Goryeo chief councillor who escorted King Chunghye; son of Chae Hong-cheol; Pyeonggang Prince-Consort
| Life | 1299 ~ 1358 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 평강 채씨 |
Chae Ha-jung (1299-1358) was a late Goryeo official and the son of Chae Hong-cheol. Korean Wikipedia gives his Mongol name as Harati-mur and the birth year 1299, while Wikipedia's Pyeonggang Chae entry gives only "?-1358", so his birth year varies by source.
He became a guards officer in 1316 under King Chungsuk and is recorded as taking part in the Yuan-side effort to place Prince Wang Go of Shenyang on the Goryeo throne. For escorting King Chunghye during the revolt of Jo Jeok he became chancellor and first-class merit subject in 1342, and is said to have briefly handled state affairs for the king that year and the next. After King Chungmok's accession in 1344 he served as right chancellor and, with Yi Je-hyeon and others, as a royal lecturer, and in 1354 was named Pyeonggang Prince-Consort.
In 1356 (King Gongmin's 5th year) he was exiled to Suncheon, was imprisoned the next year in connection with the monk Dalseon's treason case, and in 1358 is recorded as taking his own life in prison, his body being displayed. This account follows Korean Wikipedia and was not cross-checked against other sources, so assessments differ.
Chae Ha-jung was one of the officials moving between the Yuan and Goryeo and bore a Mongol name. After becoming a guards officer in 1316 he is recorded as involved in the push to enthrone the Prince of Shenyang, showing the complexity of the politics of the time.
For escorting King Chunghye during Jo Jeok's revolt he became chancellor and first-class merit subject in 1342; in 1344 he served as right chancellor and royal lecturer, and in 1354 was named Pyeonggang Prince-Consort.
He was exiled to Suncheon in 1356 and is said to have died in prison in 1358, but this follows a single source and is not asserted firmly. It recalls that his father Chae Hong-cheol was enfeoffed as Suncheon-gun and is said to be buried there.
The tomb was not confirmed here. He is recorded as dying in prison, with his body displayed.