서종태 徐宗泰
Chief State Councillor under Sukjong; pen names Manjeong, Seogok and Songae; posthumous name Munhyo
| Life | 1652 ~ 1719 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 대구 서씨 |
Life & career
Seo Jong-tae (1652-1719) was a late-Joseon civil official of the Daegu Seo clan. Courtesy name Nomang, pen names Manjeong, Seogok and Songae, posthumous name Munhyo, he served as Chief State Councillor under Sukjong. His great-great-grandfather was Seo Seong, his great-grandfather Seo Gyeong-ju, his grandfather Seo Jeong-ri and his father Seo Mun-sang.
Passing the civil examination after the 1680 Gyeongsin purge, he served in the Hongmungwan and held many prestigious posts such as Susan, Heonnap, Gyori, Jipyeong, Jibui, Saganwon and Eungyo. He left office in the 1689 Gisa purge but returned as Remonstrator-General after the 1694 reversal, then served as Vice Minister of Personnel, Principal of the Seonggyungwan, Vice Director of the Hongmungwan, Inspector-General and chief academician, and as minister in several ministries.
He later served as Right and Left State Councillor and rose to Chief State Councillor, being reappointed several times. He was close to Seo Mun-jung of the Soron faction and to Noron figures such as Kim Chang-jip and Yi I-myeong. His sons were Seo Myeong-ryun and Seo Myeong-gyun; Seo Myeong-gyun and grandson Seo Ji-su made three generations of state councillors, known as the Three-Generation Chief Ministers.
Career Amid Factional Turns
Dismissed once in the Gisa purge, he returned after the Gapsul reversal and served as minister in the ministries of Personnel, Rites, Taxation, Works and Justice.
Chief State Councillor
After serving as Right and Left State Councillor he was appointed Chief State Councillor several times and died in 1719 as Pan-jungchubusa.
Grave
The location of his tomb was not confirmed here.
Descendants
His son Seo Myeong-gyun and grandson Seo Ji-su are known as three generations of state councillors.