Yun Chun-nyeon

Yun Chun-nyeon (尹春年, 1514 – October 5, 1567) was a Confucian scholar-official of the mid-Joseon period. His family seat was Papyeong (坡平). His courtesy name was Eongu (彦久), and his pen names were Hakeum (學音) and Changju (滄洲). He was a great-grandson of Gyegyeom (繼謙). His grandfather was Lim (琳), and his father was Vice Minister of Personnel Yun An-in (尹安仁). His mother was a daughter of Jeong Yeo-gwan (鄭汝寬).¹

He was a relative of Yun Won-hyeong, Yun Won-ro, and Yun Won-hyeong. He was recorded as a selected official of the Cheongbaekri (clean officials) list, and he was known for highly regarding Kim Si-seup and Yu Eung-bu, saying they were like Confucius. He transcribed Kim Si-seup's and Yu Eung-bu's New Tales from Mount Geumo, and his transcribed copy was also transmitted to Japan.

Life

In 1534 (the 29th year of King Jungjong's reign), he became a Saengwon (a successful candidate in the lower civil service examination). In 1543, he passed the regular civil service examination with the highest grade. Afterward, he served in literary posts (文翰職), and when the Eulsa Literati Purge occurred in 1545 (the first year of King Myeongjong's reign), he flattered his relative, the Soyun faction's Yun Won-hyeong (尹元衡), and took the lead in eliminating the Yuyun faction. The following year, he became a Junior Secretary of the Ministry of War and worked hard to eliminate Yun Won-ro (尹元老).

Because of this, he received the favor of Yun Won-hyeong and rapidly rose in rank. After serving as Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Chief Censor, and Lecturer, among other posts, he was promoted to Grand Remonstrator in 1553. Two years later, after serving as Vice Academy Director, he became Minister of Justice, but he failed to refute Yun Won-hyeong's proposal to allow the admission of secondary-class offspring (庶孼許通論), and received much criticism.

In 1558, he went to the Ming dynasty as a concurrent Winter Solstice and Petition Envoy, and afterward became Minister of Personnel. In 1565, while serving as Minister of Rites, he was dismissed from office after Yun Won-hyeong was removed, and he retired to his hometown. It is said that his character was frivolous and proud, and that from an early age he claimed to be a great scholar, so he had much ambition for fame. However, he did not indulge in drinking or women and was relatively upright and incorruptible, and he was selected as one of the .