Late Goryeo general who fought the Red Turbans and Japanese pirates, Original Merit Subject of Joseon, posthumous title Jeongpyeong; founder of the Jeongpyeong-gong branch
| Life | 1337 ~ 1403 |
| Era | 고려 말~조선 초 |
| Clan | 단양 우씨 |
U In-yeol (1337-1403) was a military official of late Goryeo and early Joseon from the Danyang clan, also read U In-ryeol, with posthumous title Jeongpyeong (靖平). His great-grandfather was U Cheon-seok and his grandfather U Paeng, Vice-Commissioner of the Privy Council; his younger brother U Hui-yeol founded the Munsuk-gong branch. He is the founder of the Jeongpyeong-gong branch of the Danyang U clan and is said to be a 10th-generation descendant of the founder U Hyeon.
He started as a clerk of the Dopyeongui under Goryeo and, when the Red Turbans invaded in 1359, distinguished himself and became an inspector (gamchal eosa). He served as Jeju inspector in 1372, Pan Seongongsi-sa in 1373 and Grand General of the Eungyang Army in 1375. In 1377 he went out as commander of Gyeongsang and Hapo inspector to subdue pirates; in 1378 as inspector-general of three provinces he fought on despite an arrow wound and won a great victory, and King U sent him wine and a saddled horse. In 1379 he repelled pirates who raided Hapo as upper commander of Gyeongsang, and with Bae Geuk-ryeom, Bak Su-gyeong and O Eon he beat or captured pirates repeatedly at Ulju, Dongnae, Sacheon and Banseong.
In 1385 he was northwest inspector, and in 1387 as Munha Pyeongni Sangui he supervised repair of the Hanyang mountain fortress and warships. In 1388, at the start of King Chang's reign, he went to Ming China with Seol Jang-su to announce the accession. In 1390 he became Magistrate of Gyerim but was exiled to Cheongpung after an impeachment linking him to the Kim Jeo case, was soon released, then jailed in Cheongju by the false accusations of Yun I and I Cho and freed the next year. When Joseon arose he was enrolled as an Original Merit Subject of the founding and rose through Pansamsasa to honorary Left State Councillor. The Jeongpyeong-gong branch is said to have formed a clan village at Manu-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju.
U In-yeol's line ran through his great-grandfather U Cheon-seok and grandfather U Paeng, whose tombs are designated Chungcheongbuk-do monuments, and Chungju is said to have become the descendants' home base. It is also notable that his brothers U Hui-yeol and U Sung-yeol served as provincial governor and Pan Jongbusisa, so one family produced both military and civil officials.
After going out as commander of Gyeongsang in 1377, he won a victory in 1378 as inspector-general of three provinces despite an arrow wound, and in 1379 again repelled pirates around Hapo, Ulju, Dongnae and Sacheon.
In 1390 he was exiled to Cheongpung after an impeachment tying him to the Kim Jeo case and released, then jailed in Cheongju over a false accusation and freed the next year. When Joseon arose he became an Original Merit Subject. With U Hyeon-bo he forms one of the two pillars of the clan in late Goryeo.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed in the sources used here. Descendants of the Jeongpyeong-gong branch are said to have formed a clan village at Manu-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju.
His younger brother U Hui-yeol founded the Munsuk-gong branch, and his own descendants form the Jeongpyeong-gong branch.