Goryeo officer who defended Yeonju fortress in Jo Wi-chong’s rebellion; Minister of War
| Life | 1136 ~ 1215 |
| Era | 고려 명종~신종 |
| Clan | 연주 현씨 |
Hyeon Deok-su (1136-1215) was a late-Goryeo officer of the Yeonju Hyeon clan and eldest son of Hyeon Dam-yun. He was said to be upright and bold. Noticed young by a regional commander, he went to the capital, mastered learning but failed the examinations repeatedly and returned home ill.
When Jo Wi-chong rebelled in 1174 he and his father held Yeonju fortress, and he is credited with routing some ten thousand besiegers and the retreating Seogyeong army, becoming a palace attendant.
As deputy protector of Annam he governed honestly. He was impeached and dismissed after a false report concerning his wife’s foster mother, but under Sinjong he was reappointed and rose to Minister of War before retiring.
Recognized young by a regional commander, he studied in Gaegyeong but failed the examinations repeatedly and fell ill, returning home. It shows the difficulty a local family faced in reaching the center.
His defense of Yeonju in 1174 is his chief deed: some ten thousand besiegers were broken, and he pursued the retreating army toward the capital. He then became a palace attendant.
He was praised as deputy protector of Annam, blocked from one appointment, dismissed after an impeachment, then reinstated under Sinjong and rose to Minister of War.
The location of his grave was not confirmed.