Late-Goryeo scholar-official (Jeongdang munhak) enfeoffed as Prince Changnyeong after the founding of Joseon; father of Seong Seok-rin, Seok-yong and Seok-in; pen name Iheon, posthumous title Munjeong
| Life | 1309 ~ 1397 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 창녕 성씨 |
Seong Yeo-wan (1309-1397) was an official who served from late Goryeo into early Joseon. His seat was Changnyeong, his earlier name was Seong Han-saeng (成漢生), his pen name Iheon (怡軒) and his posthumous title Munjeong (文靖). A fifth-generation descendant of the founder Seong In-bo, he was the son of Seong Gun-mi, who served as an official of the Office of Land Registers; his great-great-grandfather was In-bo, his great-grandfather Seong Song-guk and his grandfather Seong Gong-pil. His mother was of the Dongbok O clan and his wife a daughter of Na Cheon-bu of the Naju Na clan.
After passing the civil examination in 1336 (the fifth year of King Chungsuk's restoration), he served as section chief of the Ministry of the Army, inspector of Yanggwang Province, vice minister, vice censor-in-chief and judge of the law office, then governor of Haeju and Chungju and an official of the Privy Council, rising to Jeongdang munhak in 1378. His four decades of service in key posts in the capital and the provinces through late Goryeo's unsettled politics is why he is regarded as the one who laid the foundation of the house.
After Joseon was founded he was appointed Gyogeom munha sijung as an elder statesman (giro) and enfeoffed as Prince Changnyeong. When he died at 89 in 1397, King Taejo sent a gift of grain and had him buried with state rites. His eldest son Seong Seok-rin became Chief State Councillor, the second, Seok-yong, inspector-general, and the third, Seok-in, Minister of Rites; his son-in-law Yun Seung-rye was the grandfather of Queen Jeonghui, consort of King Sejo. The three sons founded the Dokgok, Hoegok and Sanggok branches, so the main branches of today's clan all trace back to him.
The branch chart lists his sons as founders of the Dokgok-gong (Seok-rin), Hoegok-gong (Seok-yong), Sanggok-gong (Seok-in) and Najang-gong (Seok-beon) branches, so four of the thirteen branches split from him. Through his son-in-law Yun Seung-rye he was also linked to the family of Queen Jeonghui, which makes him the starting point of the clan's marriage ties with the Joseon royal house.
His eldest son Seong Seok-rin became Chief State Councillor and the third, Seok-in, chief scholar and Minister of Rites, while Seong Sam-mun came from the line of the second son Seok-yong. His son-in-law Yun Seung-rye was the grandfather of Queen Jeonghui, linking the house to the royal family.
His tomb is in Goil-ri, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon, designated Pocheon Local Heritage No. 19 on 9 April 1986.
His sons Seok-rin (Dokgok-gong), Seok-yong (Hoegok-gong), Seok-in (Sanggok-gong) and Seok-beon (Najang-gong) became founders of their branches.