Easterner official and author of the Hagok joncheon-gi travel diary; pen name Hagok
| Life | 1551 ~ 1588 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 양천 허씨 |
Heo Bong (1551-1588) was a mid-Joseon official and poet of the Yangcheon Heo clan from Gangneung, with the pen name Hagok. The second son of Heo Yeop, he was a half-brother of Heo Seong and an older brother of Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon. He is said to have studied under Yu Hui-chun, took first place in the licentiate examination in 1568 and passed the civil examination in 1572 in third place of the second class.
Following his father he joined the Easterners and is said to have led their attacks on the Westerners. In 1574 he went to Ming China as secretary of the Seongjeol mission and left the travel record Hagok joncheon-gi. An anecdote says he angered King Seonjo in 1578 by calling Seonjo's grandmother, Lady Ahn of Changbin, a concubine. In 1583 he impeached the deputy magistrate of Suwon over a military-equipment matter and attacked Minister of War Yi I, and in 1584 he again impeached Yi I over official faults and was exiled to Jongseong and Gapsan. Together with others exiled in the case he was called one of the "three Gyemi censors."
Freed in 1585 with help from Yu Seong-ryong and No Su-sin, he refused office and wandered the country, living in seclusion on Mount Geumgang with an interest in Buddhism. He died in 1588 at Saengchang station in Gimhwa, Gangwon, aged 38, of complications including jaundice and pneumonia.
His works include the Hagok-jip, Hagok suo, Haedong yaeon and Uirye sanju. Impeaching Yi I is sometimes criticized as fueling factional strife, while others value his courage as an upright censor and his writing. He is also discussed as an elder brother who strongly influenced the literary growth of Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon.
Exiled for impeaching Minister of War Yi I in 1583-84, he and others were called the "three Gyemi censors."
The Hagok joncheon-gi records his 1574 mission to Ming China; the Hagok-jip and Haedong yaeon are also known.
The exact location of his tomb was not confirmed here. He is said to have died at Saengchang station in Gimhwa, Gangwon.