Late Goryeo official who placed first in the examination and rose to vice councillor; pen name Sangheon, posthumous title Yangheon
| Life | 1251 ~ 1325 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 초계 정씨 |
Jeong Seon (1251-1325), originally named Jeong Hyeon-jwa, courtesy name Geobi, pen name Sangheon and posthumous title Yangheon, was a late-Goryeo official. The Goryeosa biography says he was from Chogye, around today's Ssangchaek-myeon, Hapcheon; he was the son of Jeong Sin and a seventh-generation descendant of Jeong Bae-geol. Wikipedia dates his first-place pass to 'Wonjong year 4 (1273)', but 1273 is Wonjong year 14, so it is safest to say late Wonjong.
Beginning as record keeper in Jeonju, he served as vice director in the ministries of personnel and military, and left good records in three districts as magistrate. Under Chungnyeol he was a palace attendant and handled internal affairs and the Jaecho Dogam. In 1302 he was ordered to oversee the National Academy erudite examination, and in 1303 he joined Yun Man-bi and Kim Hui in petitioning a Yuan envoy about the abuses of O Gi.
He retired under Chungseon as vice councillor of the State Council. In later years he shunned luxury, read Buddhist scriptures and kept the precepts. His sons were Gwang-jo, Gwang-seo and Gwang-do, and his grandson Jeong Yeon (courtesy name Maeng-sun) rose to governor of Gaegyeong and was enfeoffed as Lord Palcheon, a figure remembered as the settler ancestor of the Gyeongsan line.
Sources differ on Jeong Seon's original name and the characters used, and Wikipedia itself is inconsistent on the year of his pass. This entry follows the Goryeosa biography and Wikipedia's summary; his hanja name could not be confirmed and is left blank.
The tomb location was not confirmed here.