Hoseong Meritorious Subject Royal Edict Issued to Bak Sung-won

A gongsillokgwon is a certificate of appointment issued by the state naming a subject who has rendered outstanding service as a meritorious subject. This gongsillokgwon records the conferral upon Bak Sung-won (1532–1592) of the rank of second-class Hoseong Meritorious Subject. Hoseong Meritorious Subject was a title conferred, in the form of a merit certificate, on those who rendered especially great service in attending King Seonjo during his flight to Uiju at the time of the Japanese invasions of Korea. It was awarded to a total of 86 men, including Yi Hang-bok, comprising two first-class, 31 second-class and 53 third-class subjects. When the Japanese invasions broke out, Bak Sung-won accompanied King Seonjo in attendance to the king's temporary residence at Uiju, but died of illness during the journey. His service on that occasion was recognised, and in 1604, the 37th year of King Seonjo's reign, he was posthumously registered as a second-class Hoseong Meritorious Subject. This certificate bears the imprint of a seal reading "Simyeongjibo" (施明之寶), stamped after the text was written out by hand. Its content includes a royal edict praising Bak Sung-won's service, an account of the circumstances of his registration as a Hoseong Meritorious Subject, and details of the rewards granted, together with a list of the meritorious subjects. It is a valuable resource for historical research, and its state of preservation is very good.

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Where it is

Region

Cheongju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산