Early Joseon civil official and upright magistrate who served as Inspector (Jangnyeong) under King Sejong; pen name Eunggye
| Life | 1382 ~ 1434 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 의령 옥씨 |
Ok Go (1382-1434) was an early Joseon civil official of the Uiryeong Ok clan, with courtesy name Daesu (待售) and pen name Eunggye (凝溪). His great-grandfather was the licentiate Ok Jeon-baek, his grandfather the jinsa Ok An-deok and his father Ok Sa-mi, magistrate of Jinseong; his uncle Ok Sa-on passed the civil examination in 1389.
He passed the civil service examination in 1399 (the first year of King Jeongjong) and held a string of central posts, including Seonggyungwan instructor, Jiphyeonjeon proofreader, Remonstrator, Junior Director of the Court of Sacrificial Affairs and Inspector (Jangnyeong), plus provincial posts such as deputy magistrate of Andong and magistrate of Daegu. He is said to have studied under Gil Jae (Eun-ya) and to have been selected as an upright official (cheongbaengni).
He was praised for filial devotion after resigning to go home and care for his mother, having lost his father young. When he died in 1434 while serving as Inspector, the Veritable Records of King Sejong note that the king specially bestowed a coffin and ten seok of rice and beans. His works include 'Insim seonak sangbando' and 'Eumyang byeonyeok seonggwae-do'. For the clan founder see the entry on Ok Jin-seo.
Ok Go studied under the Goryeo-era scholar Gil Jae and is said to have passed the civil examination in 1399 at eighteen. After posts such as proofreader at the Jiphyeonjeon and Remonstrator, he rose to Inspector, and in the provinces served in Andong with good governance.
Having lost his father early, he left office to care for his mother at home. When he fell ill the king is said to have sent a physician, and he died in 1434 while serving as Inspector.
Mukgye Seowon in Gilan-myeon, Andong, is described as an academy founded in 1687 to honor Kim Gye-haeng (Bobaekdang) and Ok Go (Eunggye). It was torn down in the 1871 abolition of academies, permitted to be rebuilt in 1909, and restored to its present form in 1998. For the clan overview, see the Uiryeong Ok clan page.
The Gukjo inmulgo records that he was buried in 1436 at Eoeung Valley north of Gunwi, Gyeongsang Province. He is said to be enshrined with Kim Gye-haeng at Mukgye Seowon in Andong.
He had a son Ok Hyeon (deputy supervisor of the Saonseo) and grandsons Ok Ja-yeong and Ok Ja-hwa.