During the purge of 1545, called the Eulsa sahwa, Mukjae Lee Mun-geon, who was once the royal secretary, was sent into exile in Seongju based on the guilt-by-association system as his oldest nephew Lee Hwi was convicted of high treason. Although he wa...
During the purge of 1545, called the Eulsa sahwa, Mukjae Lee Mun-geon, who was once the royal secretary, was sent into exile in Seongju based on the guilt-by-association system as his oldest nephew Lee Hwi was convicted of high treason. Although he was in a state of exile, he sought a comfortable life and had an influence in Seongju.
He received household products from local government officials free of charge and enjoyed various privileges in pursuing his interests. Besides, he worked as a broker between the local government and people in Seongju.
He was also a decent member of Seongju society. He gave his calligraphy works and medicine for nothing to those who needed them. This was partly because people at the time were accustomed to the bartering culture to offer things they could skillfully produce.
It was when scholars began to work actively that he was sent into exile when. Although he had vigorous economic and social exchanges with others, he rarely developed academic exchanges. Among those who lived in Seonju at that time, quiet a few became renowned scholars. However, Lee Mun-geon failed to have academic exchanges with them, which was truly unfortunate for him.