오억령 吳億齡
Minister of Punishments and Second Minister, named an incorrupt official; pen name Manchwi, posthumous title Munsuk
| Life | 1552 ~ 1618 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 동복 오씨 |
Life & career
O Eok-ryeong (1552-1618) was a mid-Joseon official from Dongbok, with courtesy name Daenyeon, pen name Manchwi and posthumous title Munsuk. His father was O Se-hyeon, his mother a lady of the Changnyeong Seong, and his wife a daughter of Hong Dam of the Namyang Hong. He passed the licentiate examination in 1570 and the civil examination in 1582.
As a censor receiving a Japanese envoy he sensed a plan to invade and warned the king, who ignored him; the Imjin War soon proved him right. He visited Ming China in 1591, met the war on the way home and escorted King Seonjo at Gaeseong.
He then held top posts including chief royal secretary, Inspector-General, Vice-Minister of Personnel and of Military Affairs, Minister of Punishments, Second Minister and governor of Gaeseong. As governor of Hwanghae he corrected abuses in supply levies for Queen Uiin; he was named an incorrupt official in 1601 and a first-class merit subject in 1614.
Around the Imjin War
O Eok-ryeong served under Seonjo and Gwanghaegun, on either side of the Imjin War (1592-1598). The story of his reading an invasion plan from a Japanese envoy's words supports his reputation as a sharp-eyed censor; during the war he escorted Seonjo at Gaeseong and later, as governor of Hwanghae, corrected abuses in supply levies. His selection as an incorrupt official is understood to reflect a reputation for freedom from greed despite long service in top posts.
Calligraphy and Writings
He was skilled in cursive, clerical and seal scripts and left the Manchwi munjip, images of which are on Wikimedia Commons.
Family
His sons are given as O Ik, O Jeong and O Jeon, and a daughter married Han Heung-il. O Ik passed the civil examination, served as royal secretary and joined the reprinting of the Annals. His younger brother was O Baek-ryeong, and Wikipedia's article on O Jeong-wi names O Eok-ryeong as his grandfather.
Sources: Wikipedia and Encyclopedia of Korean Culture-based material; genealogies may differ.
Grave
His tomb location was not confirmed here.