Poet counted among the Three Tang-style Poets; author of the Gojuk yugo (pen name Gojuk)
| Life | 1539 ~ 1583 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 해주 최씨 |
Choe Gyeong-chang (1539-1583) was a mid-Joseon writer of the Haeju clan, with courtesy name Gaun and pen name Gojuk. He was posthumously made Minister of Personnel and belongs to the Jeonhan-gong branch, a descendant of Choe Man-ri.
He passed the civil examination in 1568 under Seonjo, held several offices, and was Jongseong magistrate in 1582. In 1583, appointed aide to a defense commander, he died on the way to Seoul. A fine poet, he was counted with Yi I, Song Ik-pil, Yi Dal, Choe Rip, Baek Gwang-hun, Yi San-hae and Ha Eung-rim in the Palmunjang-gye, and is commonly named with Baek Gwang-hun and Yi Dal as one of the Three Tang-style Poets.
He is famed for the verses exchanged with his concubine Hong-rang, a former gisaeng, and was also good at the flute. A story tells that as a boy by the sea at Yeongam, surrounded by pirates, he played a flute so beautifully that they took it for a divine sound and scattered. His collection is the Gojuk yugo, and he is also recorded as an honest official.
Passing the civil examination in 1568, he held several posts, became Jongseong magistrate in 1582, and died the next year while traveling to Seoul as aide to a defense commander.
He wrote clear verse in the Tang manner, was called one of the Three Tang-style Poets, and was named with Yi I and Song Ik-pil in the Palmunjang-gye. Park Se-chae's postscript to the Gojuk collection, in the Namgyejip, serves as a biographical source (Bak Se-chae).
The exchange of poems with Hong-rang on their parting is widely known. A text by Nam Hak-myeong records a preface to a poem he gave her and mentions a son between them, but this is not settled as fact.
His great-great-grandson Choe Gyu-seo became Chief State Councillor under Yeongjo. His ancestor was Choe Man-ri, Deputy Director of the Hall of Worthies.
His great-great-grandson Choe Gyu-seo became Chief State Councillor. A descendant of Choe Man-ri in the Jeonhan-gong branch.