Joseon official and calligrapher who rose to Vice Minister of Works under Myeongjong and served as secret royal inspector
| Life | 1496 ~ 1556 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 고령 박씨 |
Bak Gong-ryang (朴公亮, 1496-1556) was an early Joseon official and calligrapher of the Goryeong Park clan, courtesy name Myeongbo. He was a son of the poet Bak Eun, who died in the 1504 purge, and of a daughter of Left State Councillor Sin Yong-gae. He is said to have first been named Bak Dae-chun before changing to Gong-ryang.
After entering service as a licentiate, he passed the 1538 special civil examination in the second tier, became a proofreader at the Office of Diplomatic Documents the next year and then held posts such as professor and deputy fellow at the Hongmungwan. In 1540 he argued with Yi Jun-gyeong and others that natural disasters should be answered with sincerity that moves heaven. Under Myeongjong he served in the Office of Censor-General, the State Council, the Gyoseogwan and the Inspector-General's office.
In 1549, as Inspector-General's chief, he suspended a student who had caused a disturbance at a tomb temple and argued that banning temple visits altogether could make the king look like a patron of heterodoxy. In 1551 he inspected corrupt local officials as secret royal inspector of Hwanghae, then served as royal secretary in 1553-55 and was specially made Vice Minister of Works, dying in 1556 as a senior councillor. He also took part in compiling the Veritable Records of Jungjong and Injong.
He started in 1539 as a proofreader at the Office of Diplomatic Documents and moved through professor, Hongmungwan deputy fellow and junior posts. Under Myeongjong he served as censor, State Council secretary, Gyoseogwan proofreader, State Council aide, Inspector-General's chief and director of the royal stables, and in 1555 was specially made Vice Minister of Works.
Skilled at writing, he left many stone inscriptions and is recorded in works on Korean calligraphy and painting. He took part in the compilation of the Jungjong and Injong Veritable Records.
His burial place is not stated in the sources consulted. He is said to have left many inscriptions in his calligraphy.
No direct descendants are confirmed in public sources. His elder brother Bak In-ryang's grandson Bak Gyeong-eop (Bak Eun's great-grandson) passed the 1594 special examination.