Kwon Pil

Kwon Pil (權韠, 1569 – 1612) was a Joseon poet, Neo-Confucian scholar, and writer during the reign of King Seonjo of Joseon. His pen name was Seokju (石洲). Having no ambition for public office, he wandered and wrote satirical poems; he was selected as a jesulgwan (製述官), an official who composed poems and writings for the welcoming procession of envoys, but his satirical poem about Yu Hui-bun became a problem, and he died after being interrogated under torture. In factional terms he belonged to the Westerners, and he was a disciple of Jeong Cheol of Songgang. He was famous for his satirical poetry. Song Je-min was his father-in-law.¹

Life

As a disciple of Jeong Cheol of Songgang, a major figure of the Westerners, he studied under him and was an outstanding figure in the field of Literary Sinitic literature of the time. Having no interest in civil examinations or official posts, he sought out mountains and rivers, finding enjoyment in wandering and in poetry and wine.

It is recorded that he wrote the palace willow poem (宮柳詩), which satirized the corruption and abuse of power of Yu Hui-bun (柳希奮), younger brother of the consort of Prince Gwanghae, Princess Munseong, and for this he was banished and died while lodging away from home. Other records state that, due to severe torture, he did not reach his place of exile and died of the aftereffects of torture in a private house outside Heungin Gate. His works include the Literary Sinitic novel Jusaengjeon (周生傳), and his collected writings, the Seokjujip (石洲集).

It is said in folk tales that he invaded the Baegaksan Shrine at the top of Bukhansan (the shrine to Jeongnyeo Buin, the seongmo of Bukhansan), tore the portrait and desecrated the spirit, and died from divine retribution (동티).