Chief remonstrator under Yeonsangun, incorruptible official, pen name Nakbong; founder of the Nakbong-gong branch
| Life | 1462 ~ 1506 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 전주 류씨 |
Ryu Heon (1462-1506) was an early Joseon official of the Jeonju seat, with courtesy name Baegyeo and pen name Nakbong (駱峯). His great-grandfather was Ryu Bin, his grandfather Ryu Mal-son, and his father Ryu Gye-jang; his mother was a daughter of Jo Hyo-saeng, magistrate of Daegu. He passed the licentiate examinations in 1486 and the civil examination in 1489, then served as Yemungwan censor, royal secretary, inspector and in the State Council.
As chief remonstrator under Yeonsangun he spoke out about favor to the king's in-laws and abuses of the palace treasury, and during the Muo purge is said to have argued alone that Im Hui-jae should not be put to death. In 1504, at the Gapja purge, he submitted a memorial protesting a false accusation and was exiled to Jeju after being slandered by Im Sa-hong and Yu Ja-gwang. After the 1506 restoration he was ordered recalled but died at 45; one account says he died in exile and another that he was attacked by pirates at sea on the way back.
King Jungjong grieved at the injustice, posthumously named him vice minister of personnel, listed him among the incorruptible officials and ordered his descendants employed; he was later raised to minister of personnel. He had four sons, Se-bung, Se-rin, Se-gu and Se-bong, and the grandson of the second, Se-rin, was Ryu Yeong-gyeong, chief state councillor under Seonjo. His descendants form the Nakbong-gong branch.
His memorial biography records him telling Yeonsangun, in essence, that misrule comes from entrusting affairs to petty men or letting eunuchs and royal in-laws hold power, and arguing against abuses of the palace treasury and wall-building labor.
In 1504, as chief remonstrator, he protested the purge begun by Sin Su-yeong's false charge, was slandered by Im Sa-hong and Yu Ja-gwang and exiled to Jeju; the censor Gang Suk-dol was exiled with him and the remonstrance office was abolished.
A shrine to him while alive is said to have stood at the Chungcheong naval command, and people of Jeonju are said to have set up a shrine to local worthies before the Imjin War. Under Sunjo his descendant Ryu Ui visited Jeonju to confirm the site, Ryu Eom set a marker stone and Eom's grandson Ryu Suk, as left naval commander of Jeolla, tended the site.
Yonggo Seowon was demolished under the 1878 order and rebuilt in 1923 with funds raised by Jeonju Confucians.
He is said to have been buried with only his robes and cap at the foot of Surak Mountain, Songsan-ri, Yangju. Descendants set a marker stone at his old site south of Jeonju, where a shrine to local worthies stood, and he is enshrined at Yonggo Seowon in Hoeryong-dong, Iseo-myeon, Wanju (demolished 1878, rebuilt 1923).
The line of his eldest son Se-bung flourished, and Ryu Yeong-gyeong and Ryu Jeong-ryang followed. Under Sunjo, descendants such as Ryu Ui and Ryu Eom are said to have worked to restore the old site and academy.