Noron figure who served Sukjong, Gyeongjong and Yeongjo; Minister of War and governor of Hanseong; art name Hakdang; posthumous title Gyeongheon; father of Jo Eom
| Life | 1681 ~ 1746 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍양 조씨 |
Jo Sang-gyeong (1681-1746) was a late Joseon official of the Pungyang Jo clan, courtesy name Jajang, art name Hakdang, posthumous title Gyeongheon. A pupil of Kim Chang-hyeop, he passed the licentiate examination in 1708 and the Jeungwang civil examination in 1710. After serving as Remonstrator and Inspector, he was secret royal inspector of the left Chungcheong circuit in 1717.
In the 1722 Sinim purge he was exiled to Anju as a member of the Noron camp, later moved to Asan, and released in 1725. As governor of Hamgyeong in 1726 he had frontier soldiers trained in musketry, and in 1731 he went to the Qing as deputy envoy on a thanks-and-winter mission.
After 1732 he served as Minister of Personnel, Punishments and Works and as Right Consultant, and in 1734 reached the posts of governor of Hanseong and Minister of War, only to be dismissed over a military officer's death; he was reappointed in 1736 and ended his career as Chief of the Royal Household Office and governor of Hanseong. Having served three kings, Sukjong, Gyeongjong and Yeongjo, he is described as a central Noron figure. His collected works Hakdang Yuko survive.
In 1722 he was exiled to Anju as a Noron partisan, moved to Asan, and released in 1725 — one episode of the Sinim purge that divided politics from Sukjong to Yeongjo.
As governor of Hamgyeong he ordered musket training, and he also held military duties as Minister of War and Defense Commander of Namhansanseong.
His son Jo Eom went to Japan as chief envoy in 1763 and brought back sweet-potato seed. Some sources say the family rose greatly in Jo Sang-gyeong's generation.
His son Jo Eom brought the sweet potato to Korea as chief envoy to Japan; the line continued through grandson Jo Jin-gwan and great-grandsons Jo Man-yeong and Jo In-yeong, the base of later Pungyang Jo power.