Book V 381To n g n o,^66 his colleague of the same rank but older than him. Duke Munjŏng
heard of it and was delighted. He said, “Making concessions is the foremost
virtue. This is a sign that our family will prosper.” A year later, Chongwŏn
got promoted and served at various posts until he became section chief of
the Ministry of Justice (Chonbŏpsa) and thereafter went out to serve as
surveillance commissioner of Kyŏngsang Province.
In the Sinch’uk year (1361), when he served as royal censor (siŏsa) and
later as surveillance commissioner of Yanggwang Province, the Red Turban
bandits seized the capital, and King Kongmin went down south to take
refuge in Chukchu. As officials and people were already scattered, Chongwŏn
was utterly at a loss and unable to serve the king properly. The king became
furious and tried to kill Chongwŏn, but he was spared through the interces-
sion of Yu Suk,^67 the king’s trusted subject.
In the Kapchin year (1364), he was appointed vice minister of justice
(chŏnbŏp ch’ongnang) but left to serve as magistrate of Kangnŭng after he
incurred the disfavor of Sin Ton, who seized power at that time, for refusing
to follow him. He governed the people with benevolence, and the people
built a shrine in his honor after he departed and sacrificed to him while he
was still alive.
In the Sinhae year (1371), when Sin Ton was overthrown, Chongwŏn was
reappointed third inspector and finally inspector-general after serving as
counselor of the left grand master and right policy advisor. Then he became
academician of the Security Council and was soon promoted to Chancellery
scholar and concurrently served as inspector-general. In the Imsul year
(1382), he became examination administrator and selected thirty- three new
officials, including Yu Yang, and continued to rise in rank until he became
assistant chancellor and director of the State Finance Commission.
Chongwŏn was by nature kindhearted and reticent. He named the pavilion
in which he lived “Double Clean Pavilion” (Ssangch’ŏnjŏng). He treated
- An official of late Koryŏ. He served as minister of rites and director of the Hall of
Worthies. He is also known as the grand ancestor of the Sim clan of Samch’ŏk. - Yu Suk (1324–1368): an official of late Koryŏ. His clan seat is Sŏsan, and his pen name
Saam. He served King Kongmin in the capital of Yuan (then Great Lord Kangnŭng) before the
latter ascended to the throne. In 1351, when King Kongmin ascended the throne, he returned
to Koryŏ and became second assistant royal secretary and quickly rose in rank until he became
commissioner of the Security Council. However, in 1365, he was falsely accused by monk Sin
Ton, who was afraid of his integrity and loyalty, and returned to Yŏnggwang, South Chŏlla
province. He was killed there by an assassin hired by Sin Ton. He was posthumously awarded
the title of Munhŭi.