Sukjong of Joseon
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Sukjong was a king of the Joseon Dynasty in what is now Korea.
History
King Sukjong was born August 15, 1661 to King Hyunjong and Queen Myungsung(Kim) in KyungDuk Palace. His given name was Yi Soon. He became the Crown Prince in 1667 at age 7, and in 1674, at age 14, he became the 19th ruler of the Choson.
King Sukjong was a brilliant politician, but his reign was not all peaceful. He finalized an ongoing political argument between the "West faction" headed by Song Si-yeul and the "South faction" headed by Kim Suk-joo, [who was Queen Myungsung's cousin) which began during the reign of Sukjong's father, King Hyungjong. (see Royal Funeral Dispute).
In 1712, Sukjong's government worked with the Qing Dynasty in China to define the national borders between the two countries at the Yalu and Tumen Rivers.
King Sukjong had three Queens and three concubines, three sons and six daughters (see family tree below). He died after 46 years of reign in 1720 at age 60. He was buried in Myeongnyeung in Gyeonggi province, Goyang City inside Western Five Royal Graves: Seo(west) Oh(five) Reung(royal graves).
King Sukjong's Family
Queen Kim In-Kyeong (1661-1680)
Daughter of Kim Man-ki. She was married at age 10 and titled Crown Princess Consort to then Crown Prince (King Sukjong). In 1674 she became the Queen. She had three daughters, all of whom died at birth. In October 1680, at age 20, she showed signs of Pox and died 8 days later in Gyeongdeok Palace. She was buried in Ik-rueng in Gyeonggi province.
Queen Min In-Hyeon (1667-1701)
Daughter of Min Yoo-jung, she became King Sukjong's second queen by marriage in 1681. She is perhaps one of the best known queens of the Joseon dynasty. Her life was portrayed in many Korean historical dramas. When So-ei (third highest title for king's concubines) Lady Jang (her given name was Ok-Jung) produced a son (later Kyungjong) in 1688, it created a bloody dispute called Gi-Sa Hwanguk. During this time, the king wanted to give his eldest son the title of Crown Prince and wanted to promote Lady Jang from So-ei) to Hee-bin (the highest title for the king's concubines). This action was opposed by the No-ron party (headed by Song Si-yeol, and of which the queen's father was a member); and was backed by the So-ron party (of which Jang Hee-Jae, Lady Jang's older brother, was a member). King Sukjong became angry at the opposition, and many were killed including Song Si-yeol. Many including Queen In-hyeon and her family were forced into exile. Lady Jang became the queen. Later in 1694 the King, feeling remorse at his temperamental actions, gave in to a movement for Queen In-hyeon's reinstatement led by So-ron party (Gapseol Sahwa). She was brought back to the palace and re-named queen. (Lady Jang was demoted to hee-bin). In 1701, at age 35 she became ill and died of an unknown disease. It has been said that Lady Jang brought a Shamanist priestess into the palace and prayed for the Queen's death. When this was discovered by the king she was executed for her actions. One of the queen's lady's maids wrote a book called In-Hyeon Wanghu Jeon (Queen In-Hyeon's Biography) which still exists today. She is buried in Myeong-reung in Kyeonggi Province, and the King was later buried near her in the same area.
Queen Kim In-won (1687-1757)
Daughter of Kim Joo-shin, she married and became the third queen of King Sukjong at age of 15, in 1702, after Queen In-hyeon's death in 1701. She survived Pox in 1711. She became Dowager Queen (Wangdaebi) after her husband's death in 1720, and Daewangdaebi in 1724 after Kyeongjong (stepson by Lady Jang (hee-bin) died and Yeongjo (her other stepson by Lady Choi (sook-bin) whom she favored became King. She had no children and died in 1757 at age of 70, and was buried near King Sukjong and Queen In-hyeon in Kyeonggi Province.
Lady Jang Ok-jeong (hee-bin status) (1659-1701)
Her given name was Ok-jeong. She is only known to be a niece of a tradesman Jang Hyeon and no records of who her father was. However, there are rumors that her father was Cho Sa-seok who is Queen Jang-ryeol's brother because Ok-jeong's mother was his well known mistress.
Ok-jeong became Queen Jang-ryeol (King Injo's second queen)'s lady's maid at recommendation of Dongpyunggun (King Sukjong's cousin). Then in 1686, King Sukjong discovered her after a visit with his step grandmother (Dowager Queen Jang-ryeol) and made her his concubine and gave her the title of sook-won (4th class). In 1688 she was promoted to so-ui (3rd class) and in 1689 she gave birth to a son (later Kyeongjong) and was became hee-bin (1st class). When Queen In-hyeon was forced into exile in May 1688, she became the queen back by So-ron party and her son was titled the Crown Prince (see Queen In-Hyun) and created a bloody event.
Later in 1694, Lady Jang was demoted back to hee-bin, when Queen In-Hyun was reinstated. In 1701, Queen In-Hyun died of an unknown disease and she was discovered by King Sukjong in her chambers with her brother Jang Hui-jae and a Shamanism Priestess praying for Queen In-hyeon's death and her reinstatement. Lady Jang, her brother, and anyone involved was arrested and sentenced to death by poisoning. She was 43, and had two children: Kyeongjong and a princess.
After this King Sukjong made a law prohibiting concubines from being allowed to become Queens in the future. Lady Jang left many folk stories behind including her greed over power, and a story involving right before her death with her son then the Crown Prince (future Kyeongjong).
Lady Choi (sook-bin)
There are no records of her life before she became King Sukjong's concubine. She was a water maid in the palace. One night, she was praying in her chamber for Queen In-hyeon's wellness when King Sukjong, who was crossing outside after a trip outside of the palace, heard her and, moved by her kindness, (the king was having his regret at that time) made her his concubine. She became sook-bin after the birth of a son (the future Yeongjo) in 1694 and had 2 princesses.
Lady Park (myeong-bin)
No known records only a fact the she was a daughter of nobility (yangban). She had one son, Prince Yeun-rueng.
His full posthumous name
- King Sukjong Hyeoneui Gwangyun Yeseong Yeongryeol Yumo Yeongun Hongin Jundeok Baecheon Habdo Gyehyu Dokgyung Jeongjung Hyeopgeuk Sineui Daehun Jangmun heonmu Gyungmyung Wonhyo the Great of Korea
- 숙종현의광윤예성영렬유모영운홍인준덕배천합도계휴독경정중협극신의대훈장문헌무경명원효대왕
- 肅宗顯義光倫睿聖英烈裕謨永運洪仁峻德配天合道啓休篤慶正中協極神毅大勳章文憲武敬明原孝大王
See also
| Preceded by: Hyeonjong |
Rulers of Korea (Joseon Dynasty) 1674–1720 |
Succeeded by: Gyeongjong |
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