Yangjae Station Graffiti Incident Explained

Rr:Yangjaeyeog byeogseo sageon
Mr:Yangjaeyŏng pyŏksŏ sagŏn

The Yangjae Station Graffiti Incident was one of the many political purges that occurred in Korea during the Joseon period. It is also known as the Jeongmi Sahwa, where Jeongmi refers to name of the year 1547 (the second year of King Myeongjong's reign, during the regency of Queen Munjeong).

The initial event was a graffiti posted on a wall at the Yangjae stage Station (now Yangjae-dong, Seocho District, Seoul). This was a notice, posted on the order of Yun Won-hyeong, to defame himself and his relatives.

"A female leader at the top, treacherous ministers Li Gi and others at bottom. The country is about to perish, but we just wait and see. Isn't that scary? 女主執政于上, 奸臣李芑等弄權於下, 國之將亡, 可立而待。 豈不寒心哉?"

This followed the Eulsa purge with the graffiti signalling to Li Gi and Queen Munjeong (the regent) that the Eulsa purge had been insufficient in getting rid of the DaeYun faction.[1] Hence, the graffiti was used by the SoYun faction as a basis for removing its political opponents, starting from Prince Bong-seong (1528–1547). This purge was enlarged to all the survivors of the DaeYun faction.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. NIKH Encyclopedia: 양재역벽서사건[良才驛壁書事件] ]. 국사편찬위원휘 National Institute of Korean History . Yangjae Station Graffiti Incident.