This study will look into the life and work of Hong Chui-yong, then examine in detail the compilation and proofreading of Sabusugwon as recounted in King Jeongjo’s letters to Hong Chui-yong, the process of compilation and proofreading as related records were connected.
Hong Chui-yong was born in the 35th year of Yeongjo’s reign (1759) and served by Jeongjo’s side respectively as Sayong, Gumcheonhyeonryeong, Gangseohyeonryeong and Jeonbu from the 10th year (1786) to the 24th year of Jeongjo’s reign (1800). Sabusugwon consists of 30 volumes in total: 6 volumes of Samryesugwon, 4 volumes of Yangyeongsugwon, 10 volumes of Ojasugwon, 8 volumes of Palgasugwon, 2 volumes of Yukgosugwon. Between June to October of the 22nd year of his reign (1798), Jeongjo himself marked the bijeom (blue point), and kwonjeom (red circle), in the important passages of Samryesugwon. On October 17, Jeongjo requested Hong Chui-yong to proofread the entire excerpt edition and had it returned on October 24. From October 24 to October 28, the Chogyemunsin went through an intensive process of proofreading and correct transcription. For Yangyeongsugwon, Jeongjo marked the bijeom and kwonjeom from September 25 to 29 and October 2 to 26 in the 22nd year of his reign (1798). Since Jeongjo had ordered the proofreading of Saseon on October 22 in his 21st year of reign (1797), we can assume that he ordered Hong Chui-yong and his father Hong Nak-im to mark bijeom by hand and the do the first proofreading earlier than the time indicated in the process schedule, which was from September 25 to 29 and October 2 to 26 in the 22nd year of Jeongjo (1798). Jeongjo marked the bijeom and kwonjeom of Ojasugwon from April to October in the 22nd year of his reign (1798), and in the same year on July 4 and July 6, directed Hong Chui-yong to proofread the Juseo and Daejeon. From October 16 to 19 there was an intensive proofreading by the Chogyemunsin, and on October 24 twenty-five Sajagwans completed the transcription. Jeongjo marked the bijeom and kwonjeom for the eight volumes of Palgasugwon from October to December in the 21st year of his reign (1797). On October 22, in the middle of the bijeom and kwonjeom marking process, Jeongjo sent the volumes to Hong Chui-yong for proofreading. Proofreading by the Chogyemunsin was done on December 22 and on February 23 of the following year, Jeongjo gave the book to the Sajagwans who transcribed. Jeongjo marked the bijeom and kwonjeom in the two volumes of Yukgosugwon from April 12 to 21 in the 22 year of his reign (1798), but no records remain of the proofreading.