Seongjong of Joseon

Seongjong (; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol, was the ninth monarch of Joseon. The younger son of Crown Prince Uigyeong and a grandson of King Sejo, he ascended to the throne upon the death of his sickly uncle, King Yejong.

Biography

Early life Yi Hyeol was born as the second son of Crown Prince Yi Jang and Crown Princess Su of the Cheongju Han clan. His father however died few months after his birth. In 1461, he was named Prince Jasan which was changed to Prince Jalsan in 1468.

In 1467, he married Han Song-yi, the youngest daughter of Han Myŏnghoe.

The king himself was an artist and intellectual, and liked to argue about the finer points of politics with the more liberal scholars. He encouraged the publication of numerous books about geography and social etiquette, as well as areas of knowledge that benefited the common people.

It was under Seongjong's reign that the "Widow Remarriage Ban" (1477) was enacted, which strengthened pre-existing social stigma against women who remarried by barring their sons from public office. In 1489, Yi Gu-ji, a woman from the royal clan, committed suicide at his order and was erased from family records, when it was discovered that she had cohabited with her slave after being widowed.

In 1491, Seongjong started a military campaign against the Jurchens on the northern border, like many of his predecessors. Led by General Heo Jong , the campaign was successful, and the defeated Jurchens commanded by Udige (兀狄哈) retreated to the north of Amrok River.

Death He died in January 1495 and is buried in the south of Seoul. The tomb is known as Seonneung and 35 years later, his third wife, Queen Jeonghyeon, was also interred here. Seongjong was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Yi Yung.

Family Biological father: King Deokjong (; 12 October 1438 – 29 September 1457) Grandfather: King Sejo (; 11 November 1417 – 2 October 1468) Grandmother: Queen Jeonghui , of the Papyeong Yun clan (; 25 December 1418 – 15 May 1483) Adoptive father: King Yejong (; 23 January 1450 – 9 January 1470) Biological mother: Queen Sohye , of the Cheongju Han clan (; 16 October 1437 – 21 May 1504) Grandfather: Han Hwak (한확), Internal Prince Seowon (; 1400 – 19 October 1456) Grandmother: Internal Princess Consort Namyang , of the Namyang Hong clan (; 1403–1450) Adoptive mother: Queen Ansun , of the Cheongju Han clan (; 27 April 1445 – 12 February 1499) Consort(s) and their respective issue Queen Gonghye , of the Cheongju Han clan (; 17 November 1456 – 9 May 1474), personal name Song-yi Deposed Queen , of the Haman Yun clan (; 24 July 1455 – 7 September 1482) Unnamed son (1474–1475) Yi Yung , Yeonsangun (; 2 December 1476 – 30 November 1506), first son Unnamed son (1479) Queen Jeonghyeon , of the Papyeong Yun clan (; 30 July 1462 – 23 September 1530), personal name Chang-nyeon Princess Sunsuk (; 1478 – 20 August 1488), first daughter Unnamed daughter (1485–1486) Yi Yeok , King Jungjong (; 25 April 1488 – 9 December 1544), eighth son Unnamed daughter (1490) Concubine Myeong , of the (old) Andong Kim clan Princess Hwisuk , fourth daughter Princess Gyeongsuk (; 19 September 1483 – ?), personal name Hap-hwan , seventh daughter Yi Jong , Prince Musan (; 1490 – 20 August 1525), 13th son Princess Hwijeong , 11th daughter Gwiin , of the Yeongwol Eom clan (? – 14 April 1504) Princess Gongsin (; 18 April 1481 – 15 March 1549), fifth daughter Gwiin , of the Chogye Jeong clan (? – 14 April 1504) Yi Hang , Prince Anyang (; 29 March 1480 – 15 July 1505), third son Yi Bong , Prince Bongan (; 9 November 1482 – 15 July 1505), sixth son Princess Jeonghye (; 4 April 1490 – 22 September 1507), personal name Seung-bok , 12th daughter Gwiin , of the Andong Gwon clan (; 1471–1500) Yi Byeon , Prince Jeonseong (; 1490–1505), 12th son Gwiin , of the Uiryeong Nam clan Soui , of the Yi clan Sugui , of the Namyang Hong clan (; 23 August 1457– 24 October 1510) Princess Hyesuk (; 6 September 1478 – ?), personal name Su-ran , second daughter Yi Su , Prince Wanwon (; 28 January 1481 – 7 December 1509), fourth son Yi Yeom , Prince Hoesan (; 2 January 1482 – 1512), fifth son Yi Don , Prince Gyeonseong (; 1482 – 20 November 1507), seventh son Princess Jeongsun (; 17 November 1486 – ?), personal name Bok-ran , eighth daughter Yi Hoe , Prince Ikyang (; 7 August 1488 – 15 February 1552), ninth son Yi Chim , Prince Gyeongmyeong (; 6 October 1489 – 4 July 1552), 11th son Yi In , Prince Uncheon (; 13 January 1491 – 25 June 1524), 15th son Yi Hui , Prince Yangwon (; 1491 – 12 May 1551), 16th son Princess Jeongsuk (; 1493 – 22 March 1573), personal name Yeo-ran , 13th daughter Sugui , of the Jinju Ha clan Yi Sun , the Prince Gyesong (; 1480–1504), second son Sugui , of the Jeong clan Sugyong , of the Cheongsong Shim clan (; 1465 – 30 December 1515) Princess Gyeongsun (; 1482–?), personal name Ok-hwan , sixth daughter Princess Sukhye (; 1486 – 23 July 1525), personal name Byeok-hwan , ninth daughter Yi Gwan , Prince Yiseong (; 20 February 1489 – 23 January 1553), 10th son Yi Jeon , Prince Yeongsan (; 6 November 1490 – 6 July 1538), 14th son Sugyong , of the Gwon clan Unnamed son (1486–?) Princess Gyeonghwi (? – 6 February 1525), personal name Jeong-bok , 10th daughter Sugwon , of the Yun clan (?–1533) Unknown Princess Suksin (; 1478 – 20 August 1487 or 8 November 1489), third daughter

Ancestry

In popular culture Portrayed by Yun Sun-hong in the 1985 film Eoudong. Portrayed by Yoon Yang-ha in the 1988 film Diary of King Yeonsan. Portrayed by Hyun Suk in the 1995 KBS2 TV series Jang Nok Soo. Portrayed by Lee Jin-woo in the 1998–2000 KBS1 TV series The King and the Queen. Portrayed by Yoo Seung-ho and Go Joo-won in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I. Portrayed by Choi Won-hong and Baek Sung-hyun in the 2011–2012 JTBC TV series Insu, the Queen Mother. Portrayed by Choi Moo-sung in the 2017 MBC TV series The Rebel. Portrayed by Kim Jeong-hak in the 2017 KBS2 TV series Queen for Seven Days. Portrayed by Song Geon-hee in the 2023 MBC TV series Joseon Attorney.