Chwaŭijŏng
| Chwaŭijŏng | |
Portrait of Ha Yŏn, who served as Chwaŭijŏng during the King Sejong's reign. | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 좌의정; 좌상; 좌정승; 좌규; 좌합; 좌대 |
| Hanja | 左議政; 左相; 左政丞; 左揆; 左閤; 左臺 |
| RR | jwauijeong; jwasang; jwajeongseung; jwagyu; jwahap; jwadae |
| MR | chwaŭijŏng; chwasang; chwajŏngsŭng; chwagyu; chwahap; chwadae |
The Chwaŭijŏng (Korean: 좌의정; Hanja: 左議政; pronounced [tɕwa.ɰi.dʑʌŋ]), also known as the Left State Councilor or Second State Councilor, was a member of the State Council of Joseon. The Chwaŭijŏng was subordinate in rank only to the Yŏngŭijŏng, the highest-ranking official of the Joseon government, during the Joseon period of Korea (1392–1910). Only one official was appointed to the position and was variously referred to as Chwasang, Chwajŏngsŭng, Chwagyu, Chwahap, or Chwadae.
Since its foundation, the Joseon dynasty, which had succeeded to the state apparatus of the Goryeo period (918–1392), had been adjusting its government organization. In 1400, the second year after King Jeongjong came to the throne, he renamed the Top'yŏngŭisasa, the highest organ in charge of the state affairs of Goryeo, to "State Council" and created posts Chwaŭijŏng, Uŭijŏng (Third State Councilor), and Yŏngŭijŏng (Chief State Councilor). The three officials were collectively referred to as the Chŏngsŭng (정승; 政丞) or the Samuijeong ('three high councilors').