Jo Eom

Jo Eom (; 1719 – 1777) was a Korean civil minister (munsin) in the 18th century during the late period of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897).

He was also diplomat and ambassador, representing Joseon interests in the 11th Edo period diplomatic mission to the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan. He is credited with introducing the cultivation of potatoes as a food staple in Korea in the mid-18th century.

Biography
Jo Eom was of the Pungyang Jo clan, and his father was Jo Sang-gyeong with the title of Ijo panseo (a Minister of Personnel, 이조판서, 吏曹判書).

In 1738, he passed saengwonsi, the state examination, with a low grade. In 1752, he passed high grade examination (Jeongsi) and served for the government as the Jeongeon (정언, 正言), and became Gyori (교리, 校理), administrator of Dongnae and Amhaengeosa (Secret governmental inspectors) of Chungcheong province, in the 1757. In 1760, he suggested to established three Jochang (조창, 漕倉, storehouse) in southern Gyeongsang province, which was contributed development of economic in this region. He also became Daesaheon (대사헌, 大司憲), Bujehak (부제학, 副提學) and Yejo chamui (예조참의, 禮曹參議).

King Yeongjo sent a diplomatic mission to Japan (Joseon Tongsinsa) in 1764. This embassy to court of Tokugawa Ieharu was led by Jo Eom. This diplomatic mission functioned to the advantage of both the Japanese and the Koreans as a channel for developing a political foundation for trade. He brought in foreign crop, a sweet potato, and grew in Dongnae and Jeju Island.

He was appointed Uigeumbu jisa (의금부지사, 義禁府知事), Ijo panseo and Jehak (제학, 提學). Soon after that, he became Pyongando Gwanchalsa, the governor of Pyongan province. However, he took away all power by accusation.

After his return to court, Jo Eom was appointed Daesagan (대사간, 大司諫) and Ijo panseo. In 1777, he was entrapped and banished to Wiwon, northern Pyongan region, by Hong Guk-yeong's faction. Later, he was transferred to Gimhae, southern Gyeongsang region, and died there.

Jo's writings are preserved in the  Haesa ilgi (Diary of Overseas Mission, 해사일기, 海槎日記) and Haehaeng chongjae (해행총재, 海行摠載).

Family
Father - Jo Sang-gyeong (조상경, 趙尙絅)
Grandfather - Jo Do-bo (조도보, 趙道輔)
Grandmother - Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (증 정경부인 경주 김씨); daughter of Kim Pil-jin (김필진, 金必鎭)
Mother - Lady Yi of the Bupyeong Yi clan (정경부인 부평 이씨)
Grandfather - Yi Jeong-tae (이정태, 李廷泰)
 Sibling(s)
 Older brother - Jo Don (조돈, 趙暾)
 Younger brother - Jo Jeong (조정, 趙晸)
Wife - Lady Hong of the Pungsan Hong clan (증 정경부인 풍산 홍씨) (1717 - 1808)
 Father-in-law - Hong Hyeon-bo (홍현보, 洪鉉輔) (1680 - 1740)
 Mother-in-law - Lady Im of the Pungcheon Im clan (풍천 임씨); daughter of Im Bang (임방, 任埅) (1640 - 1724), Hong Hyeon-bo's first wife
 Issue
 Son - Jo Jin-gwan (조진관, 趙鎭寬) (1739 - 1808)
 Daughter-in-law - Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨, 南陽 洪氏) (1739 - 1799); daughter of Hong Ik-bin (홍익빈, 洪益彬)
 Grandson - Jo Man-yeong (1776 - 1846) (조만영, 趙萬永)
 Granddaughter-in-law - Internal Princess Consort Deokan of the Eunjin Song clan (덕안부부인 송씨, 德安府夫人 宋氏) (1776 - 1834)
 Great-Grandson - Jo Byeong-gwi (조병귀, 趙秉龜)
 Great-Grandson - Jo Byeong-gu (조병구, 趙秉龜) (1801 - 1845)
 Great-Granddaughter - Queen Sinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan (신정왕후 조씨) 21 January 1809 – 4 June 1890)
 Great-Grandson - Jo Byeong-gi (조병기, 趙秉夔) (1821 - 1858)
 Great-Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Great-Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Great-Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Grandson-in-law - Yun Gyeong-ryeol (윤경렬, 尹慶烈) of the Haepyeong Yun clan (해평 윤씨, 海平 尹氏)
 Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Grandson-in-law - Yi Jae-mun (이재문, 李在文) of Yongin Yi clan (용인 이씨, 龍仁 李氏)
 Grandson - Jo Won-yeong (조원영, 趙原永) (1777 - 1825); became the adopted son of his uncle Jo Jin-ui (조진의, 趙鎭宜)
 Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Han (한씨, 韓氏); daughter of Han Yong-gu (한용구, 韓用龜)
 Grandson - Jo In-yeong (조인영, 趙寅永) (1782 - 1850)
 Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Kim of the (new) Andong Kim clan (신 안동 김씨, 新 安東 金氏)
 Great-Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Great-Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Great-Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Adoptive Great-Grandson - Jo Yeong-ha (조영하, 趙寧夏) (June 1845 - 5 December 1884)
 Adoptive Great-Granddaughter-in-law - Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan (증 정경부인 용인 이씨); daughter of Yi Gyo-hyeon (이교현, 李敎鉉)
 Adoptive Great-Granddaughter-in-law - Yi Jeong-suk (이정숙, 李貞淑) of the Jeonju Yi clan (정부인 전주 이씨) (1858 - 1935); daughter of Yi Hae-seok (이해석, 李海錫)
 Adoptive Great-Great-Grandson - Jo Dong-yun (조동윤, 趙東潤) (1871 - 1923)
 Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Grandson-in-law - Yi Bok-yeon (이복연, 李復淵) of the Wansan Yi clan
 Granddaughter - Lady Jo of the Pungyang Jo clan (풍양 조씨, 豊壤 趙氏)
 Grandson-in-law - Kim Byeong-mun (김병문, 金炳文) of the (new) Andong Kim clan (신 안동 김씨, 新 安東 金氏)
 Son - Jo Jin-ui (조진의, 趙鎭宜)
 Adoptive Grandson - Jo Won-yeong (조원영, 趙原永) (1777 - 1825); son of Jo Jin-gwan 
 Daughter - Lady Jo (조씨)
 Son-in-law - Han Yong-jeong (한용정, 韓用鼎) of the Cheongju Han clan
 Daughter - Lady Jo (조씨)
 Son-in-law - Hong Byeong-hyeob (홍병협, 洪秉協) of the Namyang Hong clan

See also
 List of Joseon Dynasty people
 Joseon Tongsinsa

Notes

References

 Daehwan, Noh.  "The Eclectic Development of Neo-Confucianism and Statecraft from the 18th to the 19th Century," Korea Journal (Winter 2003).
 Lewis, James Bryant. (2003). Frontier contact between chosŏn Korea and Tokugawa Japan. London: Routledge. 
 Ŏm Cho; Yŏn-tʻak Chŏng and Hun Yu. (1982). Cho Ŏm ŭi Ilbon kihaeng (조엄의 일본 기행). Seoul: Minjok Munhwa Chʻujinhoe. OCLC
 Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652], Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou,  Annales des empereurs du Japon.  Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.  OCLC  84067437
 Walker, Brett L.  "Foreign Affairs and Frontiers in Early Modern Japan: A Historiographical Essay," Early Modern Japan. Fall, 2002, pp. 44–62, 124-128.
 Walraven, Boudewijn and Remco E. Breuker. (2007). Korea in the middle: Korean studies and area studies; Essays in Honour of Boudewijn Walraven.	Leiden: CNWS Publications. ; 
 Wiwŏnhoe, Yunesŭkʻo Hanʼguk. (2004). Korean History: Discovery of Its Characteristics and Developments. Elizabeth, New Jersey: Hollym.  ;

External links
 Joseon Tongsinsa Cultural Exchange Association ; 
 조선통신사연구 (Journal of Studies in Joseon Tongsinsa) 

1719 births
1777 deaths
Korean diplomats
18th-century Korean people
Eom