Military official who escorted the king's carriage and died a martyr in the Imjin War; one of the six loyal subjects of the Seon (Jodo line)
| Life | 1551 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 보성 선씨 |
Seon Yeo-gyeong (born 1551) was a mid-Joseon military official of the Boseong Seon clan with courtesy names Gyeongsuk and Eungwon and pen name Doam. He is introduced as a descendant of Seon Yong-sin of the so-called Jodo line, living in Joseong and Dochon, which is distinguished by a genealogical question from the Seon Yun-ji line followed by the Boseong Seon head association. His father was Seon Dae-deok and his elder brother Seon Yeo-gil.
He passed the 1583 special military examination in the second class and served as royal messenger and clerk. In 1591 he was keeping watch at his father's grave when the Imjin War broke out in 1592; he dyed his mourning clothes with ink, told his two sons and cousins of his resolve to give his life for the country, and is said to have escorted the king's carriage with them.
He distinguished himself around the battle of Pyongyang and died a martyr, and was recorded as a Seonmu Wonjong merit subject. To honor these six loyal subjects the 'Monument of the Six Loyal Subjects of the Seon' was erected at Hoeum-dong, Jeongheung-ri, Deungnyang-myeon, Boseong, and he is enshrined at Sungmojae.
Seon Yeo-gyeong is introduced as belonging to the Jodo line of descendants of Seon Yong-sin. The Boseong Seon head association holds that Seon Yong-sin cannot be linked to Seon Yun-ji, while the Jodo side has claimed Seon Yun-ji was Seon Yong-sin's grandson. The two sides differ.
Because the examination roll records him as in mourning for his father, one view holds that he escorted the king without holding a post.
The Monument of the Six Loyal Subjects of the Seon at Hoeum-dong, Jeongheung-ri, Deungnyang-myeon, Boseong, is introduced as honoring Seon Yeo-gyeong, his two sons and his cousins. He is said to be enshrined at Sungmojae.