Minister of Personnel enfeoffed as Uiseong-gun and named a third-class Gwangguk merit subject after serving as envoy in the lineage-correction mission to Ming
| Life | 1517 ~ 1591 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 창원 황씨 |
Hwang Rim (黃琳, 1517-1591) was a mid-Joseon civil official of the Changwon Hwang clan, with courtesy name Yeoon (汝溫). He was a sixth-generation descendant of the founding merit subject Hwang Geo-jeong. His great-grandfather Hwang Jing was a county magistrate, his grandfather Hwang Jun-won a granary official and his father Hwang Sun-gyeong a prefectural deputy, each later granted posthumous ministerial ranks. His mother was the eldest daughter of the senior official Jo Gye-sang. His nephew Hwang Geuk-jung (黃克中) is known as a scholar.
He passed the civil examination in 1552 and began as a court archivist, then moved through the prestigious remonstrance and academic posts - censor, inspector, remonstrator, compiler, senior inspector, chief remonstrator and fellow of the Hongmungwan. In 1564, as Second Royal Secretary, he oversaw a composition test for students, and he later served as Vice-Minister of Taxation and Royal Secretary. He went out as magistrate of Naju in 1573 and of Yeoju in 1575, where, praised as the best local administrator, he was specially appointed Inspector-General but was soon impeached.
In 1577 he went to Ming as envoy in the long-running mission to correct the lineage of the Joseon royal house, which Ming books had recorded wrongly. He then served as Minister of Works and Minister of Taxation, and in 1590 was named a third-class Gwangguk merit subject and enfeoffed as Uiseong-gun. He died the next year while serving as Minister of Personnel, one of the highest-ranking officials of the Sijung-gong line in mid-Joseon.
The lineage correction mission was a long effort in which Joseon sent envoys to have the record of Taejo Yi Seong-gye's lineage corrected in Ming works such as the Daming Huidian. It is known to have concluded under Seonjo when the revised text was obtained, and the Gwangguk merit titles of 1590 commemorate this. Hwang Rim is recorded as a participant in the mission, and the posthumous ranks conferred on his father, grandfather and great-grandfather show how his rise honored the whole family.
After passing the civil examination in 1552 he served in censorial and academic posts such as censor, senior inspector, chief remonstrator and Hongmungwan fellow, then rose to Royal Secretary. He was also praised as magistrate of Naju and Yeoju.
In 1577 he went to Ming as envoy in the diplomatic effort to correct the record of the royal house's lineage. The issue continued into Seonjo's reign, and the Gwangguk merit titles were granted to mark its resolution.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed.
His sixth-generation ancestor was Hwang Geo-jeong; his nephew Hwang Geuk-jung is known as a scholar.