Cho Kwang-jo

Cho Kwang-jo (1482–1519) was the Sarim Neo-Confucian leader who drove the reforms of King Jungjong's reign. He entered court in 1515, when Jungjong was using Sarim scholars to counter the Hungu leaders who had placed him on the throne in 1506, and rose to inspector-general.

He abolished the Sogyok office in 1516, introduced the Hyŏllyang examination in 1518, and purged unworthy names from the 1506 merit roster, enraging the Hungu elite. His enemies answered with honey-written mulberry leaves reading Cho shall be king.

Jungjong turned against him: in the 1519 Gimyo purge Cho was exiled and forced to drink poison. He was rehabilitated under King Injong.