General of the Goryeo-Joseon transition active against Japanese pirates and on the northern frontier; posthumous title Mujeol
| Life | 1353 ~ 1426 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 영산 신씨 |
Sin Yu-jeong (1353-1426) was a general of the Goryeo-Joseon transition from the Yeongsan Sin clan, posthumously titled Mujeol. His grandfather was Sin Won-gyeong, his father Sin Bu, who died fighting the Red Turbans, and his mother was of the Cheongju Han clan. He lost his father in 1360 at the age of eight and soon his mother too, and was raised at his maternal home, learning archery rather than books. His son was Sin In-son (1384-1445) and his grandson Sin Seok-jo.
Appointed through hereditary privilege, he rose to Jeongyong hogun. In 1386 he joined a campaign against Japanese pirates around Biin and is said to have spurred a hesitant commander to victory; in 1388 at the Battle of Namwon he killed a pirate after his horse fell. He followed Yi Seong-gye for some years and became a Wonjong merit subject when Joseon was founded, serving in the Three Offices, Punishments and Military boards in 1393.
He was chosen commander of Isan garrison in 1397 and promoted to Gaseon daebu in 1398, but after the First Strife of Princes he was dismissed and banished as a relative of Nam Eun. In 1400 he was recommended when Yi Bang-won became crown prince and made Panbongsangsisa; in 1403 he faced pirates around Gangneung, where residents are said to have built a living shrine for him.
His career had setbacks: exile to Pyeongtaek in 1406 after a dispute over slaves and to Chilwon in 1407 after an impeachment. In 1410 he fought Jurchen raiders at Gyeongwon, in 1411 commanded in Chungcheong, and in 1414 served as northwestern pacification commissioner. The Sejong Sillok describes him as upright and stubborn; Gwon Geun wrote that his lack of private motive earned him little resentment. He died in the sixth month of 1426 at 74.
He confronted Japanese pirates at Biin (1386), Namwon (1388) and Gangneung (1403); Gangneung residents are said to have built a living shrine for him.
His father Sin Bu died fighting the Red Turbans in 1360.
The exact location of his tomb was not confirmed in these sources.
Son Sin In-son (1384-1445) and grandson Sin Seok-jo; a large share of Joseon-era Yeongsan Sin figures are said to descend from him.