"Forgotten Loyalty Rises Again in Yeongdeok"

“Jangneungyushin” Obong Kwon Chaek Academic Conference
Re-examining Loyalty to King Danjong, Family Lineage, and Cultural Heritage

An academic conference that re-examines the life and spirit of Obong Kwon Chaek, a loyal official (Jangneungyushin) who unwaveringly upheld his loyalty to King Danjong of the Joseon Dynasty, will be held in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province.

Beyond celebrating the loyalty of a single figure and his family lineage, the event is significant in that it brings to the present the legacy of integrity that remained in the background of history for a long time.

Home of Obong Gwunchaek [Photo by Obong Gwunchaek Clan]

The Obong Branch of the Andong Kwon Clan announced that it will host the “Jangneungyushin Obong Kwon Chaek Academic Conference” from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 18 at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall of the Yeju Cultural and Arts Center in Yeongdeok.

This academic conference aims to revisit the loyalty, family history, and cultural heritage associated with Obong Kwon Chaek on a warm spring day in Yeongdeok. Professors Han Younggyu and Lee Youngho from Sungkyunkwan University will present in-depth academic perspectives on the stature of Kwon Chaek and the significance of his legacy for future generations.

The presentations will be divided into two main topics: “The Loyalty and Integrity of Jangneungyushin Kwon Chaek” and “On the Family Lineage of Obong Kwon Chaek.” The first presentation will highlight Kwon Chaek’s loyalty to King Danjong and his historical symbolism, while the second will focus on the origins of his family and clan, as well as the continuity of their values.

Kwon Chaek is remembered as an individual who remained steadfastly loyal to King Danjong. His spirit endures today through historical records such as the “Gyeongmorok” and the “Obong Seonsaeng Silgi.” During the reign of King Sukjong, efforts to restore Danjong’s honor and rehabilitate loyal officials also led to a renewed historical evaluation of Kwon Chaek. The enshrinement of his ancestral tablet at the Sukmojeon Hall of Donghaksa Temple in Gongju, and the inscription of his name as a loyal official to Danjong at the Banquet Altar of Jangneung in Yeongwol, exemplify his symbolic status.

This academic event extends beyond the study of one individual. It also shines a light on heritage sites and spaces associated with Kwon Chaek, including the Obong ancestral house, Gyeongbojae, Hwasuru, and Cheongganjeong, providing a multifaceted look at how one scholar’s life and philosophy remain embedded in the area’s cultural heritage. The sense of place found in these traditional hanok and the living legacy of the head family elevate this gathering to more than a mere academic conference, making it a culturally significant event.

In particular, the process through which the loyal officials of Jangneung, who had been thoroughly forgotten and erased from memory, are being restored under the light of history after a long silence, underscores the core theme of this conference. Though their names were lost, their spirit persisted, and later generations’ records and posthumous honors have finally brought their loyalty back into the public historical narrative. Obong Kwon Chaek is one such figure, once again remembered through this process of restoration.

The event will also be attended by members of the Donmokhoe in Daegu, an association with ties to King Danjong’s maternal family, which is expected to provide an even deeper reflection on the historical context surrounding Danjong and Kwon Chaek.

The first Wangam stele on the right side
Photo by Obongwonchaek Clan

The local cultural community expects that this academic conference will serve as an opportunity to highlight both the value of Confucian cultural assets centered on Yeongdeok and the historical significance of loyalty to King Danjong. The process of recalling forgotten names and restoring disregarded values in today’s language is ultimately connected to the revival of regional history and cultural heritage.

Above all, the spirit of loyalty and integrity toward King Danjong is not confined to Obong Kwon Chaek alone. About 570 years ago, after the Bujeonggong branch of the Andong Kwon clan settled in Sachon, Uiseong, the lineage continued through other loyalists, such as Administrative Official Kwon Sik, who also stands in this tradition of loyalty to Danjong.

History is not completed by recorded names alone. When we visit these sites, listen to their stories, and draw out memories preserved in head families and villages, the spirit of loyalty from an era comes vividly alive in the present. The Asia Business Daily plans to directly trace the footsteps of another loyal figure to Danjong, Kwon Sik, in a future feature report.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.