Early Goryeo chancellery executive (munha sirang pyeongjangsa), posthumous title Jeonggan; a leading figure of the Chungsuk-gong line
| Life | 944 ~ 1009 |
| Era | 고려 전기 |
| Clan | 전주 류씨 |
Ryu Bang-heon (944-1009) was an early Goryeo civil official of the Jeonju seat, with courtesy name Minchik. A native of Seunghwa county in Jeonju, he is said to have passed the Ministry of Rites examination in 972 (23rd year of Gwangjong) and served as vice minister of rites under Seongjong and as Hallim academician and censor under Mokjong. He became a chancellery executive (munha sirang pyeongjangsa) in 1009, the year he died; the court suspended audiences for three days and he received the posthumous title Jeonggan.
His epitaph, collected in the Goryeo epitaph compilation, is a key source on the origins of the Jeonju Ryu. It records his great-grandfather Ryu Gi-hyu as a gakgan, his grandfather Ryu Beop-ban as a right general of Later Baekje and his father Ryu Yun-gyeom as a daegam; his mother of the Damyang Yi was named Grand Lady of Seunghwa. On this basis some argue that the Jeonju Ryu are a Baekje-rooted native clan older than the Munhwa Ryu.
A story says that when criticized for slackness as a remonstrator he replied that exposing others' faults and calling it honesty was not his way; he is remembered as kind and unflustered even in urgent matters. His wife was of the Baek clan, his son was Ryu Ju-tak and his grandson Ryu Chang-un is said to have become a monk.
The epitaph lists his great-grandfather Ryu Gi-hyu (gakgan), grandfather Ryu Beop-ban (right general of Later Baekje) and father Ryu Yun-gyeom (daegam). Korean Wikipedia names Ryu Gi-hyu as founder of the Chungsuk-gong line and Ryu Hon as its central ancestor.
How the gakgan title should be read and how this line connects to Ryu Hon is explained differently in different sources, so check the clan register.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed here; his epitaph survives.
He is presented as a figure of the Chungsuk-gong line, which honors Ryu Gi-hyu as founder and Ryu Hon as central ancestor. See also the Jeonju Ryu page.