Faction or King-Centered Politics? The Debate between King Chŏngjo and Scholar-Officials

This article examines the political and philosophical debates between King Chŏngjo and the scholar-officials regarding the legitimacy of faction-centered versus king-centered governance in late Chosŏn Korea. While previous scholarship has focused on King Chŏngjo’s perspective, which sought to diminish the factions by implementing king-centered politics, this study provided a balanced analysis of both arguments. It demonstrates how both sides drew upon the concept of “imperial pivot” from the Shujing 書經 to support their conflicting positions, particularly through the writings of Chŏng Chon’gyŏm 鄭存謙 (1722–1794) who defended faction-centered politics and supported scholar-officials as a check against royal authority and Chŏng Yagyong 丁若鏞 (1762–1836) who criticized faction-centered politics and supported the strengthened royal power while criticizing factional excesses.