The Annals of King T\'aejo. Founder of Korea\'s Choson Dynasty - Byonghyon Choi

Book VII 473

Gate Guard (Kammunwi) to the Brave Tiger Patrolling Guard Command

(Hoyong sunwisa).

The king appointed Yun Panggyŏng as discussant of the Security Council

and Sim Hyosaeng as academician of the Security Council. He abolished

the post of administrative aide (chusa) of the Six Ministries.

Lady Yu, the wife of Sim Hyosaeng, was invested with the title of Princess-

Ordinary Chŏnggyŏng.^12

Nam Ŭlbŏn, chancellor- without- portfolio, died. Ŭlbŏn was a native of
Ŭiryŏng in Chinju and the son of Ch’ŏllo, magistrate of Yŏnggwang County.
He was by nature simple- hearted and cautious. Starting his public service
in the previous dynasty, he rose to the position of deputy director of the
Security Council. He had four sons, Chae, Ŭn, Sil, and Chi. At the begin-
ning of the dynasty, two of his sons, Chae and Ŭn, became dynasty- founding
merit subjects. So he was honored to be appointed as chancellor- without-
portfolio. He died at the age of seventy- six and was granted a posthumous
title of Kyŏngnyŏl. His funeral was administered by the government.

17th Day (Sinsa)

Cho Ki, Lord of Ŭnch’ŏn and administrative director of the Security

Council, died. Ki was a native of Paekchu.^13 Starting his career as an ordi-

nary soldier, he served in the army of General Ch’oe Yŏng and finally rose

to the position of minister of revenue. He was a man of strong and fierce

character and discharged his duty wherever he went. When Yŏng was

defeated, the king [T’aejo] placed Ki under his command and had him take

care of military affairs. After T’aejo ascended the throne, he became a

dynasty- founding merit subject. Serving as senior commissioner of the

Royal Guards, he frequented the palace, carrying out royal orders, and his

soldiers and subordinates feared him greatly. However, he was illiterate and

impervious to reason. Unable to control his joy and anger, he often insulted

civil officials, and people thought of this as his shortcoming. His death

deeply saddened the king, who had the morning assembly suspended. The

12. Sim Hyosaeng was the father- in- law of Crown Prince Pangsŏk, so probably this honor
    was accorded to his wife.


13. Also called Paeju, it is located near Yŏnan, Hwanghae Province.