678 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
17th Day (Mujin)
The Office of the Inspector-General again submitted a memorial to the
king: “An Ŭlgwi, manifestly expedient general, entered the house of Kim
Ku, former vice commandant, during the daytime and threatened his wife
with a sword in order to violate her. Since his deed is extremely wicked, we
urge you to punish him according to the law.” The king followed the
advice.Inspector-General Yi Chik went into the palace and made a request to the
king: “It is my mistake that I requested Your Majesty to punish Pak Sangmun
and Kim Hyoryŏm.”^41 The king called a senior officer [of the Office of the
Inspector-General] and ordered him to take over the job of the inspector-
general.18th Day (Kisa)
Han Ŭlgi, chiliarch of the Capital Constabulary, was dispatched to execute
Pak Chaan at a military camp. At that time, Chaan arrived at Chinp’o in
Chŏlla Province pursuing Japanese marauders. Since his activity was kept
secret because it concerned the enemy, no one outside knew about it.
Having heard of the news [that a man was dispatched to behead his father],
Pak Sil ran to the private residence of His Majesty [then Prince Chŏngan].
Incidentally, a number of royal family members, including Prince Ŭian, Yi
Hwa, also arrived at the residence of His Majesty, and His Majesty came out
to greet them at the gate of his residence. Upon finding His Majesty, Pak Sil
appealed to him to save his father from death, prostrating himself with his
face to the ground and shedding tears. His Majesty said, “How can I help
you when it concerns serious affairs of the state?” The members of the royal
family went inside, and when they left the residence a little later, His Majesty
came out again, to see them off. Pak Sil threw himself to the ground again
and wept aloud. His Majesty felt sorry for him and asked the royal family
members to proceed to the palace together and jointly make a request to the- Four days earlier, Bailiff Pak Sangmun and granary manager Kim Hyoryŏm had an
argument over a mistake in running the granary and the former tried to punish the latter
unreasonably. The Office of the Inspector-General impeached Hyoryŏm for insubordination,
but the king dismissed both Sangmun and Hyoryŏm, which was an indication that the king was
not quite pleased with the impeachment.