Late Goryeo officer who held Wonju against the Hadan raiders in 1291; founder of the Chungsuk-gong branch; posthumous title Chungsuk
| Life | 1250 ~ 1321 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 원주 원씨 |
Won Chung-gap (1250-1321) was a late-Goryeo officer of the Wonju Won clan with the posthumous title Chungsuk. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes him as a local licentiate (hyanggong jinsa) who joined the Wonju special force (byeolcho), served as Jungnangjang and general, rose to Samsa Uyun, and became Sanghogun of the Eungyang Guard under King Chungseon. In the Wonseongbaek line he is identified as an 11th-generation descendant of Won Geuk-yu and is the founder of the Chungsuk-gong branch.
He is best known for 1291 (17th year of King Chungnyeol), when Hadan raiders besieged Wonju. The Goryeosa biography says he fought ten times and defeated the enemy, saving the fortress. Accounts name the site variously as Chiaksan fortress, Wonju fortress or Yeongwonsan fortress. In 1319 he was named a merit subject for this achievement.
He also appears in a political episode: when the favorite Oh Gi sowed discord between King Chungnyeol and his son, Won appealed to a Yuan envoy, and in 1303 he and Hong Ja-beon arrested Oh Gi and sent him to the Yuan court. He died in 1321. His tomb is in Wonju with a Goryeo-era stele, and one source says a shrine was founded in Wonju in 1669 with him as the main figure, later named Chungnyeolsa.
A local licentiate in the Wonju special force, he served as Jungnangjang and general, reached Samsa Uyun, and became Sanghogun of the Eungyang Guard under King Chungseon.
When Hadan raiders besieged Wonju he is said to have won ten engagements. Sources name the fortress variously, so it is safer not to fix a single site.
He asked a Yuan envoy to punish Oh Gi, who had set king and heir against each other, and in 1303 with Hong Ja-beon arrested Oh Gi and sent him to the Yuan court.
He was named a merit subject in 1319 and given the posthumous title Chungsuk. At Chungnyeolsa in Wonju he is the main honoree with Kim Je-gap and Won Ho enshrined alongside; the tablet of Won Ho (Chungjang) is said to be kept there.
His tomb area is in Wonju, with a Goryeo-era stele reportedly surviving; the exact location was not confirmed.
Founder of the Chungsuk-gong branch within the Wonseongbaek line.