The Gimyo Literati Purge

Timeline

1. 1519Hanyang Royal Palace · HanyangJo Gwang-jo's faction pushed for the Hyangnyang examination and the abolition of the Sogyeok Office, and demanded the stripping of the 'Meritorious Retainers of National Pacification' titles indiscriminately granted during King Jungjong's restoration, touching the core interests of the meritocratic old guard. The phrase 'zou xiao becomes king' (a hidden reference to the character 'Jo') appeared in the inner palace, and Jungjong's trust in the scholar-officials quickly wavered; he secretly ordered Hong Gyeong-ju and others to plot Jo's removal.
2. c. 1519Hanyang · HanyangHong Gyeong-ju, Nam Gon, and Sim Jeong entered the palace at night, requesting the arrest of Jo Gwang-jo, Kim Jeong, Kim Hyeop, Yi Ja, and others on the grounds that factional cliques were usurping royal authority. Jungjong approved. Chief State Censor Jeong Gwang-bi and others strongly remonstrated, and Seonggyungwan scholars cried out injustice at Gwanghwamun Gate; eight men were temporarily spared death and instead exiled. The purge destroyed the scholar-official governing structure under Jungjong overnight.
3. c. 1519–1520Yeongju · Jeolla ProvinceAfter being exiled to Yeongju, Jo Gwang-jo was still given poison; Kim Jeong, Gi Jun, Han Chung, Kim Hyeop, and others were either ordered to commit suicide or took their own lives, dozens of scholar-officials were exiled, and their supporters dismissed from office, becoming known as the 'Worthies of Gimyo.' Reforms such as the Hyangnyang examination were abolished, and the meritocratic old guard regained control of government. The scholar-official faction would not dominate court politics again for several decades.