Seongjong of Joseon

Seongjong of Joseon (20 August 1457 – 20 January 1494) was the ninth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 and ruled until 1494.

Reign

He was grandson of King Sejo, nephew of Yejong and second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong ( Crown Prince Uigyeong 's First son was Grand Prince Wolsan (1454-1487) who was King Seongjong 's elder brother) . He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 when the weak king died and his son was too young to succeed him. Since he was too young to govern the kingdom effectively (he was 13 when he was crowned), Queen Jeonghee, his grandmother, ruled the nation in his name, along with the king's mother, Queen Insu (whose husband had never actually been king, but he was ascended to throne posthumously). In 1476, at the age of 20, he began to govern the country in his own name.

His reign was marked by the prosperity and growth of the national economy, based on the laws laid down by kings Taejong, Sejong, and Sejo. He himself was a gifted ruler. In 1474, the code of law, first ordered by King Sejo, was completed and put into effect. Seongjong also ordered revisions and improvements to the code.

Besides the law, he also encouraged Confucian scholars; He greatly expanded Hongmungwan (홍문관, 弘文館), the royal library and advisory council to the king at the same time, and strengthened so-called Three Offices (Hongmungwan, Office of Inspector General, Office of Censors) as check and balance on the Royal Court. For the first time since King Sejong, he brought many liberal Confucian scholars to his court, whose political views went against those of the conservative officials (members of the nobility) who had helped kings Taejong and Sejo to power. In this way he made his rule more effective by appointing able administrators regardless of their political views. His policy resulted in many positive innovations, increasing his number of supporters. The king himself was an artist and scholar, and liked to argue about the finer points of politics with more liberal scholars. He encouraged scholars to publish numerous books about geography and social etiquette, for example, as well as areas of knowledge that benefited the common people.

He also sent several military campaigns against the Jurchens on the northern border in 1491, like many of his predecessors. The campaign, led by Gen. Heo Jong (허종, 許琮), was successful, and the defeated Jurchens led by Udige (兀狄哈) retreated to the north of Amrokgang. King Seongjong was succeeded by his son, Yeonsangun, in 1494.

Family

• Father: Crown Prince Uigyeong (이장 의경세자, 1438 – September 2, 1457)^[1]
  • Adoptive Father: King Yejong (예종)
• Mother: Queen Sohye or Queen Insoo^[2][3] of the Cheongju Han clan (소혜왕후 한씨, October 7, 1437 – April 27, 1504)^[4][5][6]
  • Adoptive Mother: Queen Ansun of the Cheongju Han clan (안순왕후 한씨, 1445(?)–December 23, 1498)
• Consorts and their Respective Issue:

1. Queen Gonghye of the Cheongju Han clan (공혜왕후 한씨, October 11, 1456 – April 15, 1474^[7])

• No Issue.^[8][9]

1. Queen Jeheon of the Ham-an Yoon clan^[10][11] (제헌왕후, 1445 – August 16, 1482)^[12][13]
   1. Yi Ryung, the Royal Prince (이륭 원자), 2nd Son^[14]
   2. 2 Unnamed Sons
2. Yoon Chang-nyeon, the Queen Jeonghyeon, of the Papyeong Yoon clan^[15] (윤창년 정현왕후, 1462–1530)^[16]
   1. Yi Yeok, the Grand Prince Jinseong (이역 진성대군), Only Son
   2. Princess Sunsuk (순숙공주), 1st Daughter
   3. Princess Shinsuk (신숙공주), 2nd Daughter
3. Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Andong Kim clan (명빈 김씨)^[17]
   1. Yi Jong, the Prince Musan (이종 무산군), Only Son
4. Kim Suk-ui (숙의 김씨)
   1. Princess Hwisuk (휘숙옹주, ?–?), 1st Daughter^[18]
   2. Princess Gyeongsuk (경숙옹주), 2nd Daughter
   3. Princess Hwijeong (휘정옹주), 3rd Daughter
5. Jeong Geum-yi, Gwi-in, of the Chogye Jeong clan (귀인 정금이), ? – March 20, 1504^[19])^[20]
   1. Yi Hang, the Prince Anyang (이항 안양군, 1480–1505), 1st Son
   2. Yi Bong, the Prince Bongan (이봉 봉안군, 1482–1505), 2nd Son
   3. Princess Jeonghye (정혜옹주, ?–1507), Only Daughter^[21]
6. Kwon Gwi-in (귀인 권씨)
   1. Yi Byeon, the Prince Jeonseong (이변 전성군), Only Son
7. Eom Eunsosa,^[22] Gwi-in, of the Yeongwol Eom clan (귀인 엄은소사, ? – March 20, 1504^[19])^[23]
   1. Princess Gongshin (공신옹주, ?–?), Only Daughter^[24]
8. Lee Suk-ui (숙의 이씨)

• No Issue.

1. Ha Suk-ui (숙의 하씨)^[25]
   1. Yi Sun, the Prince Gyeseong (이순 계성군, 1478–1504), Only Son
2. Hong Suk-ui^[26] of the Namyang Hong clan (숙의 홍씨, ?–?)^[27]
   1. Yi Soo, the Prince Wanwon (이수 완원군, 1480–1509), 1st Son
   2. Yi Nyeom, the Prince Hwoesan (이념 회산군, 1481–1512), 2nd Son
   3. Yi Don, the Prince Gyeonseong (이돈 견성군), 3rd Son
   4. Yi Hwoe, the Prince Ikyang (이회 익양군), 4th Son
   5. Yi Chim, the Prince Gyeongmyeong (이침 경명군), 5th Son
   6. Yi In, the Prince Euncheon (이인 은천군), 6th Son
   7. Yi Hui, the Prince Yangwon (이희 양원군), 7th Son
   8. Princess Hyesuk (혜숙옹주, ?–?), 1st Daughter^[28]
   9. Princess Jeongsun (정순옹주), 2nd Daughter
   10. Princess Jeongsuk (정숙옹주), 3rd Daughter
3. Nam Suk-ui (숙의 남씨)

• No Issue.

1. Shim Suk-yong (숙용 심씨)
   1. Yi Gwan, the Prince Yiseong (이관 이성군, 1489–1552), 1st Son
   2. Yi Jeon, the Prince Yeongan (이전 영안군), 2nd Son
   3. Princess Gyeongsun (경순옹주), 1st Daughter
   4. Princess Sukhye (숙혜옹주), 2nd Daughter
2. Kwon Suk-yong (숙용 권씨)
   1. Princess Gyeonghwi (경휘옹주), Only Daughter
3. Yoon Suk-won (숙원 윤씨)

• No Issue.

His full posthumous name

• King Seongjong Gangjeong Inmun Heonmu Heumseong Gonghyo the Great of Korea
• 성종강정인문헌무흠성공효대왕
• 成宗康靖仁文憲武欽聖恭孝大王

Portrayal in media

He was portrayed in the 2003 television series Dae Jang Geum , the 2008 television series The King and I and the 2011 television series Queen Insoo .

See also

• Seolleung and Jeongneung tombs

References