U T'ak

U T'ak (1262–1342), also known as Woo Tak, was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher during Korea’s Goryeo dynasty. He was also commonly known as Yŏkdong Sŏnsaeng. His art names were Paekun and Tanam, his courtesy names were Ch'ŏnchang and T'akpo, and his posthumous name was Moonhee. U T'ak helped spread Neo-Confucianism, which had come from the Yuan dynasty, in Korea. He was a disciple of the Neo-Confucian scholar, An Hyang.

U T'ak belonged to the Danyang Woo clan. He was the 7th generation descendant of the Danyang Woo clan's founding ancestor, U Hyŏn. U had two sons, U Wŏn-gwang and U Wŏn-myŏng. U T'ak is considered as the ancestor of the Moonheegong branch of the Danyang Woo clan. By 1308, U held the Censorate office of royal inspector, however he protested newly reigning King Chungseon's relationship with late king's former concubine, Lady Sukchang by bringing an axe to court and appealed to the king to reconsider his ways. U would retire early from the court after this incident.

U T'ak was a respected scholar and centuries after his death, a Joseon Confucian scholar, Yi Hwang, helped to establish the Yeokdong Seowon in honor of U T'ak in 1570.