Late-Goryeo and early-Joseon civil official; founding merit subject of Joseon
| Life | 1358 ~ 1397 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 청주 정씨 |
Jeong Chong (鄭摠) had the courtesy name Manseok (曼碩) and the pen name Bokjae (復齋). Placing first in the higher civil service examination in 1376, he became an editor of the Office of State Records (chunchugwan geomyeol) at age 19 and was celebrated for his outstanding prose.
Taking part in the founding of Joseon, he was awarded first-class founding merit status and enfeoffed as Lord of Seowon (西原君). Together with Jeong Do-jeon he compiled the History of Goryeo (Goryeosa) and wrote its preface, and he handled King Taejo's accession edict and various diplomatic documents, representing the literary offices of the early dynasty.
In 1395 he went to Ming China as an envoy to petition for Taejo's investiture and seal, but was detained when Ming took issue with the alleged insolence of the ceremonial document (pyojeonmun) that Joseon had sent, and he died in Ming China while in exile. His works include the Bokjae yugo (復齋遺稿). His posthumous title was Munmin (文愍).