Late Joseon civil official and Chief State Councillor, a central figure of the impartiality (tangpyeong) policy; art name Gwirok (歸鹿)
| Life | 1691 ~ 1752 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍양 조씨 |
Jo Hyeon-myeong (1691-1752), courtesy name Chihoe, art names Gwirok and Nogong, posthumous title Chunghyo, belonged to the Pungyang Jo clan. The younger brother of Left State Councillor Jo Mun-myeong, he passed the Jeungwang civil examination in 1719 and became a royal tutor. Enjoying King Yeongjo's favor he served as Junior Fifth Counselor, Inspector, Literary Academician and in the Ministry of Personnel, with outside postings as county magistrate and magistrate of Yonggang.
During the 1728 Yi In-jwa rebellion he restored public order as aide to the pacification commander, and for helping suppress the revolt he was promoted to Royal Secretary, gaining the king's trust. Though Soron, he kept amicable ties with Noron ministers and actively protected Yeongjo, supporting the tangpyeong policy.
He went on to serve as Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisors, Principal of Seonggyungwan, Inspector General, governor of Gyeongsang, Jeolla and Pyeongan provinces, Minister of Personnel, Commander of the Royal Guard and Minister of War, then Right and Left State Councillor, with a mission to the Qing as ambassador. He finally rose to Chief State Councillor, working on reconciling factions and on livelihood and fiscal matters. His collected writings survive as Gwiroksip.
He calmed public feeling and served as aide to the pacification commander. His support of tangpyeong while being Soron is noted as a basis of the king's trust.
Alongside governorships and ministries he held military commands such as Commander of the Royal Guard and Defense Commander of Namhansanseong. After rising to Chief State Councillor and retiring, he was again named Left State Councillor and finally retired as Chief of the Royal Household Office.
With his brother Jo Mun-myeong and nephew Jo Jae-ho he is seen as one of the figures who raised the Pungyang Jo's standing in Yeongjo's time.
His elder brother held the Left State Councillor post, his nephew Jo Jae-ho became Left State Councillor and his niece was Crown Princess Hyojang (Queen Hyosun). The independence activist Jo Dong-ho descends from a collateral line of this family.