선조대 鄭澈·成渾 관작삭탈의 정치사적 의미 - 南冥學派의 정치위상 제고의 명분에 대한 분석 -

Abstract

Examined in this article is how the status of the Nammyeong school members (who were politically kicked out of the government right before the 1590’s war with the Japanese through the ‘Gichuk-year purge (己丑獄 事)’) were actually later reinstated and elevated to power. This examination is made keeping in mind the role of King Seonjo who planned and led the purge. It was King Seonjo’s resolve and hard-line attitude (to find accomplices to a treasonous plot) that caused the expansion of the Gichuk-year purge. In that purge Choi Yeong-gyeong (崔永慶) died in jail after being interrogated for accusations (of joining Jeong Yeo-rib/鄭汝立’s conspiracy of treason) made against him in the 23rd year of King Seonjo’s reign. But when the Northerners (北人) achieved huge victories in the war against the Japanese, the situation changed. In the 27th year of his reign, King Seonjo posthumously promoted Choi Yeong-gyeong to Daesaheon (大司憲), which was no less than labelling the Gichuk-year purge as a purge that was initiated based upon a ‘false accusation.’ But Jeong Cheol and Seong Hon were stripped of their titles - for an entirely different reason. Jeong Cheol had been ordered to leave the government for forming a political party [朋黨]. He also had to leave for stepping over King Seonjo’s authority with his arbitrary actions during his stay in Ming as a diplomatic emissary during the war against the Japanese. Meanwhile, Seong Hon was accused of failing to greet the king’s party during the war. He was also blamed for trying to vindicate Yi Jeong-am (李廷馣) who had earlier condoned the idea of making peace with the enemy. He was asked to leave the government as well. After they died, the Nammyeong school emphasized their role and responsibility in the Gichuk-year purge and King Seonjo publicly agreed with the assessment by denying his role in the matter and depriving Jeong Cheol and Seong Hon of their titles. As a result, Jeong Cheol was labeled as a sanctimonious vassal who framed honorable figures, and Seong Hon was labeled as a person who would side with such figure. This was an outright criticism thrown against the ruling of the country by Westerners. This criticism included Jeong and Seong. As a result, in the second half of King Seonjo’s reign, members of the Nammyeong school were newly invited and recruited to conduct crucial roles in dynastic governing.