하공진 河拱辰
Goryeo military official who negotiated the Khitan withdrawal during the second invasion and died in captivity without submitting; founder of the Sirang-gong branch of the Jinju Ha
| Life | 미상 ~ 1011 |
| Era | 고려 전기 |
| Clan | 진주 하씨 |
Life & career
Ha Gong-jin (?-1011) was a military official of Goryeo under King Hyeonjong. His ancestral seat is Jinju, he is said to have been born there, and he is revered as the founder of the Sirang-gong branch of the Jinju Ha clan. Records say he served as a river-crossing official on the Yalu in 994 and as a junior commander (jungnangjang) guarding the king under King Mokjong.
When the Khitan invaded for the second time in 1010 and the capital was in danger, King Hyeonjong fled south. Ha Gong-jin went into the Khitan camp with Go Yeong-gi to negotiate; by promising that the king would later pay a personal visit and offering himself as a hostage, he is said to have brought about the Khitan withdrawal.
Held in Khitan territory, he was valued by the Khitan emperor Shengzong, who wished to employ him, but he refused. He repeatedly planned an escape, at one point buying fine horses and posting them along the route, and when the plan was exposed he was executed in December 1011 without submitting. He is said to have been posthumously named a chancellery minister; another record says he was honored in 1052 as a vice-minister of works, so sources differ on the exact posthumous office.
Origins and Early Career
Ha Gong-jin is said to have been born in Jinju and to have served as a river-crossing official on the Yalu in 994. Under Mokjong he guarded the king as a junior commander; some accounts place him around Gang Jo's coup of 1009, but accounts differ. He later held civil posts such as a senior secretary in the Ministry of Personnel.
The Second Khitan Invasion and Negotiation
When King Hyeonjong fled south in 1010, Ha Gong-jin went to negotiate with Go Yeong-gi. He conveyed the king's promise of a personal visit to the Khitan court and offered himself as a hostage, and the Khitan are said to have withdrawn, executing Gang Jo on the way.
Captivity and Death
In Khitan territory the emperor valued his character and diplomatic skill and urged him to serve, but he declined. One account says he married a woman of Yanjing, yet he was closely watched; after repeated escape attempts, including posting purchased horses along the way, he was exposed and executed in December 1011 without submitting.
Honors and Commemoration
The Goryeo court granted office to his son Ha Cheuk-chung, and in 1052 under Munjong his portrait was ordered placed in the Hall of Merit Subjects; his descendants are said to have enjoyed privileges for about three centuries. He is enshrined at Gyeongjeolsa inside Jinju Fortress, and a news report says he was enshrined at the Goryeo Unification Hall in Paju in 2007. His descendants include Ha Ryun.
Grave
He died in Khitan territory, so no tomb is known. He is enshrined at Gyeongjeolsa inside Jinju Fortress, where a memorial stele stands in front of the shrine.
Descendants
His son Ha Cheuk-chung is said to have received office from the Goryeo court, and descendants such as Ha Ryun and Ha Gyeong-bok are traced to his line.