Right State Councillor under Danjong, one of the ministers entrusted with the young king; founder of the Chungjang-gong branch
| Life | 1382 ~ 1454 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 진주 정씨 |
Jeong Bun was an early-Joseon official who served three reigns, rose to Right State Councillor, and is said to have died in exile at Nagan after the 1453 coup. He is known for his skill in construction.
Jeong Bun (鄭苯) was of the Jinju Jeong clan, with courtesy name Jayu and pen names Aeilttang and Seongjae. The family register gives 1382 as his birth year, though 1394 is also cited. His father was the writer Jeong I-o, his mother is said to have been of the Andong Gwon clan, and his wives included a sister of Jeong In-ji of the Hadong Jeong clan.
After passing the civil examination he is said to have served in prestigious posts such as junior official of the Personnel Board and the Office of Diplomatic Documents, then as Left Royal Secretary, Governor of Chungcheong and Pyeongan, and Second Minister of Personnel. Around 1443 he went to Ming China as an envoy, then served as vice-minister of rites, minister of taxation, and left and right assistant councillors.
Though a civil official he was skilled in construction and is said to have overseen royal tomb works and the rebuilding of Sungnyemun, and to have inspected fortifications in the three southern provinces. Some accounts also credit him with the building of Haemi fortress.
He is listed among the ministers to whom King Munjong entrusted the young heir, Danjong, and was appointed Right State Councillor in late 1452, serving alongside Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo.
Just before the Gyeyu coup of 1453 he was away as inspector of the southern provinces; it is said that King Danjong saw him off in person. After news of the coup he was taken into custody and exiled to Nagan in Jeolla, and he is said to have refused persuasion from his brother-in-law Jeong In-ji, who sided with Grand Prince Suyang.
He is said to have been put to death by strangulation at Nagan. Sources differ on the date, giving October 1453 or 1454.
His rank was restored during Sukjong's reign and, around 1746 under Yeongjo, he was fully rehabilitated and given the title Chungjang. He is listed among the three ministers enshrined with Danjong's Jangneung and honored in the Gongju area, remembered as a loyal official skilled in construction.
His heir is said to have been Jeong Ji-san, son of a cousin; a memorial gate and shrine stand at Hogye-ri, Gongju. Descendants of a son, Jeong Gwang-ro, who is said to have lived in hiding, later claimed descent on the strength of an epitaph stone, prompting a long dispute between the Gongju and Gwangyang lines. His tomb is said to lie in Sangdae-dong, Jinju beside those of his grandfather and father.
경남 진주시 상대동에 조부·부친과 함께 있다고 전해지며, 정려와 사당은 충남 공주시 사곡면 호계리에 있다고 합니다.
양자 정지산이 후사를 이었다고 전하며, 공주계·광양계의 계통 논쟁이 있습니다.