Kwon Maeng-son

Kwon Maeng-son (權孟孫, 1390 – 1456) was a civil official of Joseon. He served as Vice Minister of Justice of Joseon, among other posts.

He was from the Yecheon (醴泉) Kwon clan. His courtesy name was Hyo-baek (孝伯), and his pen name was Songdang (松堂). His great-grandfather was Kwon Heun-seom (權昕暹), his grandfather was Kwon Gun-bo (權君保), his father was Kwon Sang (權詳), a magistrate, and his mother was a daughter of Im Gyeong-jong (任敬宗).

Life

He passed the regular civil service examination in 1408 (8th year of King Taejong's reign), ranking second class, and also passed the special civil service examination (munkwa jungsi) in 1427 (9th year of King Sejong's reign), ranking second class. He began as a Examining Editor and in 1418 (18th year of King Taejong's reign) became a Remonstrating Official (heonnap). In 1419, as Junior Secretary of the Ministry of War (Byeongjo jeongrang), he was dispatched as a Sending Officer (gyeongchagwan) and supervised the deployment of generals and warships.

He then became Chief Censor of the Office of the Inspector-General in 1421. In 1422, famine struck Gangwon and Pyeongan provinces, and many people died of starvation. As an Assistant Secretary of the State Council, he was sent to Gangwon Province to relieve the people. In 1425 he went out as Inspector of Gangwon Province.

In 1430 he became Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Office of Remonstrance, in 1431 Eastern Royal Secretary (dongbu daeeon), in 1434 Senior Royal Secretary, in 1437 Vice Minister of Justice, in 1441 Vice Minister of the Central Secretariat (Jungchuwon busa), and in 1442 Governor of Gyeongsang Province. He later served as Concurrent Councillor of the Central Secretariat, Mayor of Hanseong, and Vice Minister of Public Works. In the reign of King Sejong the Great, he devoted great effort to the project of compiling court music, and following the opinion of the musician Park Yeon (朴堧), he actively cooperated in the project of compiling court song lyrics.

In 1450 (the year of accession of King Munjong), as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he sharply pointed out the fundamental contradictions in the granary system and the irrationality of its operation, and he recommended that officials' corruption, malfeasance, and misconduct be strictly eradicated and such officials expelled.

Afterward he served as Chief of the Central Secretariat (Jungchuwon sa). He was favored by Kim Jong-seo, Chief State Councillor, who served as regent for King . His posthumous name was Jepyeong (齊平).