158 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
*
Sungin’s family seat is Sŏngju, his courtesy name Chaan, his pen name
Toŭn, and his father Yi Wŏn’gu, Lord of Sŏngsan. In the Kyŏngja year
(1360) of Koryŏ, he succeeded in the National University examination
(Sŏnggyunsi) at the age of fourteen, and in the Imin year (1362), he passed
the regular civil service examination with the second honor in the pyŏng
division.^156 He was appointed compiler (such’an) of the Office of Royal
Decrees and promoted in rank to be vice section chief of the Board of
Personnel after serving in some other departments.
In the Sinhae year (1371) of the reign of Hongwu, the Ming court ordered
the Chosŏn government to send nominees for office (kongsa).^157 Duke
Munch’ung Yi Inbok and Duke Munjŏng Yi Saek^158 supervised the exami-
nation and selected Sungin as the candidate with the highest score, but King
Kongmin cherished him so much that he did not send him to China. A little
later, he appointed Sungin as the lecturer (chikkang) of the National
University and fourth royal counselor of the Office of Royal Decrees and
promoted him again to section chief of the Board of Personnel.
At that time Kim Sŭngdŭk^159 falsely accused Pak Sangch’ung^160 and
others. When he slandered them to Chi Yun,^161 the accused were exiled to- In the case of the regular civil service examination, the successful candidates were
divided into three categories: kap, ŭl, and, pyŏng, which mean first, second, and third, respec-
t ively. - “A general reference to men of virtue and talent recommended to the ruler by
regional or local authorities, as if in tribute, to be considered for appointment as officials.”
(Hucker, p. 295) - “Duke” (kong) here indicates a posthumous title.
- An official of late Koryŏ. He served as second inspector and fifth royal secretary
during the reign of King U. He was notorious for committing all sorts of abuses to seize power.
Though he became a member of Yi Inim’s clique, he was exiled with Chi Yun as a result of the
conflict between Yi Inim and Chu Yun. - Pak Sangch’ung (1332–1375): a scholar official of late Koryŏ. He passed the civil ser-
vice examination during the reign of King Kongmin and served as section chief of the Board
of Rites and director of the court of Royal Ceremonies and Sacrifices. He opposed Yi Inim’s
pro-Yuan policy, advocating pro-Ming policy along with Chŏng Monju, Chŏng Tojŏn, and Im
Pak. In 1375, he was accused of being involved in the conspiracy to remove Chi Yun and Yi
Inim, the advocates of pro-Yuan policy, and died on the way to the place of his exile. - Chi Yun (?–1377): a military official of late Koryŏ. He served as military commander
of the Northwest Region, assistant grand councilor, and minister of revenue. Allying himself
with Yi Inim, the man in power at that time, he suppressed the advocates of pro-Ming policy,
including Im Pak, Chŏng Tojŏn, and Pak Sangch’ung. However, he had a conflict with Yi Inim