Civil official and poet who served as Magistrate of Uiju; pen name Manjuk; author of the Manjukheon-jip
| Life | 1542 ~ 1587 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 부여 서씨 |
Seo Ik (1542-1587) was a mid-Joseon civil official of the Buyeo Seo clan, with courtesy name Gunsu and pen name Manjuk. His father was the licentiate Seo Jin-nam and his mother a daughter of Yi Yak-hae, a senior academician.
He topped the provincial exam at 13, passed the licentiate exam in 1564 and the special civil examination in 1569. He served as a section chief in the Boards of Rites, Military Affairs and Personnel, as a Hongmungwan official and Sain, and as magistrate of Gochang, Andong, Seocheon and Uiju. Influenced by Yi I, he is said to have pacified the northern frontier with his six-point plan.
Known for prose, integrity and spirit, he was grouped with the Three Tang poets and the Eight Masters, and was regarded as a like-minded friend by Yi I and Jeong Cheol. In 1585, as magistrate of Uiju, he memorialized in defense of Yi I, Jeong Cheol and Bak Sun against Jeong Yeo-rip's attacks, was impeached by the Easterners and returned home.
His wife was of the Jangsu Hwang clan; his son was Seo Yong-gap and grandson Seo Un-gi, and an illegitimate son is recorded as Seo Yang-gap. His works include the Manjukheon-jip and two sijo poems, which appear in the Cheonggu Yeongeon and elsewhere. A long sword and a jade flute are preserved.
He topped the provincial exam at 13, showing early literary talent. His maternal grandfather was senior academician Yi Yak-hae and his wife was of the Jangsu Hwang clan.
He alternated between provincial posts such as Andong and Uiju and metropolitan ones in the Hongmungwan and Six Boards. Praised for prose and integrity, his name appears with his peers in a literary group.
As magistrate of Uiju he memorialized in defense of Yi I, Jeong Cheol and Bak Sun, was impeached by the Easterners and left office. He is remembered as aligned with the Westerners.
Song Si-yeol is said to have petitioned for his enshrinement at Haenglim. His great-grandson Seo Pil-won became Minister of Military Affairs, and his illegitimate son Seo Yang-gap is known for false testimony in the Gyechuk affair.
He is enshrined at Haenglim Seowon in Yukgok-ri, Gayagok-myeon, Nonsan. First enshrined at Galsan Seowon in Eunjin, which burned in the Imjin War, he moved to Hyoam Seowon in Sanno-ri at Song Si-yeol's petition and then to Haenglim Seowon after a seating dispute.