Jeong Cheol

Chŏng Ch'ŏl (; December 18, 1536 – February 7, 1594) was a Korean statesman and poet. He used the pen-names Kyeham and Songgang , and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang. He was expelled by the Easterners. He was from the Yeonil Chŏng clan .

Family

Father Chŏng Yuch'im (; 1493–1570) Mother Lady An of the Juksan An clan (; 1495–1573) Siblings Older brother - Chŏng Cha (; 1515–1547) Older brother - Chŏng So (; 1518–1572) Older sister - Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (; August 1520 – March 25, 1566) Brother-in-law - King Injong of Joseon (; March 10, 1515 – August 7, 1545) Older sister - Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (연일 정씨; 1521–1596) Older brother - Chŏng Hwang (정황; 鄭滉; 1528–1588) Younger sister - Princess Consort Och'ŏn of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (; 1542–?) Wives and their children Lady Yu of the Munhwa Yu clan (; 1535–1598) Daughter - Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (연일 정씨; 1556) Son - Chŏng Kimyŏng (; 1558–1589) Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (연일 정씨; 1559–?) Son - Chŏng Chongmyŏng (; 1565–1626) Son - Chŏng Chinmyŏng (; 1567–1614) Daughter - Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (연일 정씨; 1576–?) Son - Chŏng Hong-myŏng (; March 7, 1582 – October 2, 1650) Concubine - Chinok Concubine - Lady Kang'a

Literary works He is prominent in the gasa and the sijo, which are forms of classical Korean poetry.

The following two poems are an exchange between Chŏng Ch'ŏl and the gisaeng Chinok. Chŏng is playing on Chinok's name, which means Genuine Gem. First he calls her a gem (ok; 玉), then suggests she is an imitation (pŏn-ok; 燔玉) and finally finds her to be genuine (chin-ok; 眞玉). Verse translation|italicsoff=y| Gem, oh, they talk of a gem but I thought it an imitation. Now I know for certain it is a genuine gem. My thrusting gimlet will carry you with me. - Chŏng Ch'ŏl to Chinok