하동 정씨 family tree

하동 정씨(河東 鄭氏) — The clan is known for producing Jeong In-ji, who took part in compiling the Hunminjeongeum in the early Joseon period.

About the 하동 정씨 clan

The clan is known for producing Jeong In-ji, who took part in compiling the Hunminjeongeum in the early Joseon period. In the 2015 Census the 하동 정씨 clan numbered about 187,152 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 정, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 하동) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.

Roots and History of the Hadong Jeong Clan

Founder and origin of the clan seat

The Hadong Jeong clan (河東 鄭氏) takes present-day Hadong County, South Gyeongsang Province, as its ancestral seat. The Joseon Ssijok Tongbo divided the clan into six lines. The Hadong Jeong clan that survives today consists of three lines that share the same seat but have different founders.

• Miljik-gong-pa (Dojeong line) — Its founder is Jeong Do-jeong (鄭道正), a local magnate of Hadong in late Silla. He is said to have led local troops to defend Hadong fortress when Later Baekje invaded in 923. After Goryeo unified the peninsula he escorted King Gyeongsun to Gaegyeong and is said to have risen to Pyeongjangsa. Because the lineage after him was lost, the line counts Jeong Seok-sung (鄭碩崇), a Goryeo chancellor, as its first generation. It is called the Miljik-gong-pa after the fifth-generation Miljik Busa Jeong Guk-ryong (鄭國龍).
• Jwajeongseung-gong-pa (Eung line) — Its founder is Jeong Eung (鄭膺), a gentry leader of Hadong's militia in early Goryeo. He is said to have passed the civil examination under King Deokjong and to have served as Left State Councillor. This line is the Jwajeongseung-gong-pa.
• Jiyebusa-gong-pa (Sonwi line) — Its founder is Jeong Son-wi (鄭遜位), who is said to have served five kings in mid-Goryeo, from Sukjong to Myeongjong, risen to chancellor and been enfeoffed as Earl of Hadong (河東伯). This line is the Jiyebusa-gong-pa.

Because the three lines have different founders, each keeps its own genealogy and its own generation names.

The course of the clan

During Goryeo's military-rule period, the Hadong Jeong were one of the powerful families that supported the Choe regime. Jeong Suk-cheom (鄭叔瞻) was the father-in-law of the ruler Choe U, and his son Jeong An (鄭晏), while living in retirement in Namhae, used his own wealth to help publish part of the Tripitaka Koreana. General Jeong Ji (鄭地, 1347-1391, posthumous title Gyeongnyeol) crushed Japanese pirates at Gwaneumpo in Namhae in late Goryeo. Hadong Jeong families honor him as founder of the Gyeongnyeol-gong-pa, though the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives his clan seat as Naju, so sources differ.

In Joseon, the Miljik-gong line produced Jeong In-ji, who took part in creating Hunminjeongeum and compiling the Goryeosa. He became Chief State Councillor under King Sejo and was enfeoffed as Hadong Buwongun. His son Jeong Hyeon-jo married Princess Uisuk, Sejo's daughter. From the same line came Ildu Jeong Yeo-chang, a Sarim scholar who studied under Kim Jong-jik and was enshrined in the Confucian shrine as one of the Five Sages of the East. The Jwajeongseung-gong line produced Jeong Cho, who helped compile the Nongsa Jikseol, and Jeong Su-chung, tutor to Grand Prince Yeongeung. Other members of the clan include Jeong Un, who died at the Battle of Busanpo under Yi Sun-sin in the Imjin War; Jeong Bong-su, the righteous-army leader who held Yonggol fortress in the 1627 Later Jin invasion; and the geographer Jeong Sang-gi, maker of the Dongguk Jido. Lady Hadong Budaebuin, wife of Jungjong's son Grand Prince Deokheung and mother of King Seonjo, also came from the clan. More than 300 clan members are counted as passing the state examinations in Joseon.

In modern times, Chung Ju-yung, founder of the Hyundai Group, is known to come from the Jiyebusa-gong-pa, and his family has led many companies. Clan villages are concentrated in the Honam region, such as Gwangdeok-ri in Hwasun-eup, Doan-ri in Gyeombaek-myeon and Gojuk-ri in Yuleo-myeon in Boseong, and Geuman-ri in Noan-myeon, Naju. Others include Jinae-ri in Haksan-myeon, Yeongdong, and Gwangjeon-ri in Gammul-myeon, Goesan, in North Chungcheong, and Sangbaek-ri in Heungcheon-myeon, Yeoju, in Gyeonggi.

Notable figures

• Jeong Do-jeong (鄭道正) — The late-Silla magnate of Hadong honored as founder by the Miljik-gong-pa. He is said to have defended Hadong fortress and risen to Pyeongjangsa under Goryeo.
• Jeong Cho (鄭招, ?-1434) — Seventh generation of the Jwajeongseung-gong line. He passed the civil examination in 1405, served as minister of personnel and of works and as chief scholar, and helped compile the Nongsa Jikseol. His posthumous title was Mungyeong.
• Jeong Su-chung (鄭守忠, 1401-1469) — Tutor to Grand Prince Yeongeung. He rose to Left Chancellor of the State Council (Jwachanseong), and his posthumous title was Munjeol.
• Jeong In-ji (鄭麟趾, 1396-1478) — Pen name Hakyeokjae, posthumous title Munseong. He took part in creating Hunminjeongeum and compiling the Goryeosa, became Chief State Councillor under Sejo and was enfeoffed as Hadong Buwongun.
• Jeong Hyeon-jo (鄭顯祖, 1440-1504) — Son of Jeong In-ji. He married Sejo's daughter Princess Uisuk, was titled Haseong-wi, and later became Haseong Buwongun.
• Jeong Yeo-chang (鄭汝昌, 1450-1504) — Pen name Ildu, posthumous title Munheon. He passed the civil examination in 1490 and served as magistrate of Aneum. He was exiled to Jongseong in the 1498 literati purge and died there; in the 1504 purge his body was exhumed and mutilated. He was enshrined in the Confucian shrine in 1610.
• Jeong Un (鄭運, 1543-1592) — From Yeongam, he passed the military examination in 1570. As commander of Nokdo he fought under Yi Sun-sin and was killed while leading the right wing at the Battle of Busanpo. His posthumous title was Chungjang.
• Jeong Bong-su (鄭鳳壽, 1572-1645) — Chosen as a righteous-army leader in the 1627 Later Jin invasion, he held Yonggol fortress and freed thousands of captives. For this he was made magistrate of Cheolsan.
• Jeong Sang-gi (鄭尙驥, 1678-1752) — A descendant of Jeong In-ji and disciple of Yi Ik. This Silhak scholar made the Dongguk Jido, the first Korean map drawn to a fixed scale (the "hundred-li ruler").
• Lady Hadong Budaebuin (河東府大夫人) — Principal wife of Grand Prince Deokheung, son of King Jungjong, and birth mother of King Seonjo.
• Jeong I-hyeong (鄭伊衡, 1897-1956) — An independence activist who worked in Manchuria.
• Chung Ju-yung (鄭周永, 1915-2001) — Pen name Asan. He founded the Hyundai Group and served in the 14th National Assembly.

Clan villages and heritage sites

• Tomb of Jeong In-ji — In Oeryeong-ri, Buljeong-myeon, Goesan County, North Chungcheong, also called "Ballung." It was designated a North Chungcheong Provincial Monument in 1980.
• Ildu House, Hamyang — Said to be Jeong Yeo-chang's birthplace, in Gaepyeong-ri, Jigok-myeon, Hamyang County. It was designated a National Folklore Cultural Heritage in 1984. Most of the present buildings were rebuilt in late Joseon.
• Namgyeseowon Academy, Hamyang (灆溪書院) — Founded in 1552 by local Confucians in Sudong-myeon, Hamyang, to honor Jeong Yeo-chang's learning and virtue. It is a Historic Site and in 2019 was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies."
• Armor of General Jeong Ji — The mail-and-plate armor (gyeongbeon-gap) worn by Jeong Ji in late Goryeo, designated a Treasure in 1963. The Hadong Jeong clan association has entrusted it to the Gwangju History and Folk Museum, where it is displayed. It is regarded as the only surviving Goryeo-period armor in Korea.
• Memorial stele for Jeong Un — A stele honoring Jeong Un, who died at the Battle of Busanpo. His eighth-generation descendant Jeong Hyeok erected it in 1798 at Morundae, Dadae-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, while serving as commander of Dadae. It is a designated Busan Metropolitan City Monument.

Branch lines and genealogies may differ by family and by jokbo, so please check your own family's jokbo.

Main branches (派)

Miljik-gong-pa, Jwajeongseung-gong-pa, Jiyebusa-gong-pa, Munseong-gong-pa

Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.

Notable figures

정도정(founder honored by the Miljik-gong-pa), 정초(chief scholar; co-compiler of Nongsa Jikseol), 정수충(tutor to Grand Prince Yeongeung; Jwachanseong), 정인지(Joseon civil official), 정현조(royal son-in-law of King Sejo), 정여창(Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar), 정운(died at the Battle of Busanpo in the Imjin War), 정봉수(righteous-army leader at Yonggol fortress in 1627), 정상기(maker of the Dongguk Jido map), 하동부대부인(wife of Grand Prince Deokheung and mother of King Seonjo), 정이형(independence activist), 정주영(founder of the Hyundai Group)

Tap a name for the full profile (life, career, grave, descendants).

하동 정씨 — Independence patriots

하동 정씨 figures recognized as independence patriots (National Independence Hall / Gonghun public data). Tap a name for the citation.

하동 정씨 — Pro-Japanese collaborators

하동 정씨 figures listed by the Presidential Committee or the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators (Minjok Munje Institute).

How to build your 하동 정씨 tree

1. Start with yourself — sign in to get your own tree. Enter your name, birth year and clan seat (하동).
2. Add older generations — add parents and grandparents. For accuracy see tracing ancestors with jejeok records (usually to about 5 generations).
3. Link siblings & children — sort by generational name (hangnyeol) to see each generation at a glance.
4. Export & share — save the finished tree as a PDF and invite family to manage it together.

Related reading

하동 정씨 clan association

The 하동 정씨 clan association can be found in the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.