Cho Chirin

Cho Chirin was a Goryeo official and diplomat and the progenitor of the Paechon Cho clan.

Biography

Cho Chirin was from Ŭnch'ŏn-hyŏn in Paekju, in modern day Paechon, North Korea. The Paechon Cho clan claims Cho Chirin as their founder. According to the clan, Cho was the third son of Zhao Dezhao, the crown prince of Emperor Taizu of Song. In 979, Cho fled to Goryeo after a dispute about the imperial succession and settled in Ŭnch'ŏn-hyŏn.
In 995, as the left recipient of edicts, Cho was sent as a diplomatic envoy to the Liao dynasty to propose a royal marriage between Goryeo and the Liao. He was able to broker a marriage between King Seongjong and 's daughter, who was also the maternal granddaughter of Emperor Jingzong of Liao. Cho died in 1011 with the positions of Vice Director of the Left of the Secretariat and assistant executive in political affairs, and was given the posthumous name of Konghwa.