Cho Pak

Cho Pak (; 1356 – December 22, 1408) was a Korean civil official during the late Goryeo and early Joseon era. The brother-in-law of King Taejong, Cho was a contributor to the founding of the Joseon dynasty.

Biography Cho Pak was born in 1356 as a member of the Pyongyang Cho clan. Cho was the son of Cho Sagyŏm , who served as chŏnŭiryŏng . Cho Pak's art name was Ujŏng and his courtesy name was Ansŏk. In 1382, Cho passed the literary examination.

As the brother-in-law of Yi Pangwŏn, son of Yi Sŏnggye, Cho Pak was a supporter of Yi Sŏnggye and his ambitions. As a result, Chŏng Mong-ju, Yi's political rival, demoted Cho to the post of magistrate of Cheongju. On April 23, 1392, Cho was stripped of his post as magistrate and exiled. However, Chŏng was killed and Yi Sŏnggye was able to found the new Joseon dynasty. As a reward for his contributions, Cho was awarded Dynasty Founding Merit Subject First Class , given the office of Minister of Rites , and enfeoffed as the Lord of Pyeongwon . A month after the founding of the new dynasty, Cho was also given the post of surveillance commissioner of Yanggwang Province . In 1394, he was appointed as the governor of Jeolla province. He was pardoned on April 10.

In 1398, Cho was appointed as inspector-general . He helped his in-law, prince Yi Pangwŏn, to triumph in the First Strife of the Princes and was made a merit subject. In 1400, he was exiled to Icheon for false accusations against Cho Chun. However, in the same year, he was recalled from exile and given the post of assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery . In 1401, Yi Pangwŏn, now King Taejong, made Cho a merit subject for his achievements in bringing Taejong to the throne. In 1408, he was appointed the Minister of Taxation and the provincial garrison commander of Tongbungmyŏn .