경주 정씨(慶州 鄭氏) — Said to take Ji Baek-ho, chieftain of Jasanjinji village among Saro's six villages, as founder, the Gyeongju Jeong clan is counted among Silla's six surnames. With Jeong Jin-hu of Goryeo as mid-founder it divides into four branches and produced Jeong Hui-gye, a founding merit subject of Joseon, Jeong Bal, hero of the Imjin War, Jeong Sa-jun under Yi Sun-sin and the scholar Jeong Ji-un.
Said to take Ji Baek-ho, chieftain of Jasanjinji village among Saro's six villages, as founder, the Gyeongju Jeong clan is counted among Silla's six surnames. With Jeong Jin-hu of Goryeo as mid-founder it divides into four branches and produced Jeong Hui-gye, a founding merit subject of Joseon, Jeong Bal, hero of the Imjin War, Jeong Sa-jun under Yi Sun-sin and the scholar Jeong Ji-un. In the 2015 Census the 경주 정씨 clan numbered about 350,587 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 정, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 경주) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.
The Gyeongju Jeong (慶州 鄭氏), counted at 350,587 in the 2015 census, is a large clan with its seat in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang. The register is said to take as founder Ji Baek-ho (智伯虎), chieftain of Jinji village (Jasanjinji) among the six villages of Saro in the foundation legends. Wikipedia says he helped enthrone Bak Hyeokgeose and was enfeoffed as Lord Nakrang and given the Jeong surname when the six districts were renamed in the 9th year of King Yuri (32 CE); this rests on the tales in the Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa and is better read as a clan origin story. The same source also gives an account that his fifth-generation descendant Jeong Dong-chung was granted the surname.
Because the generations between Ji Baek-ho and the Goryeo period are not documented, the clan honors Jeong Jin-hu (鄭珍厚; pen name Maepo, posthumous title Munjeong), who passed the Goryeo civil examination, held posts such as Jeongdang munhak, minister of war and Pyeongjangsa, and was enfeoffed as Lord Wolseong, as its mid-founder. His tomb is said to be at Nogok-ri, Naenam-myeon, Wolseong County. Joseon civil-examination graduates are given as 25 (15 in a clan source), so the figures differ.
The Jeong surname has many seats. Jeong Mong-ju and Jeong Cheol belong to the Yeonil (Yeongil) Jeong, Jeong In-ji and Jeong Yeo-chang to the Hadong Jeong, and Jeong Gwang-pil and Jeong Won-yong to the Dongnae Jeong. Jeong Ji (鄭地), the late Goryeo naval commander, was of the Naju Jeong, as is Jeong Yak-yong. Jeong Bal of the Imjin War is a Gyeongju Jeong; check the seat in the register or Wikipedia so as not to confuse namesakes. Compare the Dongnae, Yeonil, Hadong, Jinju and Naju Jeong pages on this site.
The clan divides into four main branches (sapajong): Munheon-gong, Yanggyeong-gong, Wolseongwi-gong and Pyeongjang-gong, which later split into some thirty lines. The Munheon-gong branch descends from Jeong Hyeon-yeong, a chancellor, and the Yanggyeong-gong branch from Joseon founding merit subject Jeong Hui-gye. The Munheon-gong branch splits into a senior house under eldest son Jong-cheol and a junior house under second son Jong-bo; the Okgye-gong and Seongeun-gong lines of Suncheon continue from the junior house's Nosongjeong-gong line. The Wolseongwi-gong name is explained as coming from Jeong I-gi, a Goryeo royal son-in-law, and Pyeongjang-gong from an ancestor who was Pyeongjangsa, but the founders and lineages of these two branches differ by source and need checking against the register.
After Jeong Jin-hu, Jeong Hwi (munha pyeongni) and his son Jeong Hui-gye appear in late Goryeo. Hui-gye joined the founding of Joseon in 1392, was enrolled as a Jwamyeong merit subject and was made Lord Gyerim. His descendant Jeong Bal died at Busanjin, the first battlefield of the Imjin War. Jeong Ji-nyeon is said to have withdrawn home when King Danjong was deposed, while his sons Jeong Hyo-hang and Jeong Hyo-sang entered office from Sejo's reign, one working on the Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam and the other becoming Minister of Personnel. Royal ties include Lady Hyebin Jeong, a consort of King Injong, and the wife of Prince Yeongsan, a son of King Seongjong (some records write one of these as Gwangju Jeong).
Jeong Nae, great-grandson of Jeong Ji-nyeon, is known to have moved from Namwon to Suncheon in the early 16th century. His son Jeong Seung-bok repelled Japanese raiders in the 1555 and 1559 incursions, and Seung-bok's son Jeong Sa-jun is said to have made the Jeongcheol chongtong under Yi Sun-sin. His brothers Jeong Sa-hoeng, Jeong Sa-rip and Jeong Sa-jeong and nephews Jeong Bin and Jeong Seon also served under Yi, and Okgye Seowon in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon, enshrines them with Jeong Ji-nyeon as principal figure. This line within the Munheon-gong branch is a large house with about 7,500 members counted in Suncheon alone.
In the 16th century Jeong Ji-un (Chuman) wrote the Cheonmyeong Doseol, which set off the Four-Seven Debate between Yi Hwang and Gi Dae-seung. In modern times Wikipedia lists as Gyeongju Jeong figures such as Jeong Hui-chae, former University of Seoul president and lawmaker, Jeong Ji-hyeong, former president of the Seoul High Court, Jeong Sun-gyun, former head of Gangnam-gu, and Jeong Eun-bo, former FSS governor and Korea Exchange chairman.
Villages listed by Wikipedia include Baekseok-ri in Misan-myeon, Yeoncheon, and Hopyeong-dong, Namyangju (Gyeonggi); Namgok-dong in Gammun-myeon, Gimcheon, and Daejeon-dong in Bunam-myeon, Cheongsong (North Gyeongsang); Yulto-ri in Changseon-myeon, Namhae, and Sinjeon-ri in Sanyang-myeon, Tongyeong (South Gyeongsang); Chupungnyeong in Yeongdong (North Chungcheong); Chubu-myeon in Geumsan and Taean (South Chungcheong); Ojii-ri in Samgye-myeon, Imsil, and Beonam-myeon, Jangsu (North Jeolla); in South Jeolla, Suncheon (Daegok-ri in Byeollyang, Hoeryong-ri in Hwangjeon, Seonsan-ri in Juam and others), Goheung, Sinan, Jangseong, Haenam, Wando and Mokpo; and Jinpyeong-myeon, Yeongheung in South Hamgyeong. Yeosu also has villages introduced as Jeong clan villages, such as Hyeoncheon-ri in Sora-myeon and Wonpo in Hwayang-myeon. Overall the clan is concentrated on the South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang coasts and in northern Gyeonggi.
Jeong Bal's tomb at Baekseok-ri, Misan-myeon, Yeoncheon is a Gyeonggi Province monument, and in Busan the altar Jeonggongdan (Busan Monument No. 10) stands at the old fortress site. The tombs of Jeong Hui-gye and ancestors are said to lie in Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Okgye Seowon is in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon, and the tomb of Jeong Jin-hu is said to be at Nogok-ri in Naenam-myeon, Gyeongju. Known bodies include the Munheon-gong Daejonghoe, the Munheon-gong Chamui-gong Jongjung and the Yanggyeong-gong Jongyakwon, and Yeosu has a Gyeongju Jeong youth association. An official clan website and contact details could not be confirmed.
Generation-name characters differ by branch. Wikipedia tabulates them for the Munheon-gong branch as Yeong (永) at the 66th generation, Jo (朝) at the 67th, Byeong (炳) at the 68th and Gyun (均) at the 69th, and a clan source gives Jong (鍾) at the 70th, Su (洙) or Taek (澤) at the 71st, Rak (樂) at the 72nd and Seop (燮) at the 73rd. Generation numbers differ by source and actual use varies by region and family, so check against your own family register.
Munheon-gong-pa, Yanggyeong-gong-pa, Wolseongwi-gong-pa, Pyeongjang-gong-pa, Nosongjeong-gong-pa, Okgye-gong-pa, Seongeun-gong-pa, Chuman-gong-pa
The Munheon-gong branch descends from Jeong Hyeon-yeong (鄭玄英), who passed the Goryeo civil examination, served as minister of revenue and academician, rose to chancellor (munha sijung, senior first rank) and received the posthumous title Munheon. He is introduced as a grandson of Jeong Bo-gi, traditionally the 44th-generation descendant of the founder Ji Baek-ho, while one clan source counts him as 46th generation, so generation numbers differ by source. Descendants are known to live mainly in South Jeolla Province.
Clan materials treat his eldest son Jong-cheol (Lord Wolseong) as the senior house, whose descendants divide into Sunheung-gong, Chupa-gong, Uhu-gong, Jangheung-gong, Juksan-gong, Dongnae-gong, Byeolje-gong, Gyosu-gong and Gosan-gong lines. His second son Jong-bo (Ansuk-gong) is the junior house, dividing into Sangseo-gong, Palsong-gong, Jwayun-gong, Nosongjeong-gong and Chuman-gong lines.
The Nosongjeong-gong line of the junior house takes Jeong Ji-nyeon, who withdrew home when King Danjong was deposed, as founder and splits into Panseo-gong, Jean-gong, Chamui-gong and Gamsa-gong lines. The Gyeongju Jeong of Suncheon belong to this Nosongjeong line; the Okgye-gong line follows Jeong Seung-bok and the Seongeun-gong line Jeong Sa-jun, and the Chuman-gong line is associated with the scholar Jeong Ji-un. Besides Suncheon, many descendants live in Yeosu, Goheung, Sinan, Jangseong, Haenam and Wando.
Notable descendants include Jeong Ji-nyeon, Jeong Hyo-sang and Jeong Hyo-hang, as well as Jeong Seung-bok, Jeong Sa-jun and Jeong Ji-un. Clan bodies known include the Munheon-gong Daejonghoe and the Munheon-gong Chamui-gong Jongjung. Check detailed lineages against the clan register.
The Yanggyeong-gong branch descends from Jeong Hui-gye (鄭熙啓, 1348-1396), a Goryeo senior official (munha pyeongni) who is said to have been named a first-class founding merit subject of Joseon. It is one of the four main branches of the Gyeongju Jeong clan. The name comes from his posthumous title Yanggyeong (良景); some sources write it 襄景, so the character varies.
A son of Jeong Hwi, he held posts such as daehogun, millijik officials and governor of Hanseong, and is said to have risen to chanseongsa and Lord Gyerim. His son Jeong Gil-sang is recorded as the fifth-generation ancestor of Jeong Bal, who died in the Imjin War.
Notable descendants include Minister of Personnel Jeong Hyo-sang (Jean-gong) and Jeong Bal (Chungjang-gong). The tombs of Jeong Hui-gye and his forebears, with the branch's clan association office, are said to be in Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul.
It is said that the title of Jeong Hui-gye was revised to Yanggyeong after officials who proposed Anyang, Anhwang and Anhok at the Bongsangsi were punished under Taejo. Some write the branch name as 良景 and others as 襄景, so check the spelling in the register or at the Jongyakwon. The line continues through his son Jeong Gil-sang to his sixth-generation descendant Jeong Bal, who died at Busanjin in the Imjin War; Jeong Bal's tomb at Baekseok-ri, Yeoncheon and the Jeonggongdan altar in Busan are the line's best-known sites.
The Wolseongwi-gong branch is explained as taking its name from Jeong I-gi (鄭頤奇), who in Goryeo was appointed Lord Wolseongwi as a royal son-in-law. One branch source calls him a second-line descendant of the mid-founder Jeong Jin-hu (Munjeong-gong) and says the branch split at the 44th generation. But since generation numbers are inconsistent across sources, including a claim that the Pyeongjang-gong branch split at the 42nd, the exact timing should be checked against the register.
It belongs to the four main branches of the Gyeongju Jeong clan, and Wikipedia lists generation-name characters for each branch in a table. Local records of Suncheon sometimes write the branch as Wolseong-gong, so the name differs.
Jeong I-gi's dates, offices, notable descendants and settlements could not be confirmed. Wolseong is the old name of Gyeongju and Jeong Jin-hu was enfeoffed as Lord Wolseong, so a link between branch name and seat can be inferred, but specific descendant information is best asked of the clan.
The Pyeongjang-gong branch takes its name from the office of Pyeongjangsa (平章事) held by an ancestor in Goryeo, and is one of the four main branches of the Gyeongju Jeong clan. One branch source says this ancestor was a cousin of the mid-founder Jeong Jin-hu (Munjeong-gong) and that the branch split at the 42nd generation. Yet Jeong Jin-hu himself is introduced as having held posts including Jeongdang munhak, minister of war and Pyeongjangsa, so the ancestor's exact name and lineage differ by source and should be checked against the register.
Jeong Jin-hu passed the Goryeo civil examination, was enfeoffed as Lord Wolseong, and is known by the pen name Maepo and the posthumous title Munjeong; his tomb is said to be at Nogok-ri, Naenam-myeon, Wolseong County. How the Pyeongjang-gong branch connects to this line is explained differently by source.
Wikipedia tabulates the generation-name characters of this branch alongside the Munheon-gong, Yanggyeong-gong and Wolseongwi-gong branches from the 66th generation on. The founder's name and dates, notable descendants, clan bodies and settlements could not be confirmed.
The Nosongjeong-gong branch split from the junior house (second son Jong-bo line) of the Munheon-gong branch and takes as founder Jeong Ji-nyeon (1395-1462), who withdrew home when King Danjong was deposed and took the pavilion name Nosongjeong as his pen name. He passed the civil examination in 1438, served as Seonggyungwan Saye, and was posthumously raised to Left Minister and titled Lord Gyerim.
The Suncheon encyclopedia says the Gyeongju Jeong of Suncheon belong to the Nosongjeong-gong line, and that Jeong Ji-nyeon's great-grandson Jeong Nae (1491-1548) moved from Namwon to Suncheon in the early 16th century. Descendants live in Hoeryong-ri in Hwangjeon-myeon, Yogok-ri and Gosan-ri in Juam-myeon, Daegok-ri in Byeollyang-myeon and Dosa-dong, and the 2015 census is cited as counting 7,503 Gyeongju Jeong in Suncheon.
Clan cafe materials say it further divides into the Panseo-gong, Jean-gong, Chamui-gong and Gamsa-gong lines. The Panseo-gong name seems connected to the office of Minister Jeong Hyo-sang but this could not be confirmed. Notable descendants include sons Jeong Hyo-hang and Jeong Hyo-sang, and Jeong Seung-bok, son of the great-grandson Jeong Nae.
Okgye Seowon in Yeonhyang-dong, Suncheon enshrines Jeong Ji-nyeon as principal figure with five descendants, and the main family house keeps many old documents such as division records and royal certificates.
The Okgye-gong branch split from the Nosongjeong-gong line and takes as founder Jeong Seung-bok, whose pen name was Okgye (玉溪). After placing first in the military examination he repelled Japanese raiders in the 1555 and 1559 incursions and was posthumously raised to Vice Minister of War.
He had six sons, among them Jeong Sa-ik, Jeong Sa-jun, Jeong Sa-hoeng, Jeong Sa-jeong and Jeong Sa-rip. The Suncheon encyclopedia says brothers such as Jeong Sa-jun and Jeong Sa-hoeng and nephews Jeong Bin and Jeong Seon served under Left Naval Commander Yi Sun-sin, who submitted reports three times about their merit.
Descendants established themselves in Suncheon as a distinguished house by marrying into families such as the Okcheon Jo and Yangcheon Heo. Okgye Seowon in Myeongmal Village, Yeonhyang-dong, was demolished in 1868 and restored in 1953; it enshrines Jeong Seung-bok, Jeong Sa-jun, Jeong Sa-hoeng, Jeong Bin and Jeong Seon with Jeong Ji-nyeon as principal figure.
Generation numbers vary; one clan source counts Jeong Seung-bok as 54th generation from the 46th-generation Hyeon-yeong, but check the register.
The Seongeun-gong branch takes as mid-founder Jeong Sa-jun (pen name Seongeun), son of Jeong Seung-bok. He passed the military examination in 1584 and, in the Imjin War under Yi Sun-sin, is said to have developed the Jeongcheol chongtong modeled on the Japanese matchlock; he was posthumously raised to Vice Minister of War.
Clan materials say his younger brothers Jeong Sa-hoeng (Maeheon-gong), Jeong Sa-jeong and Jeong Sa-rip served with Yi Sun-sin, and that nephew Jeong Bin (Gokgu-gong) was also active. Descendants in this line include Jeong Sun (Jikjang-gong), Jeong Bin and Jeong Yeol (Tongdeok-rang).
His spirit-path stele stands at Dongsan-ri, Seo-myeon, Suncheon, and rites are held at Okgye Seowon in Yeonhyang-dong. His son Jeong Seon (courtesy name Gwanjung) became a royal escort after passing the military examination and accompanied King Seonjo on his flight to Uiju.
Yeosu has a Gyeongju Jeong youth association, and villages such as Hyeoncheon-ri in Sora-myeon, Wonpo in Hwayang-myeon, Myodo in Samil-eup, Dundeon in Dolsan-eup and Gaedo in Hwajeong-myeon are introduced as Jeong clan villages; whether they belong to the Seongeun-gong branch could not be confirmed.
The Chuman-gong branch split from the junior house (second son Jong-bo line) of the Munheon-gong branch and is listed in clan materials alongside the Sangseo-gong, Palsong-gong, Jwayun-gong and Nosongjeong-gong lines. The name Chuman (秋巒) is the pen name of the Neo-Confucian scholar Jeong Ji-un, so it seems connected to him, but who the founder was could not be confirmed.
Jeong Ji-un (1509-1561) was born in Goyang, studied under Kim Jeong-guk, Kim An-guk and Yi Hwang, and wrote the Cheonmyeong Doseol, which set off the Four-Seven Debate between Yi Hwang and Gi Dae-seung. His tomb in Goyang is Local Heritage No. 11 and he is said to have been enshrined at Munbong Seowon.
Lineage, descendants and clan bodies of this branch could not be confirmed, so verify with the clan or its register.
Do not confuse it with others who may use the same pen name; always check that a family belongs to the Gyeongju Jeong Munheon-gong line.
Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.
정발(Busanjin garrison commander in the Imjin War, Chungjang), 정희계(Joseon founding merit subject), 정효상(Minister of Personnel), 정지년(Nosongjeong, withdrew home when Danjong was deposed), 정효항(Seonggyungwan director, compiler of the Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam), 정승복(officer who repelled Japanese raiders), 정사준(developer of the Jeongcheol chongtong), 정지운(author of the Cheonmyeong Doseol, origin of the Four-Seven Debate), 정희채(University of Seoul president and lawmaker), 정지형(president of the Seoul High Court), 정은보(FSS governor and Korea Exchange chairman), 정순균(head of Gangnam-gu)
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The Gyeongju Jeong clan (慶州 鄭氏) takes Gyeongju as its seat and is introduced as one of the six ancient Silla surnames. Its genealogy is said to name Ji Baek-ho, chieftain of Jasanjinji village among the six villages of Saro, as founder. This rests on the Silla foundation legends in the Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa and is better read as a clan origin tale than as established history.
Because the generations between Ji Baek-ho and the Goryeo period are not documented, Jeong Jin-hu (鄭珍厚), said to have passed the civil examination and been enfeoffed as Lord Wolseong, is described as the mid-founder (first generation).
The 2015 census is reported to count about 350,587 members. Clan villages are listed in Yeoncheon, Yeongdong, Geumsan, Imsil, Suncheon, Yeosu, Goheung, Sinan, Jangseong, Namhae, Tongyeong, Cheongsong and Gimcheon, among others.
Silla-era accounts are largely legendary; the lineage becomes documented from Goryeo. After Jeong Jin-hu, figures such as Jeong Hwi (a minister) and his son Jeong Hui-gye are said to have raised the family's standing.
Jeong Hui-gye's merit in founding Joseon lifted the family, and officials such as Jeong Ji-nyeon and his son Jeong Hyo-sang followed. Royal marriage ties include Lady Hyebin Jeong, a consort of King Injong, and the wife of Prince Yeongsan. In the Imjin War, Jeong Bal died defending Busanjin and is remembered as the clan's emblem of loyalty.
The clan is said to divide into four main branches: Munheon-gong, Yanggyeong-gong, Wolseongwi-gong and Pyeongjang-gong. Munheon-gong traces to Jeong Hyeon-yeong and Yanggyeong-gong to Jeong Hui-gye; sources differ on the founders and lineages of the other two, so consult branch genealogies.
The branch descends from Jeong Hui-gye (1348-1396), who served Goryeo as a senior official and, after the founding of Joseon, is said to have been named a first-class founding merit subject and held posts including governor of Hanseong. His posthumous title is given as Yanggyeong (良景), though some sources write the first character as 襄. Notable descendants include Minister of Personnel Jeong Hyo-sang (Jean-gong) and Jeong Bal, whose fifth-generation ancestor was Hui-gye's son Jeong Gil-sang.
Figures introduced under the clan include Jeong Jin-hu and Jeong Hwi of Goryeo, and Jeong Hui-gye, Jeong Ji-nyeon, Jeong Hyo-sang, Lady Hyebin and Jeong Bal of Joseon. Jeong Bal, the 'Black-Clothed General' (posthumous title Chungjang), has his own page on this site. Do not confuse them with Jeongs of other seats such as Jeong Mong-ju or Jeong In-ji.
Jeong Bal's tomb stands in Misan-myeon, Yeoncheon, and Jeonggongdan altar marks Busanjin fortress. The Yanggyeong-gong branch is said to keep tombs of Jeong Hui-gye and ancestors, and its clan association office, in Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul.
Branch bodies such as the Munheon-gong grand association and the Yanggyeong-gong clan association are active. Genealogies such as Gyeongju Jeong Daegwan exist; verify generation lines in branch registers.
The 경주 정씨 clan association can be found in the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.
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