기축옥사 초기 전개 양상 再考

Abstract

The Jeong Yeo-rip rebellion had already failed when Gichuk-oksa (己丑獄事) began. Nevertheless, because of this incident, many politically important persons were executed or exiled, and its political impact went on afterwards for a long time. Many points of the affair are still dim. This is mainly because the concern for the affair was focused on whether it was fabricated, and historical materials are still lacking and incorrect. These reasons resulted in the factional, and biased conclusion. This research tendency might mean that we still remain within the boundaries of the dynastic concern. However, what is important now is to understand how King Seonjo exercised an overwhelming power over the process of the affair. The reason that King Seonjo exercised his absolute right to judge the affair depended on documents which were found in the house of Jeong Yeo-rip. King Seonjo subjectively interpreted the documents, taking advantage of his royal position. Even though the documents lacked the content of rebellion, King Seonjo identified the challenge to his authority as rebellion. King Seonjo was able to insist on his subjective interpretation. It was not only because of his royal position. More important condition was that then court was seriously divided. King Seonjo was the only person who benefited by the conflict between the Eastern and Western factions.