Insun

Queen Insun (; 27 June 1532 – 12 February 1575), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Hwan, King Myeongjong. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1545 until her husband's death in 1567, after which she was honoured as Queen Dowager Uiseong . She served as regent of Korea during the minority of her adoptive son, king Yi Yeon, King Seonjo, from 1567 until 1568.

Biography Early life Lady Sim was born on 27 June 1532 to Sim Kang and Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan. She was the eldest within 10 siblings, including Sim Ŭigyŏm.

Through her mother, she was the 5th great-granddaughter of Queen Wongyeong and King Taejong through her 4th great-grandfather, Grand Prince Hyoryeong. Her maternal uncle was Yi Ryang who died in exile in 1583.

Through her father, she was the 5th great-granddaughter of Sim On through her 4th great-grandfather, Sim Hoe, who was also the second youngest brother of Queen Soheon.

Marriage In April 1542, Lady Sim was arranged to marry Grand Prince Gyeongwon; the only son of King Jungjong and Queen Munjeong. Lady Sim was given the title of Princess Consort .

Queen In 1545, when King Injong died, her husband was enthroned as the next king of Joseon as there were no heirs from Queen Inseong. The Princess Consort then became the next queen consort and had a son, Crown Prince Sunhoe, in 1551.

The Crown Prince died in 1563, leaving no heirs from King Myeongjong, who also died in 1567. This left Prince Haseong (the future King Seonjo), the youngest son of Grand Internal Prince Deokheung and Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong, to become the next crowned prince.

Regency and later life The Queen Consort became queen regent in 1567 upon on the prince's enthronement as king because he was young. In 1568, she stepped down as regent and resumed being queen dowager. She was later given the title of Uiseong in 1569.

Her reign as queen dowager lasted 8 years as she died on 12 February 1575 within Changgyeonggung's Tongmyeongjeon Hall. Nearby where her mother-in-law, Queen Munjeong, is buried, the Queen is buried with her husband in Kangreung.

Family Parent

Father − Sim Kang (심강, 沈鋼; 1514–1567) Mother − Yi Hŭigyŏng, Internal Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Yi clan (; 1511–1559)

Sibling

Younger brother − Sim Ingyŏm (; June 1533 – 17 November 1580) Younger brother − Sim Ŭigyŏm (; 1535–1587) Younger brother − Sim Yegyŏm (; 1537–1598) Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (; 1538–1579) Younger brother − Sim Chi'gyŏm (; 1540–1568) Younger brother − Sim Sin'gyŏm (; 1542–1596) Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (; 1543–1579); Yu Hŭibal's first wife Younger brother − Sim Ch'unggyŏm (; 1545–1594) Younger brother − Sim Hyogyŏm (; 20 September 1547 – 24 September 1600) Younger brother − Sim Chegyŏm (; 1550–1589) Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (; 1556–?)

Consort and Issue Husband - Myeongjong of Joseon (; 3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567) Son - Yi Bu, Crown Prince Sunhoe (; 1 July 1551 – 6 October 1563) Daughter-in-law - Crown Princess Gonghoe of the Musong Yun clan (; 1550 – 14 April 1592) Adoptive son - Seonjo of Joseon (; 26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608)

In popular culture Portrayed by Jang Hee-jin in the 2016 JTBC TV series Mirror of the Witch.