Founding merit subject (third class) of Joseon and Minister of Punishments; courtesy name Yunmul, pen name Nangye, posthumous title Jeongpyeong
| Life | 1360 ~ 1410 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 강릉 함씨 |
Ham Bu-rim (咸傅霖, 1360-1410) was an official of late Goryeo and early Joseon from the Gangneung clan, with courtesy name Yunmul, pen name Nangye and posthumous title Jeongpyeong. He was the eldest son of Ham Seung-gyeong and is said to have been born in Gangneung; a Wikipedia footnote calls him a 13th-generation descendant of Ham Gyu. He is the founder of the Jeongpyeong-gong branch, whose name comes from his posthumous title.
He passed the civil examination in 1385 and served as Yemun gyeomnyeol, left remonstrator and Hyeongjo jeongnang. When Yi Seong-gye took power in 1392 he returned as Byeongjo jeongnang, then held posts such as Yejo uirang, deputy magistrate of Gaeseong, Hyeongjo uirang, Head of the Confucian Academy and Jwa sangisang-si. For his part in the founding he was recorded as a third-class founding merit subject and enfeoffed as Lord Myeongseong; a footnote adds that he was also recognized as an Ikdae merit subject, and the title Lord Dongwon appears too.
Under Taejong he served as governor of Chungcheong, Yemungwan jehak, and military and civil commissioner of the northeast with the governorship of Yeongheung. In 1404 he became Inspector-General, in 1405 governor of Gyeonggi, in 1406 magistrate of Gyerim and governor of Gyeongsang, and in 1407 travelled to Ming China. He was appointed Minister of Punishments in 1408 and died in 1410. A civil-service graduate who combined scholarship with administration, he moved between provincial governorships and the censorate and justice ministry while the new dynasty built its government; his son Ham U-chi and later officials followed in the family line.
After passing the examination in 1385 Ham Bu-rim served as Yemun gyeomnyeol, left remonstrator and Hyeongjo jeongnang, and returned as Byeongjo jeongnang right after Yi Seong-gye took power in 1392. He then held posts including Yejo uirang, deputy magistrate of Gaeseong, Head of the Confucian Academy and Jwa sangisang-si, handling practical affairs of the new dynasty. The third-class founding merit and the title Lord Myeongseong are traced to this period.
Under Taejong he held key provincial posts as governor of Chungcheong, northeastern commissioner, magistrate of Yeongheung, governor of Gyeonggi, magistrate of Gyerim and governor of Gyeongsang, becoming Inspector-General in 1404 and Minister of Punishments in 1408. A mission to Ming China in 1407 is also recorded.
Wikipedia notes that Ham Bu-rim appears in the KBS drama Tears of the Dragon (1996-1998), played by Kim Bong-geun. The portrayal is dramatized, so please distinguish it from the historical figure.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed; the Wikipedia article gives none.
He had sons Ham U-gong and Ham U-chi; U-chi served as governor of several provinces under Sejo and rose to Second Councillor under Seongjong. The Jeongpyeong-gong branch of the Gangneung Ham descends from him. His younger brother Ham Bu-yeol is said not to have joined the new dynasty, and the Juggye-gong branch of the Yanggeun Ham is traced to him.