About Jeong Nan-jeong
Lived 1506 – 1565 (aged 58–59). Jeong Nan-jeong was a Korean philosopher and politician.
Chŏng Nanjŏng (; 1509 – November 13, 1565) was a Korean de facto politician of the Joseon period.
Biography Lady Chŏng was born in Hansŏng into the Chogye Jeong clan to Chŏng Yun'gyŏm, a deputy general, and his concubine, Lady Nam. She was the illegitimate daughter among her father's three sons and two daughters. Lady Chŏng's mother was a slave because she was involved in treason, and was eventually assigned to the house of Chŏng Yun'gyŏm.
When she was young, she fell in love with Yun Wŏnhyŏng, the younger brother of Queen Munjeong, and became his concubine. Lady Chŏng soon became the influential concubine of Yun Wŏnhyŏng, who himself was the maternal uncle of 13th King Myeongjong, and Chief State Councilor during 1563 to 1565.
Later, when Kim Allo's conspiracy to dethrone Queen Munjeong was discovered, Kim Allo was investigated and she poisoned Kim Allo's first cousin once removed, Yun Wŏnhyŏng's first wife, Lady Kim of the Yonan Kim clan. After that, in the 8th year of King Myeongjong's reign, Queen Munjeong had made it a priority to make Chŏng Nanjŏng her sister-in-law.
She soon became the second wife with full status. She became very close to her sister-in-law Queen Munjeong, and gained a good amount of wealth. But because she was the second wife, the children of Lady Kim inherited the wealth of the clan rather than her own.
In 1565, after the death of the Queen, both Chŏng and Yun were exiled from the capital and, unable to make a political comeback, both committed suicide by poison (Chŏng first, followed by her husband five days later )
Family Father - Chŏng Yun'gyŏm (; 1463–1536) Grandfather - Chŏng On (; 1435–1508) Grandmother - Lady Wŏn of the Wonju Won clan (원주 원씨; 1428–?); eldest daughter of Won Ja-min (원자민, 元自敏; 1380–?) Mother - Lady Nam (; 1473–?) Husband - Yun Wŏnhyŏng (; 1509 – 18 November 1565) Issue Daughter - Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (; 1545–?) Son-in-law - Yi Chomin (; 1541–?) Granddaughter - Lady Yi of the Yongin Yi clan (용인 이씨; 1560–?)
In fiction Portrayed by Kang Soo-Yeon in the 2001 SBS TV Series Ladies in the Palace. Portrayed by Park Joo-mi in the 2016 MBC TV series The Flower in Prison. Portrayed by Yoon Ji-min in the 2019 TV Chosun TV series Joseon Survival Period.
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Important facts
People in Jeong Nan-jeong's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jeong Nan-jeong's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jeong Nan-jeong?
Korean politician (1506-1565)
When was Jeong Nan-jeong born?
Jeong Nan-jeong was born in 1506 in Hanseongbu.
When did Jeong Nan-jeong die?
Jeong Nan-jeong died on 13 November 1565.
What was Jeong Nan-jeong's occupation?
Jeong Nan-jeong was a philosopher and politician.
What nationality was Jeong Nan-jeong?
Jeong Nan-jeong was Korean.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jeong Nan-jeong. https://biography.guide/jeong-nan-jeong/
MLA: "Jeong Nan-jeong." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jeong-nan-jeong/.
Chicago: "Jeong Nan-jeong." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jeong-nan-jeong/.
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