Injong of Joseon

Birth name
Injong of Joseon
Hangul	인종
Hanja	仁宗
Revised Romanization	Injong
McCune–Reischauer	In-jong
Hangul	이호
Hanja	李峼
Revised Romanization	I Ho
McCune–Reischauer	I Ho

Monarchs of Korea

Joseon dynasty

Taejo	1392–1398
Jeongjong	1398–1400
Taejong	1400–1418
Sejong the Great	1418–1450
Munjong	1450–1452
Danjong	1452–1455
Sejo	1455–1468
Yejong	1468–1469
Seongjong	1469–1494
Yeonsangun	1494–1506
Jungjong	1506–1544
Injong	1544–1545
Myeongjong	1545–1567
Seonjo	1567–1608
Gwanghaegun	1608–1623
Injo	1623–1649
Hyojong	1649–1659
Hyeonjong	1659–1674
Sukjong	1674–1720
Gyeongjong	1720–1724
Yeongjo	1724–1776
Jeongjo	1776–1800
Sunjo	1800–1834
Heonjong	1834–1849
Cheoljong	1849–1863
Gojong of Korea	1863–1907
Sunjong of Korea	1907–1910

King Injong of Joseon (10 March 1515 – 8 August 1545, r. 1544–1545) was the 12th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. His father was King Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Janggyeong, whose brother was Yun Im. As the firstborn, he became Crown Prince in 1520 and succeeded his father to the throne following Jungjong's death in 1544.

Reign

The young king was very ambitious, and tried to reform the government of the time that was rife with corruption, a legacy of the failed reforms during his father's reign. He rehabilitated Jo Gwang-jo and recruited Sarim scholars who turned away from politics after Third Literati Purge of 1519. His maternal uncle Yun Im exercised great power during this period. However, Injong was too often ill and died in 1545, just one year after coming to the throne. Following his death, Yum Im was executed by Yun Won-Hyung in the Fourth Purge of 1545 when King Myeongjong (son of the ambitious Queen Munjeong) succeeded the throne.

Death

Some historians believe that Injong was poisoned by the Smaller Yun faction, led by Yun Won-Hyung, to enable Injong's half-brother to ascend the throne. According to unofficial chronicles, there is a tale of Munjeong finally showing love for her "adoptive" son King Injong, after decades of polite indifference (in reality behind-the-scenes hatred).

As Injong went to pay his morning respects, Munjeong’s face started radiating with a smile only a mother could give to her child. Injong took it as a sign that the Queen Mother was finally acknowledging him as the king, and in particular as her own son. He ate the ddeok that his step-mother gave him, not knowing that it would be the beginning of the end. He fell ill slowly, not enough to create any suspicion, but quickly enough that historians would later pick up on the event. Three days passed before Injong mysteriously died (after only 9 months of rule).

Queen Munjong’s son became King Myeongjong, while Munjeong became Queen Regent. The chronicles also tell that Munjeong was frequently visited by spirits at night after Injong’s death.^[1] So disturbed was she that she moved her residence from Gyeongbok Palace to Changdeok Palace.

Family

Father: King Jungjong (중종)
Mother: Queen Janggyeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (장경왕후 윤씨)
Consort: Queen Inseong of the Naju Bak clan (인성왕후 박씨)

No Issue (in part due to his short rule and also due to his chronic illnesses)

His full posthumous name

King Injong Yeongjeong Heonmun Euimu Jangsuk Heumhyo the Great of Korea
인종영정헌문의무장숙흠효대왕
仁宗榮靖獻文懿武章肅欽孝大王

References

↑ According to the chronicles the spirit is supposedly Injong, screaming with grief at the woman who could never be a mother to him even in death.

Regnal titles
Injong of Joseon House of Yi Born: 1515 Died: 1545
Preceded by Jungjong	King of Korea Joseon 1544–1545	Succeeded by Myeongjong

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