홍봉한 洪鳳漢

Chief State Councillor under Yeongjo; father-in-law of Crown Prince Sado, maternal grandfather of King Jeongjo and father of Lady Hyegyeong

Life & career

Hong Bong-han (洪鳳漢, 1713-1778) was an official under King Yeongjo of the Pungsan Hong clan, with the courtesy name Ikyeo, pen name Ikikjae and posthumous title Ikjeong. He was the son of Hong Hyeon-bo, minister of rites who was posthumously made Chief State Councillor, and his mother was of the Pungcheon Im clan. He passed the regular civil examination in 1744 (the 20th year of Yeongjo) and became a court historian; when his second daughter became consort of Crown Prince Sado (Lady Hyegyeong), he became the king's in-law. His brother-in-law was Jo Eom, who brought the sweet potato to Korea. He went on to serve as governor of Gwangju, commander of the Eoyeongcheong, Inspector-General, minister of military affairs, rites, revenue and personnel, governor of Pyeongan and Left Consultant.

After a succession of Noron chief ministers died in 1761 he was picked as Third State Councillor, then Second and Chief State Councillor; he was re-appointed Chief State Councillor in 1768, became Yeong-jungchubusa in 1771 and Bongjoha in 1772. He was Chief State Councillor in 1762 when his son-in-law Crown Prince Sado was shut in a rice chest and died. Wikipedia says he submitted his resignation and was reinstated about two weeks later, that his opponents accused him of concealing the prince's misconduct, and that Sado wrote to him of his mental illness, asking for help. The Hanjungnok also tells how in 1769 he settled the rumor of the crown grandson visiting a gisaeng house at his daughter's request.

Hong Bong-han is counted as head of the Tangpyeong faction following Yeongjo's policy of impartiality, and he presented six proposals on current affairs on the evils of faction and the recruitment of talent. Within the Noron he was criticized for following the king rather than party doctrine, and after Jeongjo's accession there were repeated impeachments over the responsibility for Sado's death, but the king is said to have had no wish to punish his maternal grandfather. He had a study made of the history of Ulleungdo, and Jeongjo collected his memorials into Eojeong Hong Ikjeong-gong jugo with a preface. His half-brother Hong In-han rose to Second State Councillor but was put to death soon after Jeongjo's accession. His daughter was Lady Hyegyeong and his grandson King Jeongjo. His tomb is at Munbong-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, and under Gojong he was posthumously named Prince Yeongpung.

Sado's Death and the Chief State Councillor

He was Chief State Councillor in 1762 when Crown Prince Sado died in the rice chest. Judgments of his role, then and later, differ; Wikipedia says he was involved on Yeongjo's orders while also giving the account in the Hanjungnok.

Tangpyeong and the Six Proposals

As head of the Tangpyeong faction he submitted six proposals on the harm of factionalism and recruitment, though he was also criticized within the Noron for abandoning party doctrine.

Jeongjo's Maternal Grandfather

After accession, Jeongjo collected his grandfather's memorials into Eojeong Hong Ikjeong-gong jugo and wrote its preface.

Grave

His tomb is at Munbong-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang (an epitaph stele was erected in 1974).

Descendants

Daughter Lady Hyegyeong, grandson King Jeongjo and eldest son Hong Nak-in.

Other 풍산 홍씨 figures