Overview
The statue of Jeong Mong-ju was erected on October 16, 1970, and is located in the green zone at the entrance of Yanghwa Bridge in Hapjeong-dong. Poeun Jeong Mong-ju was a scholar of civil officials at the end of Goryeo (1337~1392), who topped the civil service exam in 1360 and served as Grand Scholar of the Umungwan. He excelled in diplomacy with the Ming Dynasty and Japan, made significant contributions in suppressing Japanese pirates and the Jurchen people, founded the Yichang to aid the poor, promoted Confucianism, and was well-versed in Neo-Confucianism. He was loyal to Goryeo by promoting the rationalization of social ethics and morality, but as the nation's fortunes ran out and a new force emerged to lead the country, he was sacrificed. Many classical Chinese poems including Dansim have been passed down, and he excelled in calligraphy and painting. He was one of the three Silver figures of Goryeo, posthumously honored as Chief State Councillor in the first year of King Taejong (1401), appointed as Prince of Ikyang, and enshrined in the Confucian Shrine during King Jungjong's reign.