Official who served as Minister of War and Inspector General under Jeongjo and Sunjo; art name Ilgok; posthumous title Munchung; father of Jo Byeong-hyeon
| Life | 1762 ~ 1824 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍양 조씨 |
Jo Deuk-yeong (1762-1824) was a late Joseon official of the Pungyang Jo clan, courtesy name Deokyeo, art name Ilgok, posthumous title Munchung. He placed first in the regular civil examination of 1789 (Jeongjo 13) and served as Gyeonggi circuit official and Academician before holding posts such as Vice Minister of Rites and Punishments under Sunjo. He is described as an elder second-cousin of the brothers Jo Man-yeong and Jo In-yeong.
In 1806, as Vice Minister of Punishments, he impeached Right State Councillor Kim Dal-sun in the royal presence, which led to Kim's punishment; for this he rose to Vice Minister of Personnel and was specially promoted to Minister of War. In 1808, as governor of Pyeongan, he prosecuted misconduct by the army commander and the magistrate of Uiju but was dismissed on a secret inspector's impeachment, then reinstated after the inspector's report proved inaccurate.
In 1812 he submitted a memorial pointing to misconduct by the royal in-law Bak Jong-gyeong and saying he was disturbing government, and was exiled to Geumgap Island in Jindo; six years later he was moved to his hometown and in 1819 released at the request of ministers and the Three Offices. In later years he served as Right Consultant, Inspector General and Daehogun, and was enshrined in Sunjo's ancestral shrine hall. These episodes are sometimes cited as part of the Pungyang Jo's rise against in-law houses such as the Andong Kim and Bannam Bak.
Both took place amid power struggles among royal in-law houses early in Sunjo's reign. They can be seen as political rivalry or as impeachments on public grounds, so it is wise to read several sources.
His father was Jo Jin-myeong; his mother was of the Deoksu Yi clan; his wife was a daughter of Yi Mun-won of the Yeonan Yi clan. He had sons Jo Byeong-hyeon, Jo Byeong-hwang, Jo Byeong-rok and Jo Byeong-seok.
His son Jo Byeong-hyeon rose to Minister of War and Grand Academician; the family line is described as continuing through Jo Gu-ha and Jo Bong-ha to later descendants including Jo Jeong-gu.