Heo Chim

Heo Chim (許琛; 27 September 1444 (16th day of the 8th lunar month) – 17 June 1505 (16th day of the 5th lunar month)¹) was a Joseon civil official and poet. His family seat was Yangcheon. His courtesy name was Heonji (獻之), and his pen name was Ihyeon (頤軒).

Biography

In 1475, in the 6th year of Seongjong's reign, he passed the civil service examination in the second class and served as Jipyeong and Gyori. He then held the posts of Right Seungji, Left Seungji, Vice Minister of Personnel, Vice Minister of Rites, Chief Censor, Right Seungji, and Left Seungji. For a time he served as Governor of Jeolla Province and was known for good governance. During the reign of Yeonsan-gun, he served as Vice Minister of Justice and Vice Minister of War. He was demoted during the Mu-o Purge and served as Governor of Gyeongsang Province. Later he returned to serve as Vice Minister of War, Vice Minister of Revenue, Vice Minister of Justice, and Vice Minister of Personnel, concurrently serving as Special Advisor, and then held the post of Minister of Personnel and others.² Renowned as a scholar of his time, together with Shin Jong-ho, Jo Wi, Yu Ho-in, and others, he gained renown for his learning and virtue and earned the trust of the crown prince (). In 1489 he compiled the (三綱行實). In 1504 he became and then . Because he had opposed the deposition of during the reign of Seongjong, he was able to escape harm during the . He tried to correct the improper politics of Yeonsan-gun but did not succeed and died of illness. His posthumous name was Munjeong (文貞).