when the Westerners seized power in the Gyeongsin Great Purge, he was restored and served as Vice Minister of Public Works, Grand Sagan, and other posts. In 1699 he entered the Gisabang (Council of Elder Statesmen), and was appointed Chief Secretary of the Office of Inspection, Vice Chief State Councillor, Minister of Rites, and other posts, but he declined all of them, and at the age of 80 he rose to Concurrent Minister of Royal Relatives. He was enshrined alone at Mihoseowon. He excelled in scholarship, and together with Song Si-yeol and Song Jun-gil he was called the "Three Songs." Together with Song Jun-gil and Song Si-yeol, he wrote the Hoedeok Village Code. His writings include the Jewoldangjip (제월당집).

The Song Gyu-ryeom Letter Album (簡牘帖), which currently survives as three volumes, consists of letters received by the Song Gyu-ryeom family, sorted by type and mounted into albums. It is presumed that it originally comprised ten volumes, but the holdings currently registered at the Daejeon History Museum are three volumes: Volume 7, "Sanlim (山林)," Volume 8, "Munhyeong (文衡)," and Volume 10, "Jigu (知舊)." On June 22, 2012, it was designated Daejeon Metropolitan City Tangible Cultural Property No. 49.¹

Family