기축옥사 전후 선조의 유성룡(柳成龍) 중용(重用)과 그 의의

Abstract

After Yi Yi (李珥) died, Seonjo (宣祖) needed an intelligent and brilliant subject who could match Yi Yi in his skill at dealing with the government’s pressing issues. Yu Seongryong (柳成龍) was recognised for his astuteness at that time. In the later period of Seonjo’s reign, Yu Seongryong held an important position in Seonjo’s court and, in particular, his career as the prime minister was noted during the Imjin war both in Joseon and abroad. However, Yu Seongryong was not appointed to a high rank in the early period of Seonjo’s reign. Until the late 1580s, Yu did not take up public duty in Seonjo’s court and stayed in his hometown. He had taken a step back from court in around 1584. In 1588, Yu resumed his public service and, after a couple of years, he was appointed as a member of the Ministry of the State Council, Ujeongbu (의정부) through the process to deal with the investigation for the Gichuk (己丑) purge. Although Yu’s position was elevated as a member of the Ministry of the State Council, his ability was not yet demonstrated. Yu was able to prove his real worth in Seonjo’s court after Yi Sanhae (李山海), the prime minister, was dismissed from his office in 1592 because he was blamed for not preventing the outbreak of the Imjin war. In order to understand Yu Seongryong clearly in the context of Seonjo’s period, Yu’s selection and behaviour from the 1580s to 1590s, followed by Seonjo’s appointment of Yu to the position of prime minister, must be examined first.