Jeong Cheol (Korean: 정철; Hanja: 鄭澈; 18 December 1536 – 7 February 1594) was a Korean statesman 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).

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Quick Facts Left State Councillor, Preceded by ...

Jeong Cheol 정철
Left State Councillor
In office 13 March 1590 – 24 February 1591
Preceded by	Yi San-hae
Succeeded by	Ryu Seong-ryong
Right State Councillor
In office 8 December 1589 – March 1590
Preceded by	Jeong Eon-sin
Succeeded by	Sim Su-gyeong
Personal details
Born	(1536-12-18)18 December 1536
Died	7 February 1594(1594-02-07) (aged 57)
Korean name
Hangul	정철
Hanja	鄭澈
Revised Romanization	Jeong Cheol
McCune–Reischauer	Chŏng Ch'ŏl

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• Grandfather
  • Jeong Woe (정위; 鄭潙)
• Father
  • Jeong Yu-chim (정유침; 鄭惟沈)
• Mother
  • Lady Ahn of the Juksan Ahn clan (죽산 안씨; 竹山 安氏)
• Siblings
  • Older brother - Jeong So (정소; 鄭沼)
  • Older sister - Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeonil Jeong clan (귀인 정씨; August 1520 – 25 March 1566)
    • Brother-in-law - King Injong of Joseon (조선 인종; 10 March 1515 – 7 August 1545)
  • Older sister - Princess Consort Ohcheon of the Yeonil Jeong clan (오천군부인 연일 정씨; 烏川郡夫人 延日 鄭氏)
    • Brother-in-law - Yi Yu, Prince Gyerim (계림군 유; 桂林君 瑠)^[1]
      • Nephew - Yi Si (연양정 이시; 延陽正 李諟)
• Wives and their children
  • Lady Ryu of the Munhwa Ryu clan (문화 류씨; 文化 柳氏)
    • Son - Jeong Ki-myeong (정기명; 鄭振溟; ?–1589)
      • Grandson - Jeong Woon (정운; 鄭沄)
    • Son - Jeong Jong-myeong (정종명; 鄭宗溟)
      • Grandson - Jeong Jik (정직; 鄭溭)
      • Grandson - Jeong Su (정수; 鄭洙)
      • Grandson - Jeong Yeon (정연; 鄭沇)
      • Grandson - Jeong Yang (정양; 鄭瀁; 1600–1662)
      • Grandson - Jeong Jeon (정전; 鄭淟)
    • Son - Jeong Jin-myeong (정진명; 鄭振溟)
    • Son - Jeong Hong-myeong (정홍명; 鄭弘溟; 7 March 1582 – 2 October 1650)^[2]
      • Grandson - Jeong Yi (정이; 鄭涖)
  • Concubine - Jin-ok (기녀 진옥; 眞玉)
  • Concubine - Lady Kang-ah (강아; 江娥)

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).

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.

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).

• Portrayed by Park-woong in the 1995 KBS2 TV Series West Palace.
• Portrayed by Joo Jin-mo in the 2014 KBS2 TV series The King's Face.
• Portrayed by Sun Dong-Hyuk in the 2015 KBS2 TV series The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War.

• A crater on Mercury was named after him in 1979.

• Korean literature
• Joseon Dynasty