Gonghye

Queen Gonghye (; 17 November 1456 – 9 May 1474), of the Cheongju Han clan, personal name Han Song-yi, was the first wife of King Seongjong, the ninth monarch of Joseon, and the younger sister of Queen Jangsun. She was queen of Joseon from 1470 until her death in 1474.

Biography Early life The future Queen Gonghye was born during the reign of King Sejo, as the legitimate youngest daughter among one son and four daughters. Her father was Han Myeong-hoe, who would later become chief state councilor, and her mother was a lady from the Yeoheung Min clan. She had eight brothers and three sisters of concubine birth.

The eldest among her sisters married the eldest son of Shin Suk-ju.

Another sister married the eldest son of Princess Jeonghyeon , King Sejong's third daughter.

Her third sister became crown princess after marrying the future King Yejong, but she died following childbirth, more than six years before her husband's accession to the throne.

Her only full-brother married a daughter of County Princess Biin , Grand Prince Hyoryeong's eldest daughter.

One of her nephews married Princess Gongsin , King Seongjong's fifth daughter.

On her paternal side, Lady Han was a second cousin once removed of Queen Jeonghyeon, a fourth cousin once removed of Queen Insu, and a fifth cousin of Queen Ansun.

Through her maternal line, she was a second cousin of Queen Jeongsun.

Marriage In 1467, at the age of 10, Lady Han married 9-year-old Yi Hyeol, the younger son of the late Crown Prince Uigyeong and a grandson of the reigning King Sejo.

According to Lady Han's epitaph, it was King Sejo who selected her as royal bride, but it has also been said that it was actually Yi Hyeol's mother, Crown Princess Su, who sought to make Lady Han her daughter-in-law after seeing her through a window.

In 1470, with Han Myeong-hoe's influence, Yi Hyeol succeeded his uncle, King Yejong (who was also Lady Han's former brother-in-law), and became the ninth monarch of Joseon (posthumously King Seongjong). Lady Han thus became queen. She was strictly educated according to Confucian ethics by her mother-in-law, now known as Queen Insu, and read books such as Biographies of Exemplary Women.

When Lady Han couldn't become pregnant, King Seongjong took concubines. Without despising the women, Lady Han presented them with clothes and jewelry.

In 1473, she moved to her parents' home due to illness and King Seongjong visited every other day in order to check on her condition. She later recovered and returned to the palace, but her illness flared up again within months. Because her health did not improve, Lady Han requested to move her residence to Changdeokgung, and King Seongjong and the three dowager queens (Jaseong, Insu and Inhye) tended to her. Her parents were also granted permission to enter the palace and look after their daughter; before her death, Lady Han urged them to eat as she knew they had been starving themselves for days while staying by her side.

Death Lady Han passed away without issue, six months before her 18th birthday. She was buried within Sulleung , today part of the Samneung Cluster in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Her elder sister, Queen Jangsun, was buried in the same area.

King Seongjong conferred upon her the posthumous name Gonghye , praising her for obediently and respectfully serving her in-laws ("gong"), and for her generosity, gentleness, and benevolence ("hye").

In 1498, during Yeonsangun's reign, Lady Han's posthumous name was enhanced by adding Hwiui Sinsuk .

Titles

During the reign of King Sejo : Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan Han Myeong-hoe's daughter Lady Han Princess Consort Cheonan (; from 25 February 1467) During the reign of King Seongjong : Queen (; from 9 January 1470) Queen Gonghye (; from 1474)

Family Father: Han Myeong-hoe , Internal Prince Sangdang (; 5 December 1415 – 7 December 1487) Mother: Internal Princess Consort Hwangnyeo , of the Yeoheung Min clan (?–1490) Sibling(s) Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan Queen Jangsun (; 3 March 1445 – 14 January 1462) Han Bo , Prince Nangseong (; 1447–1522) Han Bok Han Im Han Su Han Mok Han Seok Han Seo Han U Han On Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan Husband: King Seongjong (; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495) — No issue. Biological father-in-law: King Deokjong (; 12 October 1438 – 29 September 1457) Adoptive father-in-law: King Yejong (; 23 January 1450 – 9 January 1470) Biological mother-in-law: Queen Sohye , of the Cheongju Han clan (; 16 October 1437 – 21 May 1504) Adoptive mother-in-law: Queen Ansun , of the Cheongju Han clan (; 27 April 1445 – 12 February 1499)

Ancestry

In popular culture Portrayed by Kim Eun-hye in the 1994 KBS2 TV series Han Myung-hoi. Portrayed by Shin Ji-soo in the 1998–2000 KBS1 TV series The King and the Queen. Portrayed by Han Da-min and Kim Hee-jung in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I. Portrayed by Lee Ji-woo in the 2011–2012 JTBC TV series Insu, the Queen Mother.