Statue of Jeong Mongju정몽주 동상

About

The Statue of Jeong Mongju was erected on October 16, 1970, and stands in a green area at the entrance to Yanghwa Bridge in Hapjeong-dong. Poeun Jeong Mongju (1337–1392) was a civil official and scholar of the late Goryeo period. He placed first in the civil service examination in 1360 and served as Daejehak (Grand Academician) of Umungwan. He was skilled in diplomacy with Ming China and Japan, and made major contributions in campaigns against Japanese pirates and the Jurchens. He also set up relief granaries (uichang) to help the poor, spread Confucian learning, and was well versed in Neo-Confucianism. He sought to bring reason to social ethics and morality and stayed loyal to Goryeo. However, as the dynasty declined and a new rising force emerged to lead the country, he was killed. Many of his classical Chinese poems survive, including Dansimga, and he also excelled at calligraphy and painting. He is counted as one of the Three Eun of Goryeo. In 1401, the first year of King Taejong's reign, he was posthumously named Yeonguijeong (Chief State Councillor) and given the title Prince Igyang. Under King Jungjong, his spirit tablet was enshrined in Munmyo, the Confucian shrine.