National oh Jung Hong-rae · Public domain · Source
Person1482 – 1520
Jo Gwang-jo
Neo-Confucian reformer exiled to Neungju and forced to take poison in the 1519 purge
A sarim scholar taught by Kim Goeng-pil, he won Jungjong's trust and led reforms. He introduced the Hyeollyang Examination to recruit by recommendation, abolished the Sogyeokseo office of Daoist rites and spread the village code (hyangyak) and the Sohak. His push to strip undeserving restoration merit subjects of their titles provoked the hungu elite, and in the Gimyo Literati Purge of 1519 he was made to drink poison. Tradition says enemies framed him with leaves on which "Ju Cho will be king" had been eaten out.
