조엄 趙曮
Official who, as chief envoy to Japan in 1763, brought the sweet potato to Korea; art name Yeongho; posthumous title Munik
| Life | 1719 ~ 1777 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍양 조씨 |
Life & career
Jo Eom (1719-1777) was a late Joseon official of the Pungyang Jo clan, courtesy name Myeongseo, art name Yeongho, posthumous title Munik. A son of Minister of Personnel Jo Sang-gyeong, he is said to have been born at Ganhyeon-ri, Jijeong, in Wonju. He passed the licentiate examination in 1738 and the civil examination in 1752, then served as Inspector, Fourth Counselor, magistrate of Dongnae and secret royal inspector of Chungcheong.
As governor of Gyeongsang from 1758 he reduced the slave-tribute owed by about 10,000 temple slaves, eased taxes on dry fields and proposed granaries for tax-grain shipping. He went to Japan as chief envoy in 1763 and on his return the next year brought sweet-potato seed from Tsushima together with methods of storing and growing it; it was first grown on Jeju and at Dongnae. On Jeju the potato was called "Jojeo" (趙藷), and the word "goguma" is said to derive from his travelogue Haesa Ilgi, which records the Japanese name "gogwiwima".
After King Jeongjo's accession in 1776 he was dismissed on false charges by Hong Guk-yeong, exiled to Wiwon over matters from his time as Pyeongan governor, and moved to Gimhae thanks to his son Jo Jin-gwan's plea, where he died of illness the next year. He was rehabilitated in 1794 and posthumously granted the rank of Jwachanseong in 1814. He was the forebear of the in-law line that produced Jo Man-yeong, Jo In-yeong and Queen Sinjeong, his great-granddaughter.
The Sweet Potato
He obtained sweet-potato seed on Tsushima and carried it home the following year with knowledge of storage and cultivation. It became a famine-relief crop, and on Jeju it was known as "Jojeo".
As Governor of Gyeongsang
As governor he eased slave tribute, adjusted dry-field tax rates and proposed granaries, reducing the burden of grain shipment. He is also recorded as proposing in 1760 additional granaries at Changwon, Jinju and Miryang.
Exile and Tomb
He died of illness in exile after Hong Guk-yeong's accusations at Jeongjo's accession, and was rehabilitated in 1794. His tomb site in Jijeong, Wonju, was designated Gangwon Provincial Monument No. 76 in 2000.
Grave
Wonju Tomb Site of Jo Eom, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju, Gangwon (Gangwon Provincial Monument No. 76, designated 2000)
Descendants
His son was Jo Jin-gwan, grandsons Jo Man-yeong and Jo In-yeong, and great-granddaughter Queen Sinjeong. His wife, a daughter of Hong Hyeon-bo of the Pungsan Hong clan, is said to have been an aunt of Lady Hyegyeong.