채제공 蔡濟恭
Joseon chief state councillor and leader of the Southerners under King Jeongjo; led the 1791 market reform and the building of Hwaseong; pen name Beonam
| Life | 1720 ~ 1799 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 평강 채씨 |
Life & career
Chae Je-gong (1720-1799) was a late Joseon official of the Pyeonggang seat, courtesy name Baekgyu, pen names Beonam and Beonong, and posthumous title Munsuk. Born in Hongju, Chungcheong, he was the son of Chae Eung-il, a senior official later posthumously made chief state councillor, and a lady of the Yeonan Yi clan. He passed the civil examination in 1743.
He served as secret royal inspector of Hoseo in 1753 and, as chief royal secretary in 1758, is known for preventing King Yeongjo from deposing Crown Prince Sado. He became minister of Military Affairs in 1770 and of Taxation in 1771, when he also went to Qing China as an envoy, and after King Jeongjo's accession in 1776 served as minister of Punishments. Wikipedia gives both 1783 and 1788 for his becoming right councillor; he was left councillor in 1790 and chief state councillor in 1793, and resigned in 1798 to become an adviser.
Jeongjo, who had been protected by him since Yeongjo's last years, trusted him as leader of the Southerners, and he acted as patron to Southerner scholars such as Jeong Yak-yong and Yi Ga-hwan. In 1791 he led the Sinhae Tonggong, abolishing the monopoly privileges of licensed merchants other than the Yukuijeon, and as first magistrate of Hwaseong (Suwon) he oversaw the building of Hwaseong Fortress with Jeong Yak-yong. He took part in compiling works such as the Gukjo bogam; his collected works are the Beonam-jip.
Preventing the Deposition of Crown Prince Sado
In 1758, as chief royal secretary, he is said to have blocked King Yeongjo's plan to depose Crown Prince Sado. He was in mourning for his mother when Sado died in 1762. From Yeongjo's last years he protected the crown grandson, the future Jeongjo.
Jeongjo's Trust and the Sinhae Tonggong
After Jeongjo's accession he was used as leader of the Southerners, becoming left councillor in 1790 and chief state councillor in 1793. In 1791 he led the Sinhae Tonggong, abolishing the monopoly privileges of licensed merchants other than the Yukuijeon, seen as a spur to Joseon commerce.
Hwaseong and Compilation Projects
As first magistrate of Suwon (Hwaseong) he oversaw the building of Hwaseong Fortress with Jeong Yak-yong, and in 1781 compiled the Gukjo bogam with Seo Myeong-eung. He is also known for a moderate policy that kept persecution of Catholics from spreading, but his posts were stripped after the 1801 Hwang Sa-yeong silk letter affair and restored in 1823.
Family and Legacy
His house is known for a literary tradition running through Chae Yu-hu and Chae Paeng-yun. His great-grandson Chae Dong-sul passed the civil examination in 1861 but was executed in 1881 for failing to report a plot to enthrone Yi Jae-seon, and his rank was restored in 1908.
Grave
His tomb is in Yeokbuk-dong, Yongin, designated Gyeonggi Monument No. 17. The Dogang Yeongdang shrine in Buyeo (built in 1965) honors him.
Descendants
His adopted heir Chae Hong-won continued the line, and he had sons Chae Hong-geun and Chae Hong-sin by a concubine.