Shinan-gun Unveils Memorial Tower for the Ancestral Tomb of the Jeong Clan on Amhaedo

The Aphae Jeong Clan Memorial Tower unveiling ceremony was held on Aphaedo. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] On the 10th, Jeonnam Sinan-gun (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced that on the 9th, a commemorative tower unveiling ceremony for the Aphae Jeong clan was held on Aphaedo, where the ancestral tomb of the 250,000 Jeong clan members in Korea is located.

The event was held concisely in compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, attended by Sinan-gun Governor Park Woo-ryang and the honorary chairman of the Aphae Jeong clan's grand association, among others.

Jeong Deok-seong (丁德盛), known as the progenitor of the Jeong (丁) clan in Korea, was a figure who served as a grand chancellor in the Tang Dynasty of China. Due to slander by traitors, he was exiled and settled on Aphaedo in 853 (the 15th year of King Munseong of Silla). He is said to have become the progenitor of the 250,000 Jeong clan members who branched into the Naju, Yeonggwang, Changwon, and Uiseong Jeong clans.

The 5.5-meter-high Aphae Jeong clan commemorative tower is made of stone and metal materials. In the center of the tower, 1,004 small characters symbolizing Sinan-gun and the descendants come together to form a large ‘丁’, creating an artistic work. Below the tower, there is a historical monument (世跡碑) recording the settlement process of the Aphae Jeong clan.

Governor Park Woo-ryang said, “Since the Three Kingdoms period, the Aphae Jeong clan has played an important role in the history of Sinan, and I hope the development and harmony between Sinan-gun and the Aphae Jeong clan family will continue.”

Meanwhile, Aphaedo (押海島), as the Chinese characters mean ‘to control the sea,’ has been a center of maritime power since ancient times and remains the gateway and hub of the 1004 Islands of Sinan.