Yeongjo-era official who served as Minister of Personnel and rose to Right State Councillor; posthumous title Munmin; connected to Princess Sukgyeong's household
| Life | 1721 ~ 1774 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 원주 원씨 |
Won In-son (1721-1774) was a Joseon official under King Yeongjo of the Wonju Won clan, with courtesy name Jajeong and posthumous title Munmin. His father was Won Gyeong-ha, who served as Minister of War and Minister of Personnel; his mother was a daughter of Sin Sa-cheol. His great-grandfather was Won Mong-rin, the son-in-law of King Hyojong, and his grandfather Won Myeong-gu, so he is described as connected to the household of Princess Sukgyeong, daughter of Hyojong and Queen Inseon. He had a younger brother Won Ui-son and his wife was a daughter of Nam Yu-sang. He belongs to the Sijung line, continuing the household of Won Du-pyo through Won Mong-rin.
His career began in censorial posts such as Jeongeon and Jipyeong, then passed through Governor of Jeolla, Saganwon, Bujehak, Daesaseong, Saheonbu, Vice-Minister of Works, Dongji Gyeongyeon-sa, Useungji and Vice-Minister of Personnel. He went on to Doseungji, Minister of War, Right Chamchan, Minister of Punishments, Jigyeongyeon-sa, Hongmungwan Jehak, Minister of Rites, Jwabingaek and Minister of Personnel, ending as Right State Councillor. Having held both remonstrance and scholarship posts and royal-secretary and ministerial posts, he can be seen as an official skilled in both civil governance and administration.
He is also remembered for an anecdote about gambling skill. He was said to be a master of 18th-century tujeon cards who could name the picture on the back of an 80-card deck even when shuffled and turned over. When his father Won Gyeong-ha locked him in a room to stop him, he supposedly called in card players, hid them behind a screen and went on playing. The father, watching, sighed that it was a 'heaven-given talent' and never forbade it again. Whether this is true is hard to confirm, but it is often cited as a picture of 18th-century gambling customs. He died in 1774.
His father Won Gyeong-ha served as Minister of War and of Personnel, and his great-grandfather Won Mong-rin was Hyojong's son-in-law. He is introduced as continuing the household of Won Du-pyo of the Sijung line.
Starting as Jeongeon and Jipyeong, he served as Governor of Jeolla, Saganwon, Bujehak, Saheonbu, Doseungji and as Minister of War, Rites and Personnel, rising to Right State Councillor. The year of his appointment as Right State Councillor was not confirmed.
Stories say he could identify the backs of a shuffled deck and that when his father locked him in, he kept playing, so the father gave up forbidding it in admiration.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed.
His brother was Won Ui-son. He belongs to the Sijung line descending through father Won Gyeong-ha and great-grandfather Won Mong-rin.