Yu Bong-hwi

Yu Bong-hwi (柳鳳輝, 1659 ~ 1727) was a civil official of late Joseon. His family seat was Munhwa. His courtesy name was Gyechang (季昌), and his art name was Mana (晩菴). His posthumous name was Chungjeong (忠靖).

Life

In 1697 (23rd year of King Sukjong), he passed the regular civil service examination and was ranked in the third class. He served in succession as Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Right Remonstrator, Assistant Lecturer, Assistant Compiler, Rectifying Remonstrator, and Literary Official. He then went through the posts of Vice Director of the Hall of Worthies and Grand Remonstrator, and served as Governor of Jeolla Province and Vice Minister of Personnel. Late in King Sukjong's reign, he became Chief Royal Secretary, Vice Commissioner of the Royal Court of Justice, and Vice Director of the Hall of Worthies again, and he held the outer post of Governor of Gaeseong. In 1721 (1st year of King Gyeongjong), while he was out of office, the Noron faction took the lead in trying to have the king's younger half-brother, Yeonin-gun (延仍君), designated as heir presumptive. He strongly opposed this and failed.

While serving as Chief Censor and Right Assistant State Councillor, after the heir presumptive was made regent, he, as the leader of the Soron faction, argued that it was improper for the regency to be carried out when the king was not ill. He succeeded in having the regency withdrawn and brought down the Noron faction. In 1722 he became Right Vice Attendant (右副賓客). He then served as Yemungwan Chief Secretary and Minister of Rites of the Ministry of Rites, and in 1723 he was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Afterwards he served as Chief Secretary of the Hongmungwan and Minister of the Ministry of War.

In 1725, after King Yeongjo ascended the throne, when a coalition government of Noron and Soron was established under the Tangpyeong policy, he became Right State Councillor. He then rose, as one of the Four Great Ministers of the Soron faction, to Right State Councillor and finally Left State Councillor. However, the Noron faction persistently attacked him as the leader of the Sinim Literati Purge, and the following year he was dismissed from office. He was placed under exile in Gyeongheung, where he died.

Family

• • • Grandfather: Yu Seong-o (柳誠吾), adopted son of Yu Sok and eldest son of Yu Jun
      • Father: Yu Sang-un (柳尙運, 1636 ~ 1707)
      • Mother: Jeonui Yi clan - daughter of Yi Haeng-won (李行遠, 1592 ~ 1648)
        • Wife: Haman Jo clan - daughter of Jo Geun (趙根, 1631 ~ 1680)
          • Eldest son: Yu Pil-won (柳弼垣)
          • Daughter-in-law: Paepyeong Yun clan - daughter of Yun Jeong (尹定)