Embracing the World with Generosity

One day, two servant girls quarreled noisily. One of them ran toward their master to complain that the other girl was wrong. The master nodded his head and said, “Yes, you are right. She is wrong.”

Then, the other girl, unable to control her anger, also protested her innocence. Listening to her, the master also said, “Yeah, you are right. She is wrong.”

Watching this, the master’s wife criticized him, saying “How can you manage important state affairs as a minister while judging like that at home?”

This time around, the master didn’t say his wife was right. On the contrary, he chided her for being so inconsiderate. He said, “Servants are all beloved people given to this country by heaven. How can I treat them only with strict standards?” This man is Hwang Hui, one of the most celebrated premiers of the 500-year Joseon Kingdom. As a politician of principle and firm belief, he was renowned for his leadership, characterized by generosity, a profound love for people and humanism.


Entering Government Service

Born as the son of local government official Hwang Gun-seo(황군서) in 1363 in Gaeseong, Hwang Hui was in government service during the late Goryeo period.

He passed the state civil service examination in 1389, the first year of King Chang’s reign, and attended Sunggyungwan, which was the nation’s highest education institute, to cherish his dream of becoming a great scholar. But when Goryeo collapsed and Yi Sung-gye founded a new dynasty named Joseon through revolution, Hwang retired to hermitage in Dumun-dong(두문동) of Songak(송악) Mountain with some Goryeo officials.

In need of young and talented people like Hwang, the new king earnestly asked him to create a new history together.

The senior Goryeo officials, who stayed with him in Dumun-dong, also persuaded the young man to join the new dynasty. They said he could serve justice by throwing his lot with them but it would be another righteous way to contribute to managing state affairs properly for the sake of common people, who had nothing to do with a change in political power. Eventually, Hwang made a hard decision to enter government service under the new kingdom.


A Politician of Principle and Firm Belief

Hwang held many government posts to exert great influence on the efforts to stabilize the early Joseon Dynasty.

He made remarkable achievements in many areas, contributing to strengthening national defense, establishing four forts and six posts on the northern border and improving agriculture. He served as state councilor during the reign of King Sejong the Great to devote his entire life to caring for people as a man of strict integrity.

The minister never betrayed his principle and convictions in politics. King Taejong, the third ruler of Joseon, forced his first son, Prince Yangnyeong(양녕), to give up his position as crown prince and proclaimed his third son, Prince Chungnyeong(충녕), the crown prince instead. The third prince became King Sejong the Great later. But Hwang vociferously advocated the principle that the first son of the king’s legitimate wife should succeed to the throne.

Hwang remained adamant in his views out of concerns that going against the principle might jeopardize the fledgling kingdom that was founded amid many difficulties. He was sent into exile for offending King Taejong.

The upright, outspoken minister was demoted twice and lived in exile for four years during his service to the monarchy.


True Leadership

Hwang served as the chief state councilor for 18 years, but he never pursued personal greed. He lived in a thatched-roof house that leaked rain and tended a vegetable garden himself. He was so frugal that he had only a single piece of official uniform throughout his life.

He also introduced a new system to select talented people based on their abilities, regardless of their social positions. One of the gifted people who benefited from the system was Jang Young-sil(장영실), the most prominent scientist of the Joseon era who was born as a slave but rose to a high-level government position with his outstanding ability.

History evaluates Hwang as follows. “Hwang Hui was generous and prudent. As a minister, he had eyes to see the world and thought deeply. He was thrifty when managing his home and did not show his emotions such as joy or anger. He was fair and impartial when discussing something and tried hard to follow principles.”

When the honest and honorable minister died in 1452 at the age of 90, all people shed tears and mourned intensely. Indeed, Hwang is remembered as one of the most respected government officials in Korean history.