Jeongjong

Jeongjong (; 923 – 13 April 949), personal name Wang Yo, was the third king of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the third son of King Taejo, the dynastic founder.

Reign

Jeongjong rose to the throne after his half-brother King Hyejong died, and set himself to reducing the power of various royal in-laws, including Wang Gyu and Pak Sul-hui. However, lacking the support of the Gaegyeong elites, he was unable to substantially strengthen the throne.

In 946, he spent 70,000 sacks of grain from the royal storehouses to support Buddhism in the country. In 947, he had the fortress of Pyongyang constructed as the country's Western Capital. He sought to move the capital from Gaegyeong to Pyongyang as his father had desired, as Jeongjong believed that in order to restore Goguryeo's old territories, the capital should be moved further north. However, Jeongjong was not successful in his attempts due to opposition from the nobility based in Gaegyeong.

Jeongjong became paranoid however that people inside the palace were conspiring to kill him and he then started to go insane. After four years of his reign, he died just after he signed a royal decree to make his brother, the fourth prince Wang So (known as Gwangjong), king instead of his son.

Family Father: Taejo of Goryeo Grandfather: Wang Ryung, King Wimu the Great Grandmother: Queen Wisuk of the Han clan Mother: Queen Sinmyeong of the Chungju Yu clan Grandfather: Yu Kŭngdal Consorts and their Respective Issue(s): Queen Mungong of the Suncheon Pak clan – No issue. Queen Munseong of the Suncheon Pak clan Prince Gyeongchunwon, 1st son 1st daughter Lady Cheongjunamwon of the Cheongju Kim clan – No issue.

In popular culture Portrayed by Kim Young-chan in the 2000–2002 KBS1 TV series Taejo Wang Geon Portrayed by Choi Jae-sung in the 2002–2003 KBS TV series The Dawn of the Empire. Portrayed by Ryu Seung-soo in the 2015 MBC TV series Shine or Go Crazy. Portrayed by Hong Jong-hyun in the 2016 SBS TV series Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Portrayed by Lee Dong-wook in the 2016 tvN TV series Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.