Yeonguijeong


Yeonguijeong was a title created in 1400, during the Joseon Kingdom and the Korean Empire times and given to the Chief State Councillor as the highest government position of "Uijeongbu". Existing for over 500 years, the function was handed over in 1895 during the Gabo Reform to the newly formed position of Prime Minister of Korea. Only one official at a time was appointed to the position and though was generally called Yeongsang, was also referred to as Sangsang, Sugyu or Wonbo. Although, the title of Yeonguijeong was defined as the highest post in charge of every state affairs by law, its practical functions changed drastically depending on the particular King and whether that King's power was strong or weak.

The establishment

The Korean Joseon inherited the state structure of its predecessor, the Goryeo, but soon began to reorganize the government. In 1400, the second year after King Jeongjong ascended to the throne, he renamed the Privy Council or Dopyeonguisasa, the highest assigned post in charge of the state affairs of Goryeo, to "Uijeongbu" and let the post be called "yeonguijeong busa". As both functions of Uijeongbu got stronger, and its system was further revised, Yeonguijeong busa was renamed to Yeonguijeong in a firm establishment of the office.
In 1466, the position was officially put in statutory form as Gyeongguk daejeon was compiled. The Yeongjuijeong title was generally conferred on a senior minister who had previously served as Jwauijeong, a post immediately below that of Yeonguijeong, but higher than that of Uuijeong. The three posts were collectively referred to as "Samjeongseung" 삼정승 or "Samuijeong".

List of the Chief State Councillors of Joseon Dynasty

ReignKingHangulDateChief State Councillor#HangulKOsource
11392–1398Taejo태조11392/07/17Jeong Dojeon정도전xkp
21398–1400Jeongjong정종
31400–1418Taejong태종11401/07/13-1402.4.18Yi Seo이서xkp
21402/10/04Seong Seok-rin성석린xkp
31403/07/16Jo Jun조준xkp
41405/07/03Seong Seok-rin2성석린kp
51406/12/04Yi Seo2이서kp
61407/07/04Uian Daegun 의안대군 xkp
71408/01/03Uian Daegun 의안대군 … 사면kp
81408/05/27-1412/08/21Ha Ryun하륜xkp
91409/08/10Yi Seo3이서kp
101408/10/11Ha Ryun2하륜kp
111412/08/21Seong Seok-rin3성석린kp
121414/04/17Ha Ryun3하륜kp
131415/10/28Seong Seok-rin4성석린kp
141416/05/25Nam Jae남재xkp
151416/11/02Yu Jung-hyun유정현xkp
161418/06/05Han Sanggyung한상경xkp
41418–1450Sejong세종11418/09/03Sim On심온xkp
21418/12/07Yu Jung-hyun2유정현xkp
31424/09/07Yi Jig이직xkp
41431/09/07Hwang Hui황희xkp
51449/10/05-1451/07/13Ha Yeon하연kp
51450–1452Munjong문종11451/10/27Hwangbo In황보인xkp
61452–1455Danjong단종11453/10/11Suyangdaegun 수양대군 xkp
71455–1468Sejo세조11455/06/11Jeong In-ji정인지xkp
21458/12/07Jeong Changson정창손xkp
31459/11/05Gang Maenggyung강맹경xkp
41461/04/29Jeong Changson2정창손kp
51461/05/20Shin Suk-ju신숙주xkp
61466/04/18Gu Chigwan구치관kp
71466/10/19Han Myung-hoi한명회xkp
81467/04/06Hwang Su-sin황수신kp
91467/05/20Sim Hoe심회xkp
101467/12/12Jo Seok-mun조석문kp
111468/07/17Guseonggun구성군 xkp
81468–1469Yejong예종11468/12/20Bak Wonhyung박원형kp
21469/01/23Han Myung-hoi2한명회xkp
31469/08/22Hong Yun-seong홍윤성xkp
91469–1494Seongjong성종11470/04/06Yun Jaun윤자운kp
21471/10/23Shin Suk-ju2신숙주xkp
31475/07/01Jeong Changson3정창손xkp
41485/03/28Yun Pilsang윤필상xkp
51493/11/06Yi Geugbae이극배kp
101494–1506Yeonsangun연산군11495/03/20No Sasin노사신xkp
21495/10/04Shin Sung-seon신승선kp
31500/04/11Han Chi-hyung한치형kp
41503/01/04Seong Jun성준xkp
51504/04/04Yu Sun유순kp
111506–1544Jungjong중종11506/09/2Park Won-jong박원종xkp
21510/03/06Kim Sudong김수동kp
31512/10/07Yu Sun-jung유순정xkp
41513/04/02Seong Hui-ahn성희안xkp
51513/10/27Song Il송일kp
61514/10/01Yu Sun2유순kp
71516/04/09Jeong Gwangpil정광필kp
81520/02/14Kim Jeon김전xkp
91523/04/18Nam Gon남곤xkp
101527/10/21Jeong Gwangpil2정광필kp
11Nam Gon2남곤xkp
121527/03/10Jang Sun-son장순손kp
131534/11/20Han Hyo-won한효원kp
141535/03/26Kim Geun-sa김근사kp
151537/11/02Yun Eunbo윤은보kp
121544–1545Injong인종11545/01/13Hong Eon-pil홍언필xkp
21545/01/06Yun In-gyung윤인경kp
131545–1567Myeongjong명종11548/05/17Hong Eon-pil2홍언필xkp
21549/05/21Yi Gi이기xkp
31551/08/23Sim Yeon-won심연원xkp
41558/05/29San Gjin상진kp
51563/01/17Yun Won-hyung윤원형xkp
61565/08/15Yi Jungyung이준경xkp
141567–1608Seonjo선조11573/03/22Gwon Cheol권철kp
21574/04/11Hong Seom홍섬kp
31576/08/18Gwon Cheol2권철kp
41580/05/25Bak Sun박순xkp
51588/05/11No Sunsin노수신xkp
6Choi Hung-won최흥원kp
7Yi Won-ik이원익xkp
8Ryu Seong-ryong유성룡xkp
9Yun Doo-su윤두수xkp
10Yi San-hae이산해xkp
11Yi Hang-bok이항복xkp
12Yun Sung-hun윤승훈kp
13Yu Yung-gyung유영경kp
151608–1623Gwanghaegun광해군11608Yi Won-ik2xkp
2Yi Deok-hyung이덕형xkp
3Gi Ja-heon기자헌xkp
4Chung In-hong정인홍xkp
5Bak Sung-jong박승종xkp
161623–1649Injo인조11623Yi Won-ik3이원익xkp
2Sin Hum신흠xkp
3Oh Yun-gyum오윤겸kp
4Yun Bang윤방xkp
5Kim Ryu김류xkp
6Yi Hong-ju이홍주kp
7Choi Myung-kil최명길xkp
8Yi Seong-gu이성구kp
9Hong Seo-bong홍서봉kp
10Sim Yeol심열kp
11Kim Ja-jeom김자점xkp
171649–1659Hyojong효종1Kim Ja-jeom2김자점xkp
2Yi Gyung-seok이경석xkp
3Kim Yuk김육xkp
4Yi Si-baek이시백xkp
5Sim Ji-won심지원xkp
6Jeong Tae-hwa정태화kp
181659–1674Hyeonjong현종1Jeong Taehwa2정태화kp
2Hong Myungha홍명하kp
3Kim Su-hung김수흥xkp
4Heo Jeok허적xkp
191674–1720Sukjong숙종1Heo Jeok2허적xkp
2Kim Seok-ju김석주xkp
3Kim Su-hang김수항xkp
4Gwon Dae-un권대운kp
5Nam Gu-man남구만xkp
61696–1699Yu Sangun유상운kp,ws
71700–1701Seo Mun-jung서문중kp,ws
81701Choi Seok-jung최석정xkp,ws
91702Seo Mun-jung2서문중kp,ws
101702–1703Choi Seok-jung2최석정xkp,ws
111703–1705Sin Wan신완kp,ws
121705–1710Choi Seok-jung3최석정xkp,ws
131710Yi Yeo이여xkp,ws
141711–1712Seo Jong-tae서종태kp,ws
151712–1713Yi Yu이유xkp,ws
161714–1716Seo Jong-tae2서종태kp,ws
171717–1720Kim Chang-jip2김창집xkp,ws
201720–1724Gyeongjong경종11720–1721Kim Chang-jip2김창집xkp,ws
21721–1723Jo Tae-gu조태구kp,ws
31723–1724Choi Gyu-seo최규서kp,ws
211724–1776Yeongjo영조11724-2729Yi Gwang-jwa이광좌kp,ws
21729–1732Hong Chi-jung홍치중kp,ws
31732–1735Shim Su-yun심수현kp,ws
41735–1737Yi Ui-hyun이의현ws
51737–1740Yi Gwang-jwa2이광좌kp,ws
61740–1754Kim Jae-ro김재로xws
71754–1758Yi Chun-bo이천보kp,ws
81758–1759Yu Cheok-ki유척기xws
91759Yi Chun-bo2이천보kp,ws
101759–1760Kim Sang-ro김상로kp,ws
111761–1762Hong Bonghan홍봉한kp,ws
121762–1763Sim Man신 만kp,ws
131763–1766Hong Bong-han2홍봉한kp,ws
141766–1767Seo Ji-su서지수ws
151767–1768Kim Chi-in김치인kp,ws
161768Seo Ji-su2서지수ws
171768Kim Chi-in2김치인kp,ws
181768–1770Hong Bong-han3홍봉한kp,ws
191770–1772Kim Chi-in3김치인kp,ws
201772Kim Sang-bok김상복kp,ws
211772Sin Hoe신회kp,ws
221772Kim Sang-bok2김상복kp,ws
231772Han Ik-mo한익모kp,ws
241772Kim Sang-bok3김상복kp,ws
251772–1773Sin Hoe2신회kp,ws
261773Han Ik-mo2한익모kp,ws
271773–1774Kim Sang-bok4김상복kp,ws
281774Han Ik-mo3한익모kp,ws
291774–1775Sin Hoe3신회kp,ws
301775Han Ik-mo4한익모kp,ws
311775–1776Kim Sang-chul김상철kp,ws
?1731Kim Hung-gyung김흥경 xkp
?Sin Im신임xkp
?Jeong Ho정호Errkp
221776–1800Jeongjo정조11776–1779Kim Yang-taek김양택ws
21779–1780Seo Myung-sun서명선kp,ws
31780–1781Kim Yang-taek2김양택ws
41781–1783Seo Myung-sun2서명선kp,ws
51783–1784Jeong Jong-yeom정존겸kp,ws
61784–1785Seo Myung-sun3서명선kp,ws
71785–1786Jeong Jong-yeom정존겸kp,ws
81786–1789Kim Chi-in2김치인kp,ws
91789Kim Ik김익kp,ws
101789–1790Yi Jae-hyeop이재협kp,ws
111790Kim Ik2김익kp,ws
121790–1793Choi Hyo-won최효원ws
131793Chae Je-gong채제공xkp,ws
141793–1798Hong Nak-sung홍낙성xkp,ws
151799–1800Yi Byung-mo이병모kp,ws
?Kim Jong-su김종수xkp
231800–1834Sunjo순조11800–1802Shim Hwan-ji심환지xkp,ws
21802–1803Yi Si-su이시수ws
31803–1805Yi Byung-mo이병모kp,ws
41805–1806Seo Mae-su서매수ws
51806Yi Byung-mo2이병모kp,ws
61806–1812vacantws
71812–1816Kim Jae-chan김재찬xws
81816–1819vacantws
91819–1821Seo Yong-bo서용보ws
101821Han Yong-gwi한용귀ws
111821–1823Kim Jae-chan2김재찬xws
121823–1833Nam Gong-chul남공철kp,ws
131833–1834Yi Sang-hwang이상황kp,ws
241834–1849Heonjong헌종11834–1835Shim Sang-gyu심상규kp,ws
21835–1837vacantws
31837–1838Yi Sang-hwang2이상황kp,ws
41838–1841vacantws
51841–1844Jo In-young조인영xkp,ws
61845–1848Gwon Don-in권돈인kp,ws
71848–1849Jeong Won-yong정원용xkp,ws
251849–1863Cheoljong철종11849–1850Jeong Won-yong정원용xkp,ws
21850Jo In-young2조인영xkp,ws
31851–1852Gwon Don-in2권돈인kp,ws
41853Kim Hunggun김흥근xws
51853–1859Kim Jwa-gun김좌근xkp,ws
61859–1861Jeong Won-yong2정원용xkp,ws
71861–1862Kim Jwa-gun2김좌근xkp,ws
81862–1863Jeong Won-yong3정원용xkp,ws
261863–1897Gojong고종11863–1864Kim Jwa-gun2김좌근xkp,ws
21864–1866Jo Du-sun조두선ws
31866–1867Yi Kyung-jae이경재ws
41867–1868Kim Byung-hak김병학xkp,ws
51868Jeong Won-yong4정원용xkp,ws
61868–1872Kim Byung-hak2김병학xkp,ws
71872–1873Hong Sun-mok홍순목xkp,ws
81873–1875Yi Yu-won이유원kp,ws
91875–1882Yi Choi-ung이최응/흥인군xkp,ws
??1878Min Gyu-ho민규호xkp
101882Seo Bang-bo서방보ws
111882–1884Hong Sun-mok2홍순목xkp,ws
121884Kim Byung-guk김병국ws
131884–1894Shim Sun-taek심선택ws
141894Kim Byung-si김병시xws
151894–1895Kim Hong-jip김홍집xkp,ws
161895Bak Jung-yang박정양ws
171895-1896/02/11Kim Hong-jip2김홍집xkp,ws
181896Kim Byung-si2김병시xws
191896–1898Yun Yong-sun윤용순ws

This table started as a translation of the :ko:영의정 page published by the Korean Wikipedia. The corresponding items are tagged "kp" in the "source" column. Not a single reference was provided in this page. For the 1st-14th reigns, an Gregorian installation date was given. In case of multiple occurrences e.g. Seong Seokrin during Taejong reign, this is acknowledged by a tag in the "#" column. For the 14th-26th reigns, only the names were given, so that chronological order is not enforced. For example, Chae Jegong was cited once for the Jeongjo reign, while the biographical article :ko:채제공 was listing 1776, 1790, 1793.
Additional material coming from the WorldStatesmen page is tagged as "ws" in the source column. Here too, no references are given. When a cross-checking with the Korean page of a given statesman has been possible, hangul transcription and life dates have been borrowed.
In any case, the column KO is checked each time the corresponding biography exists on the Korean Wikipedia.

Changes of Yeonguijeong's roles

Until April 1436, the 18th year of Sejong the Great's reign, Jwauijeong and Uuijeong concurrently served as Panijosa and Panbyeongjosa respectively, so that they governed personnel affairs of yangban.
Yeonguijeong continued to exist as an honorary post, and so only managed to contemplate and adjust diplomatic documents or re-examine the cases of condemned people.
However, when Hwang Hui was appointed as "Yeonguijeong busa" in that same year, the king modified the government system to strengthen the power of Samjeongseung from the Yukjo centered system. With the reform, Sejong noted that a situation in which three highest senior advisors could not participate in the state affairs contravened the original intention to have them as the high state councillors.
During the reform, Yukjo conferred with Uijeongbu regarding the responsibilities of each minister. Uijeongbu discussed legitimacy of the issues, and then reported to the king. After receiving an approval from the king, Uijeongbu returned to Yujo to enact the assigned affairs. As a result, Yeonguijeong came to participate more actively in the representative work as the head of Uijeongbu. However, other ministerial duities, such as the rights of Ijo and Byeongjo to implement personnel management, Byeongjo's mobilization of soldiers, Hyeongjo 's right to handle all criminals other than condemned people, were still directly operated by the related ministers.
When Prince Suyang usurped the place of his nephew, King Danjong, the function of Yeonguijeong was relegated to its previous powerless position. This was because when the King Sejo was still a prince, his actions were greatly restricted by his political rivals, Yeonguijeong, Hwangbo In and Jwauijeong, Kim Jongseo. So during the reigns of King Seongjong and Jungjong, there were several proposals to restore the former powers of Uijeongbu, but those suggestions were not implemented.
Major affairs of the state were discussed when Bibyeonsa was established in 1558. The three High Councillors attended meetings only as "Dojejo". So the power of Yeonguijeong tended to be increased or decreased, depending on the political atmosphere of the times, such as the degree of the king's power, the relationship between Uijeongbu and Yukjo, the establishment of Bibyeonsa, the later administration of Kyujanggak, the conflicts between political parties, and the advancement of "in-law government", among others. Regardless, the title "Yeonguijeong" continued as the apex in the bureaucratic system throughout the entire Joseon period.