Yeo Ui-son


Yeo Ui-son was a Korean civil minister and diplomat from the Hamyang Yeo clan during the early period of the Joseon dynasty. Yeo served as the first governor of the Jeju Island and a Jeonseo. He also was sent to Japan as a diplomat representing Joseon.

Biography

On October 25, 1403, the fourth year of Taejong's reign, Yeo Ui-son was dispatched to Japan as a return courtesy to an earlier Japanese diplomatic mission to Korea sent from the Japanese shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimochi in the same year. He was a Joseonseo, the predecessor of Panseo, or, minister of Yukjo, the Six Ministries.
On February 27, 1406, however, the king banished Yeo to Jindo island for his remissness in the discharge of his duty as a diplomat. When Yeo Ui-son arrived in Japan, a diplomat from Ming China also visited there. His interpreter, Hwang Gi was fluent in both Chinese and Japanese language, so the Ming diplomat took off Hwang to China. In addition, Yeo did not submit a report regarding the news to the king that Ming informed Japan of the intention to assault Joseon, but spread it in private. The Office of Inspector-General called Saheonbu accused Yeo of the negligence of the mission.