홍낙성 洪樂性
Chief State Councillor under King Jeongjo and a sixth-degree cousin of Lady Hyegyeong; pen name Hangjae
| Life | 1718 ~ 1798 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍산 홍씨 |
Life & career
Hong Nak-seong (洪樂性, 1718-1798) was an official under Yeongjo and Jeongjo of the Pungsan Hong clan, with the courtesy name Jaan, pen name Hangjae (恒齋) and posthumous title Hyoan. His grandfather was Hong Seok-bo and his father Hong Sang-han, minister of military affairs; he was a sixth-degree cousin of Lady Hyegyeong (Lady Hyegyeong). He is recorded as a fifth-degree relative of Hong Bong-han and Hong In-han, though Wikipedia words the relationship slightly differently in its introduction and family chart, so the exact degree varies by source. He passed the civil examination in 1744 and served as Jeongeon, Siganwon sasa, Jipyeong, Saganwon and royal secretary.
After being head of the National Academy in 1757 he served as Ijo uisam, governor of Ganghwa, vice-minister of personnel and minister of punishments, and in 1768 became minister of personnel. He then held posts including Right Consultant, governor of Jeolla, minister of military affairs, rites and works, and commander of Suo-cheong; after Jeongjo's accession he was Third and Second State Councillor. He went to Beijing as envoy of thanks in 1784 and became Chief State Councillor in 1793. In 1797, aged eighty, he received the stool and cane the king grants to elderly statesmen and entered the Gironso as Jungchubu yeongsa. When there were attempts to harm the crown grandson, he supported him together with his paternal kinsman Hong Bong-han and Hong Guk-yeong.
He served as chief director of the royal pharmacy when Sunjo and Princess Suksun were born. He wrote well, and is said to have been so upright and fair that nobody dared linger at his gate. His son Hong In-mo's wife, Lady Yeongsuhap of the Dalseong Seo clan, was a literary woman who left the Yeongsuhap go, and their sons were the three brothers Hong Seok-ju, Hong Gil-ju and Hong Hyeon-ju. His grandson Hong Hyeon-ju married Princess Suksun, King Jeongjo's second illegitimate daughter, and his being chosen as royal son-in-law is said to have owed much to his grandfather's kinship with Lady Hyegyeong. His concubine of the Changnyeong Seong clan is said to have been the elder sister of Jeongjo's consort Uibin Seong. His tomb could not be confirmed here.
A Chief Minister under Jeongjo
After Jeongjo's accession he served as Third and Second State Councillor, became Chief State Councillor in 1793, and received the stool and cane and entered the Gironso in 1797.
Anchor of the Family
Among the in-law families he suffered relatively little political damage and rose to Chief State Councillor under Jeongjo; his three grandsons became known as the "three men of letters."
Grave
His tomb could not be confirmed here.
Descendants
Son Hong In-mo and grandsons Hong Seok-ju, Hong Gil-ju and Hong Hyeon-ju (husband of Princess Suksun).