Heo Gyun

Heo Gyun (3 November 1569 – 12 October 1618) was a Korean novelist, poet, and politician during the Joseon period. He was also known by his art names, Gyosan and Seongso.

Biography
Heo Gyun was born into the Yangcheon Heo clan in the city of Gangneung to Heo Yeop and his second wife, Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan.

Heo Gyun's older sister Heo Nanseolheon was a poet. Heo's family was of the noble (yangban) class (his father had been mayor of Gangneung) and as such Heo Gyun was afforded a solid education and in 1594 passed the nation's highest civil service exam.

Under the strong influence of his tutor, Yi Dal, Heo Gyun became a progressive and liberal thinker who dreamed of establishing a more progressive society by eliminating Confucian elements in the social, literary, and political realms. Heo went on to serve the government of Joseon in such positions as Minister of the Board of Punishment and State Councillor. In the course of his political career he was exiled several times for involvement in political feuds and was ultimately executed on charges of treason during the reign of Prince Gwanghae.

Heo is often credited as the author of the famous Korean story Tale of Hong Gildong, which in many ways reflects his progressive thinking, although his authorship has been disputed.

Family

 * Father
 * Heo Yeop (19 December 1517 – 4 February 1580)
 * Mother
 * Biological - Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan (1523–?), married in 1548
 * Step - Han Yi-jeong, Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (1515–?)
 * Siblings
 * Older half-sister - Heo Mok-seok, Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (1523–?)
 * Older half-brother - Heo Seong (1548–1612)
 * Older brother - Heo Bong (1551–1588)
 * Older half-sister - Heo Dae-jeong, Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (1553–?)
 * Older sister - Heo Cho-hui, Heo Nanseolheon (1563 – 19 March 1589)
 * Wives and their children
 * Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (1571 – 16 August 1592)
 * Father-in-law - Kim Dae-seob (1544–?)
 * Mother-in-law - Lady Sim of the Cheongseong Sim clan (1548–?)
 * Unnamed son (?–1618)
 * Daughter - Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (1590–?)
 * Son-in-law - Yi Sa-seong of the Gwangju Yi clan (1590–?)
 * Grandson - Yi Pil-jin (1610–1671)
 * Daughter - Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (1591–?)
 * Unnamed son (1592–1592); died prematurely
 * Lady Kim of the Seonsan Kim clan (1575–?)
 * Father-in-law - Kim Hyo-won (1542–1590)
 * Mother-in-law - Lady Jeong of the Chogye Jeong clan (1542–?)
 * Son - Heo Gwing (1595–?)
 * Grandson - Heo Geum (1620–?)
 * Daughter - Royal Consort Sohun of the Yangcheon Heo clan (1603–?)
 * Son-in-law - Yi Ji, Deposed Crown Prince (31 December 1598 – 22 July 1623)
 * Concubine(s) and their issue
 * Ok-mae (1575–?)
 * Yi Mae-chang (1575–?)
 * Song Seong-ok of the Yeosan Song clan (1582–?); daughter of Song Chwi-dae (송취대, 宋就大; 1566–?), from the Yangmin class
 * Lady Kim (1573–?)
 * Chu-seom
 * Hyeon Eung-min

Works

 * Honggildongjeon (attributed)
 * Dongguk myeongsandong cheonjuhaegi (동국명산동천주해기 東國名山洞天註解記)
 * Domundaejak (도문대작 屠門大嚼)
 * Namgungdujeon (남궁두전 南宮斗傳)
 * Yujaeron (유재론 遺才論)
 * Seongsobu bugo (성소부부고 惺所覆?藁)
 * Haksan chodam (학산초담 鶴山樵談)
 * Gukjo sisan (국조시산 國朝詩刪)
 * Hanjeongnok (한정록 閑情錄)
 * Gyosansihwa (교산시화 蛟山詩話)
 * Gosiseon (고시선 古詩選)
 * Sachesungdang (사체성당 四體盛唐)
 * Dangsiseon (당시선 唐詩選)
 * Songohghasicho (송오가시초 宋五家詩抄)
 * Myungsagashiseon (명사가시선 明四家詩選)
 * Eomcheosajeon
 * Songoksaninjeon
 * Jangsaninjeon
 * Jangsaengjeon
 * Namgung seonsaengjeon

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Kim Joo-young in the 1986 MBC TV series The Hoechun Gate.
 * Portrayed by Lee Dong-shin in the 1988 MBC TV series Queen Inhyeon.
 * Portrayed by Kim Dong-hyun in the 1993 MBC TV series Iljimae.
 * Portrayed by Kim Jong-kyul in the 1995 KBS TV series West Palace.
 * Portrayed by Choi Jae-sung in the 2000 KBS TV series Roll of Thunder.
 * Portrayed by Ryu Seung-ryong in the 2012 film Masquerade and in the 2014 SBS TV series My Love from the Star.
 * Portrayed by Ahn Nae-sang in the 2015 MBC TV series Splendid Politics.

Site web

 * Heo Gyun
 * Heo Gyun:Navercast
 * Heo Gyun