Early-Joseon official who rose to Minister of Punishments under Taejong; courtesy name Unbong, pen name Bodeok, posthumous name Gonghye
| Life | 1356 ~ 1413 |
| Era | 고려 말·조선 초 |
| Clan | 평택 임씨 |
Im Jeong (1356-1413) was a late-Goryeo and early-Joseon official of the Pyeongtaek Im clan, with courtesy name Unbong, pen name Bodeok and posthumous name Gonghye. He rose from the clerical class to become Minister of Punishments, and is said to have earned a name wherever he served, with clerks and commoners following him gladly. He was remembered as gentle, careful, loyal and generous.
Starting as a clerk of the Dopyeongui council, he served as inspector of Gyeongsang and Pungae provinces. In 1401, under King Taejong, he was grain transport commissioner for Chungcheong, Gyeongsang and Jeolla, and received a horse for shipping more than 102,000 seok of rice and beans. He was military commissioner of the northeast in 1403, went to the Ming in 1404 to give thanks, and became Minister of Punishments in 1407 after commanding Jeolla.
In 1408 he was northeastern commissioner and governor of Yeongheung, again Minister of Punishments in 1410, and an envoy to the Ming for the New Year in 1411. That year he was also northwestern commissioner, and he died in 1413 at age 58. In the Jeongaengnyeong line he is described as great-grandson of the founding ancestor Im Se-chun, and Im Gyeong-eop is said to be his descendant.
Though a civil official, Im Jeong is remembered for practical work such as grain shipping and frontier defense. Shipping over 100,000 seok from the southern provinces in 1401 and commanding the northeastern forces in 1403 show this. He also took part in several missions to the Ming.
Clan genealogies place Im Jeong in the fourth generation of the Jeongaengnyeong line and name his sons Im In-san, Im Myeong-san and Im Gap-san as founders of the Champhan-gong, Panseo-gong and Seungji-gong branches. The same sources admit that early generations differ between branches, so exact generations should be checked in the genealogy. See also the Panseo-gong card.
Some sources record that he was later listed among honest officials (cheongbaengni), but this is unconfirmed and is given only for reference.
The location of his grave was not confirmed here.
His sons Im In-san and Im Myeong-san are recorded, and Im Gyeong-eop is said to be a descendant. Some clan sources call the line of Im In-san the Champhan-gong branch and that of Im Myeong-san the Panseo-gong branch.