Wongyeong

Queen Wŏn'gyŏng (; 6 August 1365 – 27 August 1420) of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the wife of King Taejong, the third monarch of Joseon, and the mother of Sejong the Great. Known as Queen Chŏng during her tenure, she was queen of Joseon from 1400 until her husband's abdication in 1418. She was then styled as Queen Dowager Hudŏk during the reign of her son, King Sejong.

Biography Early life The future Queen Wŏn'gyŏng was born during the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo, as the third daughter and child among four daughters and four sons. Her father was Min Che and her mother was a lady from the Yeosan Song clan. Her natal Yeoheung Min clan was one of the representative aristocratic families of the late Goryeo period.

The second wife of Min Muhoe, Lady Min's youngest brother, was a first cousin of Consort Gongxianxian.

One of her elder sisters married the second son of Grand Prince Wanp'ung.

Her younger sister married a nephew of Consort Sun; their son later married one of Queen Sohŏn's sisters.

Through her great-grandfather, she was a first cousin once removed of Consort Hui and a second cousin of her son, King Chungjeong of Goryeo, as well as a second cousin once removed of Concubine Myŏng (; a consort of her husband, King Taejong), and a second cousin twice times removed of Deposed Crown Princess Kim.

Her grandfather's elder brother, Min Yu , eventually became an ancestor of Queen Inhyeon, Princess Consort Yŏhŭng (; mother of Grand Internal Prince Heungseon), Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok, Empress Myeongseongtae, and Empress Sunmyeonghyo.

In 1382, at the age of 17, she married 15-year-old Yi Pangwŏn, the fifth son of Goryeo general Yi Sŏnggye (posthumously King Taejo of Joseon) and his first wife, Lady Han (posthumously Queen Sinui).

Involvement in politics When Joseon was proclaimed and officially brought into existence, King Taejo raised the issue of which son would be his successor. Although Yi Pangwŏn had contributed most to his father's rise to power, he harbored a profound hatred against two of his father's key associates, Chŏng Tojŏn and Nam Ŭn. King Taejo's second wife, Queen Sindeok, then formed an alliance with Chŏng Tojŏn and had her youngest son, Yi Pangsŏk, appointed as crown prince.

In 1398, Chŏng Tojŏn, who was enjoying great power at the time, promulgated a law requiring that all private soldiers and weapons be surrendered to the state. However, Lady Min managed to hide weapons and private soldiers belonging to her family, then shortly after King Taejo fell ill, the Min clan took advantage of the opportunity to give the weaponry to their son-in-law.

Yi Pangwŏn then rose up with his elder brothers, Yi Pang'ŭi and Yi Panggan, and two of his brother-in-laws, Min Mugu and Min Mujil, and immediately raided the palace, killing Chŏng Tojŏn and his followers, as well as his two half-brothers, Yi Pangbon and Yi Pangsŏk.

This incident became known as the First Strife of the Princes . Aghast at the fact that his sons were willing to kill each other for the throne, and psychologically exhausted from the death of his second wife, King Taejo abdicated in favor of his eldest surviving son, Yi Panggwa (posthumously King Jeongjong).

In early 1400, the Second Strife of the Princes took place when Yi Pangwŏn and Yi Panggan vied for the position of successor to King Jeongjong. Yi Panggan was defeated and exiled. Subsequently, King Jeongjong appointed Yi Pangwŏn as crown prince, and Lady Min became crown princess.

Later that year, King Jeongjong voluntarily abdicated in favor of Yi Pangwŏn (posthumously King Taejong), and Lady Min thus became queen.

Family downfall In 1406, King Taejong brought up the topic of abdicating but later withdrew his statement. In the process, the elder two of Lady Min's brothers, Min Mugu and Min Mujil, voiced their gratification with the news; the two men were then exiled to Jeju Island, where they would be executed in 1410. Their father, Min Che, had a hard time coping with the exile of his sons and died in 1408.

Around this time, Lady Min's relationship with her husband had already worsened as Taejong began taking concubines from influential families — his concubines had previously been mostly former maids of Lady Min, so her standing was not diminished by their existence. The situation was exacerbated when she didn't inform Taejong of the birth of their fourth daughter, Princess Chŏngsŏn, in 1404. It was said that her jealousy and the frequent marital disputes caused Taejong to avoid Lady Min's quarters; he once threatened to depose her, but this was probably either a maneuver to keep her in check, or a remark blurted out in a fit of rage, as the deposition would have been an unwise political move and out of character for King Taejong.

In 1416, Lady Min's remaining brothers, Min Muhyul and Min Muhoe, stated that the crown prince, Yi Che, would take great care of their family as they shared a close familial bond. When word reached Taejong, he saw it as a threat; the two brothers were exiled and then executed.

Later life and death In 1418, King Taejong abdicated in favor of their third son, Yi To (posthumously King Sejong), but continued to rule with an iron fist until his death.

Lady Min became queen dowager, but died less than two years later. She was buried within Heolleung , today part of the Heonilleung burial ground in Seocho District, Seoul. King Taejong, who outlived Lady Min by two years, was later buried alongside her.

Lady Min has been described as a smart and ambitious woman with an astute political drive, who frequently intervened in state affairs.

Titles

During the reign of King Gongmin : Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan Min Che's daughter Lady Min During the reign of King Taejo : Mistress Chŏngnyŏng (; from 1392) During the reign of King Jeongjong : Crown Princess Chŏng (; from 8 March 1400) During the reign of King Taejong : Queen Chŏng (; from 7 December 1400) During the reign of King Sejong : Queen Dowager Hudŏk (; from 18 September 1418) Queen Wŏn'gyŏng (; from 1420)

Family Father: Min Che , Internal Prince Yŏhŭng (; 1339 – 13 October 1408) Mother: Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State , of the Yeosan Song clan (; 1342–1414) Sibling(s) Sister: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan (; 1355–?) Sister: Grand Madame of Samhan State , of the Yeoheung Min clan (; 1357–?) Brother: Min Mugu , Prince Yŏgang (; 1369 – 29 April 1410) Brother: Min Mujil , Prince Yeoseong (; 1372 – 29 April 1410) Brother: Min Muhyul , Prince Yeowon (; 1373 – 13 January 1416) Brother: Min Muhoe , Prince Yeosan (; 1375 – 13 January 1416) Sister: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan Husband: King Taejong (; 21 June 1367 – 8 June 1422) Father-in-law: King Taejo (; 4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408) Mother-in-law: Queen Sinŭi , of the Cheongju Han clan (; 6 October 1337 – 25 November 1391) Stepmother-in-law: Queen Sindeok , of the Goksan Kang clan (; 20 July 1356 – 23 September 1396) Issue Princess Chŏngsun (; 1385 – 18 September 1460) Princess Kyŏngjŏng (; 1387 – 29 June 1455) Unnamed son (1389) Unnamed son (1390) Unnamed son (1392) Princess Kyŏngan (; 1393 – 8 June 1415) Yi Che , Grand Prince Yangnyŏng (; 1394 – 8 October 1462) Yi Po , Grand Prince Hyoryŏng (; 29 January 1396 – 22 June 1486) Yi To , King Sejong (; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) Princess Chŏngsŏn (; 1404 – 5 March 1424) Yi Chong , Grand Prince Sŏngnyŏng (; 12 August 1405 – 20 March 1418) Unnamed son (1412)

Ancestry

In popular culture Portrayed by Kim Young-ran in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace. Portrayed by Choi Myung-gil in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon and the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong. Portrayed by Kang Se-jung in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeon Do-jeon. Portrayed by Im Ye-jin in the 2015 MBC TV series Splash Splash Love. Portrayed by Gong Seung-yeon in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons. Portrayed by Kim Sa-hee in the 2015 film Empire of Lust. Portrayed by Seo Young-hee in the 2021 SBS TV series Joseon Exorcist. Portrayed by Park Jin-hee in the 2021–2022 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won. Portrayed by Cha Joo-young in the 2025 tvN series The Queen Who Crowns.