Yu Sŏngnyong

Yu Sŏngnyong (; 7 November 1542 – May 1607), also known as Ryu Sŏngnyong , was a scholar-official of the Joseon period of Korea. He held many responsibilities, including the Chief State Councillor position in 1592. He was a member of the "Eastern faction" and a follower of Yi Hwang.

Early life and education Yu was born in Hahoe Maeul, Andong, Gyeongsang Province (today a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to a yangban family of the .

Yu is said to have been so precocious that he absorbed the teachings of Confucius and Mencius at the age of 8. In 1564 the 19th year of Myeongjong, he passed the Samasi examination, and in 1566 he passed the Mun-gwa at a special examination, and then took the post of kwŏnji bujŏngja . He held various other positions and in 1569 he joined the imperial birthday mission to Ming as a Seojanggwan (서장관, 書狀官, the third of the mission), returning to Korea the following year.

Career Thereafter he held posts including Inspector of Classics and devoted himself to editing, being granted a royal sabbatical . Subsequently, he held posts including kyori (교리, ranked 5a) and ŭnggyo (응교, 應敎, ranked 4a). He was appointed chik chehak in 1575 and pujehak in 1576. Continually he held posts including tosŏngji (都承旨), taesahŏn and taejehak .

In 1590, he was appointed Uŭijŏng (Third State Councillor), honored with the third rank of Kwanguk Kongsin , and appointed as Pungwŏn Buwŏngun . In 1591, he was promoted to Chwaŭijŏng (Second State Councillor) and ijo p'ansŏ (이조판서, Minister of Personnel, the first ranked of the six Ministries). However, the Easterners faction split into the Southerners and the Northerners. Yu Sŏngnyong was a Southerner (claiming exile, instead of death, for Chŏng Ch'ŏl, the leader of the Westerners rival faction).

He was in the rank of provincial to ch'ech'alsa when the Imjin War broke out. In 1592 he was appointed Yŏngŭijŏng, the Chief State Councillor. Yu Sŏngnyong accompanied the royal family from Hanseong to Uiju. In this capacity, he oversaw all military units and called leaders like Yi Sun-sin and Kwŏn Yul to battle. He also fought on the Korean-Chinese allied forces side in the Siege of Pyongyang. He suggested of establishment the Hunnyeon Dogam (훈련도감, 訓鍊都監, Military Training Agency).

In 1598, he was ousted by the Northerners faction. But King Seonjo rehabilitated him. However, he refused to take office as a minister in 1600. Nevertheless, in 1602, he was honored with the second rank of Hosŏng Kongsin , and appointed again as Pungwŏn Buwŏngun.

Family Parents Father: Yu Chung-yŏng (유중영; 1515 – 1573) Mother: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan Consorts and their issue(s): Wife: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan Yu Wi (유위), 1st son Yu Yŏ (유여), 2nd son Yu Tan (유단), 3rd son Yu Chin (유진), 4th son Wife: Lady Chang of the Indong Chang clan Yu Ch'o (유초), 5th son Yu Ch'ŏm (유첨), 6th son

Later life and death After which he spent his time on political writing until his death in 1607.

Legacy Yu's major writings are preserved in the Sŏae chip (The Anthology of Seoae, 서애집, 西厓集), Jingbirok (The Book of Corrections), and minor writings as Hwanghwa chip , Chŏngch'ungrok . Yu Sŏngnyong was enshrined in the Byeongsan Seowon and Hogye Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province.

Popular culture Portrayed by Lee Jae-ryong in the 2004–2005 KBS1 TV series Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Portrayed by Kim Sang-joong in the 2015 KBS1 TV series The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War.