Founding merit subject of Joseon, enfeoffed as Uiwon-gun, later Chief Commander of the Left Army and Minister of Punishments; a figure of the Sijung-gong branch
| Life | 1411 이후 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 창원 황씨 |
Hwang Geo-jeong (黃居正) was an official of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods and belonged to the Changwon Hwang clan. Wikipedia describes him as a descendant of Hwang Chung-jun (黃忠俊), the Goryeo chancellor, while the clan's own accounts give him as the son of Hwang Sin (黃信), a minister of works and punitive general. His birth year is not recorded. He is remembered as the first member of the Sijung-gong (Native Hwang) line to become a merit subject of the new dynasty.
He took part in the founding of Joseon on 17 July 1392 and was recorded as a founding merit subject that September, with the title Uiwon-gun (義原君). After serving as a military-equipment official in Jeolla, he appears in the annals in 1396 as a deputy of the Privy Council who disciplined a palace guard. In 1401 he is said to have been named a third-class Jwamyeong merit subject, and he later served as State Councillor Participant (1406), envoy to Ming (1408), Chief Commander of the Left Army and Minister of Punishments.
His last years were troubled. A story survives that Yi Sung-in, exiled after the dynasty was founded, was beaten to death with a staff in a way linked to Hwang Geo-jeong; when this came to light in 1411 he was jailed, stripped of his merit status and reduced to commoner rank. Officials demanded a severe sentence, but he was in the end exiled with his property confiscated, and later records are unclear. That same year King Taejong sent rice and paper when his wife died. His son is given as Hwang Hyo-seong (黃孝誠).
Founding merit subject titles were granted to those who aided the founding of Joseon in 1392, and Jwamyeong titles to those who helped Taejong take the throne; he is said to have received both. His record, a meritorious subject twice under the new dynasty who then lost his standing in a moment, reflects the volatility of early Joseon politics. The Sijung-gong line rose again to high office with his sixth-generation descendant Hwang Rim. Accounts of his genealogy and merit rank differ somewhat, so they are best checked against a genealogy.
Hwang Geo-jeong joined the founding of Joseon in 1392, was named a founding merit subject that September and enfeoffed as Uiwon-gun. He is counted as the first Changwon Hwang to appear on the new dynasty's merit rolls.
Under Taejong he was named a third-class Jwamyeong merit subject and held posts including State Councillor Participant, Chief Commander of the Left Army and Minister of Punishments, and went to Ming as envoy in 1408. Details of the merit rank and dates vary by source.
In 1411 his part in the death of Yi Sung-in came to light and he lost his merit status and rank. Yi is said to have died after being beaten on the road to exile; how responsibility is assigned depends on how the sources are read.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed.
His son is given as Hwang Hyo-seong (黃孝誠); his sixth-generation descendant was the Gwangguk merit subject Hwang Rim.