Jeong was born in the Jongno District of Seoul, in the Cheongun-dong neighborhood, in 1676. Unlike most painters of the time, he was not born into a wealthy family, but a poor yangban family. The eldest son of Jeong shi-ik (1638–1689), Jeong was born on the third day of the first lunar month in 1676 (equivalent to February 16 in the Gregorian calendar). He was a descendant of illustrious and gentry families. His family originally came from Kwangju. Jeong's "cha" was Wonbaek and his "ho" was Nangok. His best known pen name is Kyomjae, which he chose himself.