Heo Gyun
Hŏ Kyun (3 November 1569 – 12 October 1618) was a Korean novelist, poet, and politician during the Joseon period. He was also known by his art names, Kyosan and Sŏngso.
Also recorded as Xu Yun
Heo Gyun

Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1569 · Gangneung.
- Died
- 1618
- Nationality
- Joseon
- Occupation
- poet · autobiographer · writer · politician · philosopher
- Fields
- politics · belletristic literature
- Known for
- Hong Gildong jeon · Domundaejak
- Languages
- Korean
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Hŏ Kyun (3 November 1569 – 12 October 1618) was a Korean novelist, poet, and politician during the Joseon period. He was also known by his art names, Kyosan and Sŏngso.
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Note VALÉORINE
Heo Gyun (1569–1618) was an autobiographer, philosopher and poet, among other activities, a national of Joseon. The autobiographer was born in Gangneung. Activity centred on belletristic literature and politics.
Among the works are Domundaejak and Hong Gildong jeon. Languages used include Korean.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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Authority files
getty · 500782735 · gnd · 1107213282 · wikidata · Q469450
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Hangul — %허균 • Hanja — 許筠 • Hangulho — %_교산%, %_성소%, %_백월거사 • Hanjaho — 蛟山, 惺所, 白月居士
Biography
Biography
Hŏ Kyun was born into the Yangcheon Heo clan in the city of Gangneung to Hŏ Yŏp and his second wife, Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan. Hŏ Kyun's older sister Heo Nanseolheon was a poet. Hŏ's family was of the noble (yangban) class (his father had been mayor of Gangneung) and as such Hŏ Kyun was afforded a solid education and in 1594 passed the nation's highest civil service exam. Under the strong influence of his tutor, Yi Tal, Hŏ Kyun became a progressive and liberal thinker who dreamed of establishing a more progressive society by eliminating Confucian elements in the social, literary, and political realms. Hŏ went on to serve the government of Joseon in such positions as Minister of the Board of Punishment and State Councillor. In the course of his political career he was exiled several times for involvement in political feuds and was ultimately executed on charges of treason during the reign of Prince Gwanghae. Hŏ is often credited as the author of the famous Korean story Tale of Hong Gildong, which in many ways reflects his progressive thinking, although his authorship has been disputed.
Family
Family
• Father • Hŏ Yŏp (19 December 1517 – 4 February 1580) • Mother • Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan (1523–?), married in 1548 • Siblings • Older half-sister - Hŏ Muksŏk, Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan (1523–?) • Older half-brother - Hŏ Sŏng (1548–1612) • Older brother - Hŏ Pong (1551–1588) • Older half-sister - Hŏ Taejŏng, Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan (1553–?) • Older sister - Hŏ Ch'ohŭi, Heo Nanseolheon (1563 – 19 March 1589) • Wives and their children • Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (1571 – 16 August 1592) • Father-in-law - Kim Taesŏp (1544–?) • Mother-in-law - Lady Sim of the Cheongseong Sim clan (1548–?) • Unnamed son (?–1618) • Daughter - Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan (1590–?) • Son-in-law - Yi Sasŏng of the Gwangju Yi clan (1590–?) • Grandson - Yi P'ilchin (1610–1671) • Daughter - Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan (1591–?) • Unnamed son (1592–1592); died prematurely • Lady Kim of the Seonsan Kim clan (1575–?) • Father-in-law - Kim Hyowŏn (1542–1590) • Mother-in-law - Lady Chŏng of the Chogye Chŏng clan (1542–?) • Son - Hŏ Koeng (1595–?) • Grandson - Hŏ Kŭm (1620–?) • Daughter - Royal Consort Sohun of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan (1603–?) • Son-in-law - Yi Ji, Deposed Crown Prince (31 December 1598 – 22 July 1623) • Concubine(s) and their issue • Ongmae (1575–?) • Yi Maech'ang (1575–?) • Song Sŏngok of the Yeosan Song clan (1582–?); daughter of Song Ch'widae (송취대, 宋就大; 1566–?), of Yangmin origin • Lady Kim (1573–?) • Ch'usŏm • Hyŏn Ŭngmin
Works
Works
• Honggildongjeon (attributed) • Dongguk myeongsandong cheonjuhaegi (동국명산동천주해기 東國名山洞天註解記) • Domundaejak (도문대작 屠門大嚼) • Namgungdujeon (남궁두전 南宮斗傳) • Yujaeron (유재론 遺才論) • Seongsobu bugo (성소부부고 惺所覆?藁) • Haksan chodam (학산초담 鶴山樵談) • Gukjo sisan (국조시산 國朝詩刪) • Hanjeongnok (한정록 閑情錄) • Gyosansihwa (교산시화 蛟山詩話) • Gosiseon (고시선 古詩選) • Sachesungdang (사체성당 四體盛唐) • Dangsiseon (당시선 唐詩選) • Songohghasicho (송오가시초 宋五家詩抄) • Myungsagashiseon (명사가시선 明四家詩選) • Eomcheosajeon • Songoksaninjeon • Jangsaninjeon • Jangsaengjeon • Namgung seonsaengjeon
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — The house of Hŏ Kyun's birth in Gangneung.
In popular culture
In popular culture
• Portrayed by Kim Joo-young in the 1986 MBC TV series The Hoechun Gate. • Portrayed by Lee Dong-shin in the 1988 MBC TV series Queen Inhyeon. • Portrayed by Kim Dong-hyun in the 1993 MBC TV series Iljimae. • Portrayed by Kim Jong-kyul in the 1995 KBS TV series West Palace. • Portrayed by Choi Jae-sung in the 2000 KBS TV series Roll of Thunder. • Portrayed by Ryu Seung-ryong in the 2012 film Masquerade and in the 2014 SBS TV series My Love from the Star. • Portrayed by Im Ji-Kyu in the 2014 KBS TV series The King's Face. • Portrayed by Ahn Nae-sang in the 2015 MBC TV series Splendid Politics. • Portrayed by Xiumin in the 2025 Netflix series Heo's Diner.
Site web
Site web
• Hŏ Kyun • Hŏ Kyun:Navercast • Hŏ Kyun
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1569
Heo Gyun born at Gangneung.
1618
Heo Gyun died.
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- A Study on Heo Gyun(許筠)'s Traces in Beijing(北京), DONG-BANG KOREAN CHINESE LIEARATURE, 2012
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2012
- A Study on the Yeomjeongsi(艶情詩) of Heo Gyun(許筠), Journal of Korean Literature in Classical Chinese, 2009
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2009
- Association between Kwon Pil and Heo Gyun and Its Historical Meanings, Journal of Korean Literature in Classical Chinese, 2008
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2008
- Study on the 「Domundaejak」 by Heo Gyun(許筠): Regarding the culture of the late Ming dynasty, HANMUNHAKRONCHIP: Journal of Korean Literature in Chinese, 2018
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2018
- Study on the Selected Edition of Heo Nanseolheon(許蘭雪軒)’s Nanseol sihan(蘭雪詩翰) Compiled by Heo Gyun(許筠) in 1597, HANMUNHAKRONCHIP: Journal of Korean Literature in Chinese, 2016
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2016
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1107213282, Heo, Gyun.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
- Getty Union List of Artist Names 500782735, Heo Gyun.
Unverified · The Getty Research Institute
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q469450: Heo Gyun
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Tai-jin Kim. 1976. A Bibliographic Guide to Traditional Korean Sources. Seoul: Asiatic Research Center, 291.
- 2.Hŏ Kyun 허균, Hong Gildong jeon 홍길동전 [Tale of Hong Gildong], edited by Gu Inhwan 구인환 (Seoul: Sinwon Munhwasa, 2003), 54.
- 3.Jeon Yeongjin 전영진, ed., Hong Gildong jeon, Bak ssi buin jeon 홍길동전(洪吉童傳)·박씨부인전(朴氏夫人傳) [Tale of Hong Gildong, Tale of Lady Pak] (Seoul: Hongsin Munhwasa, 2001), 11.
- 4.Heo Gyeongjin 허경진, trans., "Hong Gildong jeon," Heo Gyun sanmunjip 홍길동전·허균 산문집 [Tale of Hong Gildong, Collection of Hŏ Kyun's prose] (Goyang, South Korea: Hanyang Chulpan, 1995), 7.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
A Study on Heo Gyun(許筠)'s Traces in Beijing(北京), DONG-BANG KOREAN CHINESE LIEARATURE, 2012Crossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
A Study on the Yeomjeongsi(艶情詩) of Heo Gyun(許筠), Journal of Korean Literature in Classical Chinese, 2009Crossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
Association between Kwon Pil and Heo Gyun and Its Historical Meanings, Journal of Korean Literature in Classical Chinese, 2008Crossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
Verifiedscholarly publication
Verifiedauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1107213282, Heo, Gyun.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedauthority file
Getty Union List of Artist Names 500782735, Heo Gyun.The Getty Research Institute
Partially resolvedreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q469450: Heo GyunWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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