Jo Gwang-jo

Jo Gwang-jo advocated for the appointment of neo-Confucian scholars to government positions, bypassing the traditional aristocratic families. He promoted the sarim (forest of scholars) faction, which emphasized moral integrity and learning.

Jo Gwang-jo implemented the hyangyak system of local self-governance based on Confucian principles. These community compacts promoted mutual aid, moral education, and local autonomy, aiming to create a virtuous society.

Jo Gwang-jo proposed reforms to reduce the privileges of the yangban aristocracy, including limiting land holdings and abolishing the practice of selling government positions. These measures faced strong opposition from the established elite.

Jo Gwang-jo was executed during the Literati Purge of 1519, a crackdown on the sarim faction by conservative officials. His death marked the failure of his reform movement and the temporary suppression of neo-Confucian activism.