Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn
Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period. After overthrowing the previous military ruler, Yi Ŭimin, Ch'oe consolidated his power through purges and presented reform measures known as 'Bongsa Sipjo'. To maintain control, he created a dual administration, with private government institutions and private military forces answering directly to him, while maintaining the government structures of the old dynastic regime and limiting its authority. His power was so immense that he replaced four kings and established a power base that maintained the Ch'oe family's military regime for over 60 years.
Early life
Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn was born in 1149, the son of Supreme General Ch'oe Wŏnho and his wife, Lady Yu. He is thought to have been born in Gaeseong or Gyeongju. He was descended from the famous Confucian scholar Ch'oe Ch'iwŏn, who lived in the North South States Period and was the ancestor of the Gyeongju Ch'oe clan, but because Ch'oe Wŏnho was given the ancestral seat of Ubong, his family split from the Gyeongju Ch'oe clan and became the Ubong Ch'oe clan. He married Lady Song, the daughter of general Song Ch'ŏng, and had two sons by her, Ch'oe U and Ch'oe Hyang.Military career
Ch'oe entered the military, like his father, and was a colonel until he reached age 35 when he became a general. He joined the Council of Generals at age 40. Ch'oe served under the military dictators during the reign of King Myeongjong. During the rule of military dictator Yi Ŭimin, Ch'oe and his brother Ch'oe Ch'ungsu became dissatisfied with his reign. Initially, he became the yangonryŏng via protected appointment due to his father's status in the military. It was the first official position that Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn which was an 8th rank position in the Agency for Royal Liquors, responsible for producing and supplying alcohol to the royal family and government offices. For a while, he moved between lower positions, but after the military coup occurred, he felt ashamed to remain in a clerical position despite his determination to achieve merit and make a name for himself, so he reportedly changed to a military position.In 1174, he rose to prominence in the central political arena during Cho Wich'ong's rebellion. General Ki T'aksŏng selected Ch'oe and he made significant contributions at the forefront, leading to his promotion to the position of a commandant of the special patrol troops and later to sŏp-changgun upon his return. He subsequently held various positions in both central and local government.
During Yi Ŭimin's reign, he became the royal inspector of Gyeongsang Jinju Province but was impeached for going against the wishes of the powerful officials, which reportedly blocked his path for several years thereafter. It seems that the relationship with the governor Yi Ŭimin, who was likely from Gyeongju and had deep ties to the region, was not good. Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn, who was full of ambition, had not been able to seize the opportunity to realize his aspirations until he was in his late 40s.
Coup d'état
In April 1196, when Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn turned 48, an opportunity finally came to him. The incident began in an unexpected place. His younger brother, Ch'oe Ch'ungsu, had his pet pigeon taken by Yi Chiyŏng, the son of Yi Ŭimin. Ch'oe Ch'ungsu, who had a fierce temperament, immediately went to Yi Chiyŏng's house and demanded the pigeon's return, but he was met with insults and returned humiliated and tied up instead. Ch'oe Ch'ungsu then went straight to his brother and expressed his intention to eliminate Yi Ŭimin and his three sons. At that time, it had been over ten years since Yi Ŭimin came to power, and his and his sons' tyranny was becoming more severe daily, causing them to lose the people's support. In particular, his two sons, Yi Chiyŏng and Yi Chigwang, were even worse, to the point that people referred to them as the "Double Knives" and hated them. After some hesitation, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn ultimately agreed.On April 9, 1196, the king was scheduled to visit the temple of Bojeisa near Gaegyeong. However, Yi Ŭimin did not follow the royal procession and went to his Mount Mita in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam. Having obtained this information in advance, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn and his brothers, along with his nephew Pak Chinjae and his relative No Sŏsung, went there and beheaded Yi Ŭimin. Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn and his group immediately returned to Gaegyeong to convince General Paek Chonyu, a military officer in the capital, to support his cause. He then massacred or exiled numerous civil and military officials identified as Yi Ŭimin's followers and seized power.
To justify these actions, he reported to the king:
With the King's approval, Ch'oe led the government forces and defeated the armies of the Yi loyalists. They also killed or exiled dozens of highranking military officials who were considered potential threats, including Kwŏn Chŏlp'yŏng, Kwŏn Chun, Son Sŏk, Son Hongyun, Kil In, Yi Kyŏngyu, Kwŏn Yun, Yu Sambaek, Ch'oe Hyŏkyun, Chu Kwangmi, Kim Yusin, Kwŏn Yon, and many others.
As a military officer who had not participated in the previous army coup, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn faced potential backlash from other military officials. To legitimize his rule, he and his brother Ch'oe Ch'ungsu submitted a reform proposal called the Bongsasipjo, which included the following points:
- The king should return to the main palace.
- Reduce the number of unnecessary officials.
- Correct land ownership issues.
- Levy taxes fairly.
- Prohibit tribute to the royal family.
- Regulate monks and prohibit usury by the royal family.
- Appoint honest local officials.
- Prohibit the extravagance of officials and promote frugality.
- Abolish temples except for essential ones.
- Criticize flattery among officials and promote capable individuals.
Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn, who seized power, held positions such as the Left Minister of State, responsible for conveying the king's orders, and the Chief Inspector of Officials, responsible for overseeing the conduct of officials. It was not until the following year that he was appointed a worthy subject. Unlike other military rulers who immediately ascended to the highest offices and ranks upon seizing power, he maintained a cautious attitude.
Rise to power
In 1197, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn was granted the title of Chungseongjari Gongsin, and his father was given the title Bonguichandeok Gongsin Su Taewi Munhasirang. Although the position he held was not high, the power was solely in the hands of Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn. The first scapegoat was King Myeongjong. It seems that Myeongjong did not actively support Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn when he staged a coup. This can be inferred from the fact that the Suchang Palace, where the king resided, became a stronghold for the anti-coup forces. As a result, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn decided to depose Myeongjong in 1197, the year following the coup. There was no particular justification for this. According to Ch'oe Ch'ungsu, who discussed this matter, the following can be said.In September of that year, citing the king's failure to implement the Bongsasipjo and waste of state treasury, he confined the king to Changrak Palace. The only justification was that the king was old and weary of his duties, yet without causing much controversy, they replaced a king who had reigned for nearly 30 years, which shows the power of Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn. At this time, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn mobilized troops, dividing them into five groups and deploying them throughout the city of Gaegyeong. He exiled key officials of the court, such as Tu Kyŏngsŭng and Yu Tŭgŭi, and deposed King Myungjong. He sent his subordinates into the palace to pressure the king, forcing him to come out alone and confining him in Changrak Palace. It is said that he also sent the crown prince and crown princess away on horseback to Ganghwa Island, braving the rain. Myeongjong died in 1202, five years later.
Initially, Ch'oe Ch'ungsu argued for appointing Wang Chin, the 6th descendant of Hyeonjong and the Minister of State, as the next king because he favored Wang Chin's female servant. However, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn wanted to make Wang Min, the son of Injong and the younger brother of Myeongjong, the king. The justification was to follow the precedent set by Uijong and Myeongjong, which involved passing the throne from brother to brother. Thus, Wang Min ascended to the throne, becoming Sinjong, the 20th king of Goryeo. He was 54 years old at the time of his accession. The king was nothing more than a puppet. He couldn't even freely choose the water he drank. There was a popular belief among the people that if the king drank from the water of the Dalaejeong, the eunuchs would seize power, so Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn went so far as to destroy that well and have the king drink from the well of Gwangmyeongsa.
Under King Sinjong, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn was appointed Jeongguk Gongsin Samhan Daegwang Daejung Daebu Sangjanggun Juguk, and his father received the title Yeongryeol U Seong Gongsin Samjung Daegwang Munhasijung. This established the Ch'oe family's military rule.
Dictator
Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn purged 50 close associates of the king, rose to various high-ranking positions, and in 1200, established a personal guard unit based on Kyŏng Taesŭng's bodyguards, the Tobang, consisting of influential men from both civil and military ranks. Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn started to reorganize the government, but Ch'ungsu unseated the Crown Princess and tried to marry his daughter to the Crown Prince. Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn immediately intervened, and a bloody struggle between the Ch'oe brothers ensued. In the end, Ch'ungsu lost and was beheaded by Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn's troops. Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn was said to have wept when he saw his brother's head and gave him a proper burial.In 1201, he became commissioner of the Security Council, the minister of personnel and war and chief censor. In 1202, he took over civil and military personnel administration from his residence. Ch'oe established a government where he could work with ministers and military officials to stabilize his regime. He also appointed several relatives to high government positions to slowly expand his power. By 1203, he was appointed to the offices of vice-director of the Secretariat, minister of personnel, and junior preceptor of the crown prince.
In 1204, King Sinjong fell ill 1204 after seven years of rule and secretly begged Ch'oe to preserve and not overthrow the kingdom. Ch'oe respected this last request from the king and the next day, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn secretly discussed and handled this issue with Ch'oe Sŏn and Ki Hongsu at his residence. The succession of the throne was also decided by Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn. Thus, Huijong ascended to the throne. At the end of the Sinjong section in the "History of Goryeo," the envoy commented on his reign as follows.
Ch'oe gave the throne to Sinjong's son, who became King Huijong. Sinjong died of disease immediately after that he deposed King Sinjong and installed King Huijong, becoming Byeoksang Samhan Samjung Daegwang Gaebu I Dong Samsa Su Taesa Munhasirang Dong Jungseo Munha Pyeongjangsa Sangjanggun Sangjuguk Panbyeongbu Eosadaesa Taesasa. The king treated him with particular respect, calling him Eunmun Sangguk.
In 1205, Ch'oe Ch'unghŏn was granted 100 plots of land, the title Teukjin Humoe Il Deok Ansa Jese Gongsin, and the office of Chancellor. He was given the title Jinganggun Gaegukhui with 3,000 households and 300 practical plots. The following year, he became Jinganghu and established Heungnyeongbu. Huijong was determined to retrieve all the former powers that military dictators and usurpers had taken from the kings, including by removing Ch'oe. Ch'oe had been given the State and Royal Protector rank, with power equivalent to the kings.
In 1207, he was given the title Jinganggong. Simultaneously, Ch'oe appointed Yi Kyubo to revive the declining literary fortune.