Min Je-in

Min Je-in (13 March 1493 – 1549) was a civil official of the mid-Joseon period. His pen name was Ipam, and his courtesy name was Huijung. He passed the civil service examination during the reign of King Jungjong and rose to the post of Left State Councillor. Although he played a certain role in the Eulsa Purge, he tried to save many people, and he opposed the concealment of the court diaries, for which he was exiled and died in exile. He was posthumously exonerated during the reign of King Seonjo.

Life

He passed the civil service examination during the reign of King Jungjong and served as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Sajeong, Gyeomyeol, and Gisagwan, among other posts. In 1528 he became Jeongeon of the Office of Remonstrance, and while serving as Jeongeon he impeached corrupt high officials. He then served as Vice Reader, Hongmun Gwan Reader, Assistant Minister of Personnel, and Sajeong, and in 1531 he became Seonggyungwan Sasong. Later, while serving as Pilseon of the Segja Sigangwon, he opposed the arbitrary rule of Kim An-no and was demoted to Magistrate of Uiju. He then advanced to Assistant Minister of Revenue and Magistrate of Jeju, and was promoted to Assistant Minister of Works. In 1538 he concurrently served as Chamchanggwan while serving as Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers in the Hongmun Gwan, and then served as Grand Remonstrator of the Office of Remonstrance, Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers in the Hongmun Gwan, and Right Royal Secretary in the Royal Secretariat. In 1539 he became Byeolyeong Wisa. He then returned to central government as Right Royal Secretary, but went out to serve as Military Commander of Hamgyeong Namdo, then as Governor of Pyeongan Province. He was later appointed Grand Inspector-General of the Office of the Inspector-General, returning to central government, and was appointed Vice Minister of Justice. After King Injong's accession he was promoted again to Minister of Justice. He was later appointed Grand Inspector-General once more. After King Myeongjong's accession, during the Eulsa Purge instigated by Yun Won-hyeong and his faction, he played a role in gathering a certain body of testimony. Because of this, after the Eulsa Purge ended he was granted the title of Meritorious Subject of Bo-ik and enfeoffed as Prince Consort of Yeowon. However, during the Eulsa Purge Min Je-in was passive in the purge and tried to save many people, including Yun Im, , and . He then served as , , and , concurrently serving as Commissioner of Famine Relief, and worked to stabilize the people's livelihoods. Afterward he served as and , then became and was promoted to . However, when 's faction executed and attempted to alter the court diaries, he argued forcefully against the impropriety of this. As a result, his merit designation was struck off, he was sent into exile, and he died there in 1549.

Family tree

His descendant Min Gwang-hun passed the civil service examination in the late Joseon period and served as a senior official of the rank of Dangsanggwan and as a minister. Min Yu-jung served as Minister of War, and Min Jeong-jung served as Left State Minister. Queen Inhyeon also came from Min Je-in's descendants. Additionally, Min Jin-hu, Min Jin-won, Min Baek-sang, Min Gyeom-ho, Min Tae-ho, Min Seung-ho, Min Young-ik, Min Young-hwan, Queen Sunmyeong, and Queen Myeongseong also came from Min Je-in's descendants.