Jeongjo of Joseon

Jeongjo
King of Joseon
Reign March 10, 1776 - June 28, 1800
Coronation March 10, 1776
Born September 22, 1752(1752-09-22)
Birthplace Changgyeong Palace, Korea
Died June 28, 1800(1800-06-28) (aged 47)
Place of death Changgyeong Palace, Korea
Buried Geolleung, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi
Predecessor Yeongjo of Joseon
Successor Sunjo of Joseon
Consort Queen Hyoui
Offspring Sunjo of Joseon
Royal House House of Yi
Father Crown Prince Sado
Mother Lady Hyegyeong
Jeongjo of Joseon
Hangul 정조
Hanja 正祖
Revised Romanization Jeongjo
McCune–Reischauer Chŏngjo
Birth name
Hangul 이산
Hanja 李祘
Revised Romanization I San
McCune–Reischauer Yi San

King Jeongjo (22 September 1752 – 28 June 1800) was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo (1724–1776) and succeeded by his son King Sunjo (r. 1800–1834). He is widely regarded as one of the most successful and visionary rulers of Joseon along with King Sejong.

Contents

Early life

He was the son of Crown Prince Sado, who was put to death by his own father, King Yeongjo. His mother, Lady Hyegyeong, wrote an autobiography, The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong (한중록, 閑中錄), detailing her life as the ill-fated Crown Princess of Korea. This collection of memoirs serve as an invaluable source of historical information on the political happenings during the reigns of King Yeongjo, King Jeongjo and King Sunjo.

When he was the Crown Prince, King Jeongjo met Hong Guk-yeong[1] (홍국영, 洪國榮), a controversial politician who first strongly supported Jeongjo's accession and toiled to improve the king's power, but ended up being expelled because of his desire for power.

Jeongjo spent much of his reign trying to clear his father's name. He also moved the court to the city of Suwon to be closer to his father's grave. He built Hwaseong Fortress to guard the tomb. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accession

His era was quite in disorder as his father was forcefully killed. King Yeongjo's ultimate decision to execute Prince Sado was greatly influenced by other politicians who were against Prince Sado. After King Yeongjo's death and on the day that he became the King of Joseon, he sat on his throne in the throne room and looked at everyone and said, "I am the son of the late Crown Prince Sado..." A bold statement that send shivers to all of the politicians that influenced his father's death. During his accession, he also gave a royal decree that his mother, Lady Hye Gyeong, to be a Dowager Queen since his father, her husband, was supposed to be the King before him but it never happened so automatically, she became the Queen Dowager, the widow of Crown Prince Sado. From this, he went through many turbulent times but overcame them with the aid of Hong Guk-yeong.[1]

Renaissance

King Jeongjo led the new renaissance of Joseon dynasty. It was originally stepped by continuing policy of Tangpyeong, Yeongjo's. He tried to control whole politics of the nation for acquisition of national progress.

He made various reforms throughout his reign, notably establishing Kyujanggak (규장각), a royal library. However, its purpose was to improve the cultural and political stance of Joseon and to recruit gifted officers to run the nation. He also spearheaded bold new social initiatives, opening government positions to those who were barred because of their social status.

Jeongjo had the support of the many Silhak scholars including Jeong Yak-yong, Yu Deuk-gong, Pak Ji-won and Pak Je-ga, and in addition the Silhak scholars supported Jeongjo's regal power. King Jeongjo's reign also saw the further growth and development of Joseon's popular culture.

Death

He was known to history as an innovative person, in spite of his high political status in Joseon. He died suddenly at the age of 48 in 1800 under mysterious circumstances, without seeing his lifelong wishes realized by his son, Sunjo.[2] There are many books regarding the mysterious death of Jeongjo, even today.

He is buried with his wife at the royal tomb of Geolleung (건릉, 健陵) in the city of Hwaseong.

Family

  1. Queen Hyoui of the Cheongpung Gim clan (효의왕후 김씨, 1753–1821)[5]
  2. Royal Noble Consort Wonbin of the Pyeongsan Hong clan (원빈 홍씨, 1766–1779)[6]
  3. Royal Noble Consort Hwabin of the Yun clan (화빈 윤씨, 1765–1824)[7]
  4. Royal Noble Consort Uibin of the Seong clan (의빈 성씨, 1753–1786)[8]
  5. Royal Noble Consort Subin of the Park clan (수빈 박씨, 1770–1822)[9]
  1. Prince Successor Munhyo (문효세자, 1782–1786), Only Son of Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Seong clan.
  2. Royal Prince Successor (왕세자,1790–1834), Only Son of Royal Noble Consort Su of the Park clan.
  3. A daughter of Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Seong clan.[10]
  4. Princess Sukseon (숙선옹주, 1793–1836) Only daughter of Royal Noble Consort Su of the Park clan.
  5. Prince Sanggye (상계군, 1770–1786), Adoptive Son of Royal Noble Consort Won of the Hong clan.[11]

Full posthumous name

Portrayal in works of media

Jeongjo portrayed in modern dramas:

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ a b Digital Korean studies (Korean site) http://www.koreandb.net/koreanking/html/person/pki60022.htm
  2. ^ National Heritage - Hwaseong
  3. ^ Daughter of Hong Bong-han (홍봉한) and Lady Yi of the Hansun Yi clan
  4. ^ Queen Heongyeong is also called "Lady Hyegyeong" (혜경궁)
  5. ^ Daughter of Kim Si-muk (김시묵) and Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan
  6. ^ Daughter of Hong Nak-chun (홍낙춘) and younger sister of Hong Guk-yeong (홍국영). She became Noble Royal Consort 1778, but she died suddenly a year after receiving the title.
  7. ^ Daughter of Yun Chang-yun (윤창윤). She became Noble Royal Consort in 1781, conceived, but the child was stillborn.
  8. ^ Daughter of Seong Yun-u (성윤우) and Lady Im. She did not receive the title Noble Royal Consort until her son became Grand Prince in 1782. She died suddenly in 1786, just months after the death of her son.
  9. ^ Daughter of Park Jun-won (박준원) and Lady Won. Also called Royal Noble Consort Hyeon(현빈). She became Noble Royal Consort in 1787.
  10. ^ Died after birth (1784)
  11. ^ Son of Jeongjo's half-brother, Prince Euneon. After the banishing and death of Hong Guk-yeong, he is also banished for treason and committed suicide by poison.

External links

Preceded by
Yeongjo		 Rulers of Korea
(Joseon Dynasty)
1776–1800		 Succeeded by
Sunjo