Sukjong-era official who served as Minister of Works, Left and Right Consultant and Inspector-General, known for integrity (pen name Manhoe, posthumous title Jeongheon)
| Life | 1635 ~ 1710 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 영월 엄씨 |
Eom Jip (嚴緝, 1635-1710) was a Sukjong-era official of the Yeongwol clan, with courtesy name Gyeong-ji, pen name Manhoe (晩悔) and posthumous title Jeongheon (貞憲). He passed the Chundangdae civil examination in the third class in 1673 (Hyeonjong 14) and from 1678, beginning as Jeongeon, passed through the prestigious Samsa posts such as Bugyori, Sagan, Jipui and Seungji.
He was Governor of Jeolla in 1689, pointed out the harm of factions as Seungji in 1693 and then served as Daesagan; he was Magistrate of Gaeseong in 1696 and Dosungji in 1698. In 1701, after being Minister of Punishments, he became Minister of Works and is said to have debated the guilt of Lady Jang Hui-bin; he then served as Left Consultant and Minister of Rites, Right Consultant in 1706 and Inspector-General in 1707.
Wikipedia records that he was upright and prudent and cautioned himself. When illness left him unable to work late in life, Left Chief State Councillor Seo Jong-tae reported his situation and the king had medicine given. A Dit News24 column also describes him as an upright man who served as Minister of Works under Sukjong. The specifics and outcome of the Jang Hui-bin debate are not in the Wikipedia text either and could not be confirmed here.
The sequence runs: passed 1673; Jeongeon 1678; Jeolla Governor 1689; Seungji (pointing out factional harm) and Daesagan 1693; Gaeseong Magistrate 1696; Dosungji 1698; Minister of Punishments and Minister of Works 1701; then Left Consultant and Minister of Rites; Right Consultant 1706; Inspector-General 1707. Some years include estimates as Wikipedia gives only "the next year".
The Yeongwol Eom are described as producing 28 to 30 civil examination graduates in Joseon (the figure varies by source). Eom Jip is a leading one who reached minister rank, followed, it is said, by Inspector-General Eom Suk under Yeongjo, Daesagan Eom Do under Sunjo and Minister of Personnel Eom Seok-jeong under Gojong.
His tomb could not be confirmed.