Song Jil

Song Jil (宋軼, 1454 – 1520) was a Korean scholar-official of the Joseon period. His courtesy name was Gajung (可仲), and his family seat was Yeosan (礪山). During the reign of King Seongjong he passed the civil service examination and held several posts before rising to Minister. In 1512 he became Right State Councillor, in 1513 Left State Councillor, and then Chief State Councillor.

Life

In 1477 (8th year of Seongjong), he passed the sima examination together with Yang Si, and then passed the civil service examination in the second rank. In 1482 he was selected for the Jinhyeon Examination (進賢試), and after serving as Jeongja of the Hongmun Office, he rose to Jipyeong of the Office of the Inspector-General in 1485. At this time the state strengthened its fiscal austerity, ordering governors and magistrates to thoroughly investigate private grain reserves (私儲穀) and the usurious grain loans (長利穀) of various temples and shrines. After deducting the portions for the original owners' use, the remainder was to be sealed under official supervision (監封). Song Jil took the leading role in carrying out this work. As an example, he disclosed that the grain reserves of the minister Sin Gyun (辛均) and the Sangjanggun Oh Yujong (吳有終) in Jincheon, Chungcheong Province, amounted to tens of thousands of seok, while the government had sealed only 100 seok. He then punished the officials of Jincheon County. He also proposed, and implemented, a scheme in which ministers who owned estates in various regions would voluntarily contribute grain (納粟).

He was then appointed Byeongjo Jeongnang, and after serving as Right and Left Assistant Secretaries of the Royal Secretariat (承政院), he became Right Chief Secretary in 1496 (2nd year of Yeonsangun). At this time, when Japanese merchants were carrying out illegal medicinal trade without restraint, he petitioned for its suppression, and the measure was put into effect. He then took up the post of Governor of Hwanghae Province, where he worked hard to treat an epidemic of disease that was spreading in the region, and he received praise from the local people.

He later became Governor of Pyeongan Province and for a long time administered the defense of the northern frontier. In 1501 he detected and suppressed in advance a rebellion by the local man Im Jiseong (林之盛), and for this achievement he was promoted to Vice Minister of Justice (形曹參判). In the same year he went to Ming China as envoy for the Chucheonsa (千秋使), and afterwards he served as Vice Minister of Works, Revenue, Personnel, and Justice.