Chŏng Ch'ŏl


Chŏng Ch'ŏl was a Korean statesman and poet. He used the pen-names Kyeham and Songgang, and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang. He was expelled by the Easterners. He was from the Yeonil Chŏng clan.

Family

  • Father
  • * Chŏng Yuch'im
  • Mother
  • * Lady An of the Juksan An clan
  • Siblings
  • * Older brother - Chŏng Cha
  • * Older brother - Chŏng So
  • * Older sister - Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeonil Chŏng clan
  • ** Brother-in-law - King Injong of Joseon
  • * Older sister - Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan
  • * Older brother - Chŏng Hwang
  • * Younger sister - Princess Consort Och'ŏn of the Yeonil Chŏng clan
  • Wives and their children
  • * Lady Yu of the Munhwa Yu clan
  • ** Daughter - Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan
  • ** Son - Chŏng Kimyŏng
  • ** Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan
  • ** Son - Chŏng Chongmyŏng
  • ** Son - Chŏng Chinmyŏng
  • ** Daughter - Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan
  • ** Son - Chŏng Hong-myŏng
  • * Concubine - Chinok
  • * Concubine - Lady Kang'a

Literary works

He is prominent in the gasa and the sijo, which are forms of classical Korean poetry.
The following two poems are an exchange between Chŏng Ch'ŏl and the gisaeng Chinok. Chŏng is playing on Chinok's name, which means Genuine Gem. First he calls her a gem, then suggests she is an imitation and finally finds her to be genuine.
Chinok replies by playing on the name of Chŏng Ch'ŏl, first calling him iron, then suggesting he might be false iron and finally discovering he is genuine iron. Unquestionably bawdy, this exchange is one of the finest examples of satire in sijo — a poetic form that placed high value on wit, double entendre and word play.
Other Works:Gwandong Byeolgok.Samiingok.Songgang Gasa.

Popular culture

Legacy

  • A crater on Mercury was named after him in 1979.