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Part 4 : Politicians Historical backgrounds…. Until the late 12th century, Goryeo‘s political mainstream had been civil officers composed of Confucian scholars. By contrast, military officers, relatively uneducated, had been discriminated and ignored by the elite civil officers. In 1170, a group of army officers, outraged by the accumulated discrimination, launched a coup and succeeded to take power. Many civil officers were killed in the process. From then on, Goryeo’s kings had become a puppet of the military regime. This “age of warriors” lasted about a hundred years until Goryeo surrendered to the Mongol empire in 1270. During the Mongol’s colonial occupation, Goryeo became quda (marriage alliance) vassal of the Mongol empire (Yuan dynasty) for about 80 years, and monarchs of Goryeo were mainly imperial sons in-law. As a result, Goryeo court was dominated by Pro-Mongol nobles. The brothers of Empress Ki(The Goryeo woman who became the empress of the Yuan dynasty) were the notorious example for the corrupt Pro-Mongol nobles. When the Yuan dynasty was beginning to crumble in the mid-14th century,King Gongmin of Goryeo (reign 1351~1374) ascended the throne and began the efforts to reform the Goryeo government by removing Mongolian influences. He opened the government posts to the reformist Confucian scholars in order to check the power of conservative pro-Mongol nobles. Those scholars formed a new social class called “Sadaebu (士大夫)” and their famous representatives were Sambong Jung Do-Jeon(鄭道傳) and PoeunJung Mong-Joo(鄭夢周). (* ‘Sambong’ and ‘Poeun’ are their pen names.) In addition, there were famous military officers who had protected Goryeo people from various foreign invaders. The renowned general Choi Young, and the new rising star Yi Seong-Gye started to emerge as new political forces. They are called “New warrior forces” (신흥 무인 세력, 新興武人勢力). However, after the sudden assassination of King Gongmin in 1374, the pro-Mongol nobles regained their power. Against the conservative nobles, the Sadaebu scholars and the new military officers started to join forces. This is the beginning of Six Flying Dragons.
 ■ Choi Young 최영 (崔瑩, 1316~1388) / Jeon Guk-Hwan He has increased his reputation as an invincible general by distinguishing himself in war. He had to tolerate the atrocious acts of Dodang triumvirates to maintain social order, but he ended up joining hands with General Yi Seong-Gye to punish them.
He tried to enforce the impractical military plan to attack Ming China, but Yi Seong-Gye’s withdrawal of army troops made his plan a total failure. He was executed by Yi Seong-Gye’s sword.
 ■ Jung Mong-Joo 정몽주 (鄭夢周, 1337~1392) / Kim U-Seong The final guardian of Goryeo dynasty,
and the spiritual founder of Joseon dynasty. As the leader of Sadaebu scholars, and as a loyal subject of Goryeo dynasty, he should be hostile to his old friends Jung Do-Jeon and Yi Seong-Gye. Although he had acted according to his conviction and principles, he was killed by Yi Bang-Won.
 ■ U Hak-Joo 우학주 (禹學朱) / Yoon Seo-Hyeon One of the Sadaebu scholars. He is a dirty opportunist who switches parties for his own interest. U Hak-Joo always begrudges Jung Do-Jeon, and disturbs him in every single things he does.
 ■ Han Goo-Young 한구영 (韓具營) / Jung Moon-Sung One of the Sadaebu scholars. Since he is Hong In-bang’s younger alumnus, he has always followed Hong, even after Hong turned coat, and lives in wealth by Hong’s favour. But when Hong is eliminated, he betrayed Hong.
 ■ Heo Gang 허강 (許强) / Yi Ji-Hoon A civil servant during the late Goryeo and the early Joseon. The future Yi Sin-Jeok. (* the character from Tree with Deep Roots (2011) )
He is a model scholar raised in a well-mannered family.
He was a top student in SungKyunKwan, but becomes a radical thinker since he learned Jung Do-Jeon’s revolutionary thoughts.
■ Jo Joon 조준 (趙浚, 1346~1405) / Jo Hee-Bong A civil servant during the late Goryeo and the early Joseon.
He belongs to Pyeong-An Jo clan, one of the Haedong Gapjok (* 해동갑족(海東甲族), Top 10 noble clans in Goryeo kingdom). Despite being the member of the top 10 noble families, he’s been raised as a Confucian scholar.
He is also an enthusiastic specialist in land policy issue and economics which is the top priority of the Goryeo‘s reform agenda. He helps Jung Do-Jeon’s reformative politics but will oppose him later on.
■ Master Yook-San 육산선생 (六山先生) / Ahn Seok-Hwan The leader of Pyeong-An Jo clan, one of the Haedong Gapjok
Jo Joon’s uncle. He is likely to be looked down on because of his spineless yes man character, but he is hiding cunning tricks behind his generous smile. He controls the top 10 noble clans by the help of his connections in various fields.
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Author
Post time 26-10-2015 04:37 PM
...kalau xde mlm esok, layan gaekju..
..
..huhu..pkl 12 mlm pun sanggup tunggu..
