Jeong Cheol (Korean: 정철; Hanja: 鄭澈; 18 December 1536 – 7 February 1594) was a Koreanstatesman and poet. He used the pen-names Gyeham (계함) and Songgang (송강), and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang. He was expelled by the Easterners. He was from the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 延日 鄭氏).
Daughter - Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 1556)
Son - Jeong Ki-myeong (정기명; 鄭振溟; 1558–1589)
Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 1559–?)
Son - Jeong Jong-myeong (정종명; 鄭宗溟; 1565–1626)
Son - Jeong Jin-myeong (정진명; 鄭振溟; 1567–1614)
Daughter - Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 1576–?)
Son - Jeong Hong-myeong (정홍명; 鄭弘溟; 7 March 1582 – 2 October 1650)
Concubine - Jin-ok (기녀 진옥; 眞玉)
Concubine - Lady Kang-ah (강아; 江娥)
Literary works
He is prominent in the gasa and the sijo, which are forms of classical Korean poetry.
The following two poems are an exchange between Jeong Cheol and the gisaeng Jinok. Jeong is playing on Jinok's name, which means Genuine Gem. First he calls her a gem (ok; 玉), then suggests she is an imitation (beon-ok; 燔玉) and finally finds her to be genuine (jin-ok; 眞玉).
Gem, oh, they talk of a gem
but I thought it an imitation.
Now I know for certain
it is a genuine gem.
My thrusting gimlet
will carry you with me.
- Jeong Cheol to Jinok[1]
Jinok replies by playing on the name of Jeong Cheol (鄭澈), first calling him iron (cheol; 鐵), then suggesting he might be false iron (seop-cheol; 攝鐵) and finally discovering he is genuine iron (jeong cheol; 正鐵). Unquestionably bawdy, this exchange is one of the finest examples of satire in sijo — a poetic form that placed high value on wit, double entendre and word play.
Iron, oh, they talk of iron
but I thought it false.
Now I know for certain
it is true iron.
My pair of bellows
will smelt it.
- Jinok to Jeong Cheol[1]
Other Works:
Gwandong Byeolgok (The Song of the Sceneries of the Gwandong).
Samiingok (Mindful of My Seemly Lord).
Songgang Gasa (Songgang's Prose Poetry Book).
Popular culture
Portrayed by Park-woong in the 1995 KBS2 TV Series West Palace.
