# Yu Chagwang

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**Yu Chagwang** (Korean: 유자광; Hanja: 柳子光, 1439 – June 15, 1512) was a [Korean](/source/Korea) [Joseon Dynasty](/source/Joseon_Dynasty) politician, soldier and writer. Born as the son of a yangban father and a concubine, he was one of the few secondary sons who served in high government offices during the Joseon dynasty.[1] His [courtesy name](/source/Courtesy_name) was **Uhu** (Korean: 우후; Hanja: 于後). His prime political rival was [Kim Chong-jik](/source/Kim_Chong-jik).

## Life

In 1439, Yu Chagwang was born as the secondary son of Yu Kyu, of the Yeonggwang Yu clan, and his concubine, Lady Ch'oe. Yu first served as a *kapsa* (Korean: 갑사; Hanja: 甲士) or armoured soldier, who guarded Geonchunmun Gate. When [Yi Si-ae's Rebellion](/source/Yi_Si-ae's_Rebellion) broke out, he volunteered to serve the government forces in suppressing the rebels. He was quickly promoted to the position of a section chief in the Ministry of War () by King [Sejo](/source/Sejo_of_Joseon).[2] In 1468, he took the *munkwa* exam and placed first.[1] When Sejo's son [Yejong](/source/Yejong_of_Joseon) ascended to the throne, Yu Chagwang accused Nam I of plotting treason and was rewarded as a first class merit subject. In 1498, Yu played a key role in the [First literati purge](/source/Korean_literati_purges#First_literati_purge_of_1498) during the reign of [Yeonsangun](/source/Yeonsangun_of_Joseon), accusing Kim Ilson of writing history drafts that were negative on King Sejo. Yu also went after Kim Ilson's deceased teacher, Kim Chong-jik, for his composition of *[Lament for the Rightful Emperor](/source/Lament_for_the_Rightful_Emperor)* which he interpreted as treason. Kim Chong-jik was posthumously charged with high treason and his corpse was beheaded. Other members belonging to the [sarim](/source/Sarim) faction were also purged. According to later historians who wrote the [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty](/source/Veritable_Records_of_the_Joseon_Dynasty), Yu's hatred of Kim Chong-jik was due to an incident where Kim, when he served as the county magistrate of [Hamyang](/source/Hamyang_County), he destroyed Yu's poem that he had put up in that county.[3] In 1506, he once again became a merit subject when [Jungjong](/source/Jungjong_of_Joseon) obtained the throne, becoming the only secondary son in the history of Joseon to become a merit subject twice.[1] However, in 1507, Yu Chagwang was accused by the Censorate of "personal motivation" and was exiled. He was still in exile when he died on June 15, 1512.[4]

## Popular culture

- Portrayed by [Song Young-chang](/source/Song_Young-chang) in the 2015 South Korean film *[The Treacherous](/source/The_Treacherous)*
- Portrayed by Ryu Tae-ho in the 2017 [MBC](/source/Munhwa_Broadcasting_Corporation) TV series *[The Rebel](/source/The_Rebel_(South_Korean_TV_series))*.
- Portrayed by Yoo Seung-bong in the 2017 [KBS2](/source/KBS2) TV series *[Queen for Seven Days](/source/Queen_for_Seven_Days)*.

## See also

- [Korean literati purges](/source/Korean_literati_purges)

## References

1. Peterson, Mark Arlen (1987). ["Women, Marriage, Concubinage and Sŏja: Problems and alternatives in Questions of Heirship"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/303557557). *The Mid Yi Dynasty Transformation Of The Korean Family And Lineage: An Examination Of Adoption And Inheritance Practices* (PhD). ISBN 979-8-6431-0083-6. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

1. ["ko:유자광(柳子光)"](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0041774) (in Korean). *[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Korean_Culture)*. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

1. Wagner, Edward Willett (1974). *The Literati purges: Political conflict in early Yi Korea*. Cambridge: East Asian Research Center : distributed by Harvard University Press. pp. 42–46. ISBN 0674536185.

1. Wagner, Edward Willett (1974). *The Literati purges: Political conflict in early Yi Korea*. Cambridge: East Asian Research Center : distributed by Harvard University Press. p. 74. ISBN 0674536185.

## External links

- [Yu Chagwang:Nate](https://archive.today/20130129182431/http://koreandb.nate.com/history/people/detail?sn=10869) (in Korean)
- [Yu Chagwang:Naver](https://archive.today/20130129140445/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=228124) (in Korean)
- [Yu Chagwang](http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=539582) (in Korean)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Yu Chagwang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Chagwang) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Chagwang?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.