Min Chi-rok (; 1799 – 17 September 1858), formally honoured as Internal Prince Yeoseong (). He also known as Duke Hyojeong () or Duke Sungan (), was a Korean political figure of the

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

. He was the father of

Empress Myeongseong Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

and the maternal grandfather of King Sunjong of Korea. After he died, his son-in-law, King Gojong of Korea, promoted him to

Uijeongbu Uijeongbu () is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Overview Uijeongbu is located north of the Korean capital Seoul; it lies inside a Defile (geography), defile, with mountains on two sides, and com ...

and

Yeonguijeong ''Yeonguijeong'' () was a title created in 1400, during the Joseon Kingdom and the Korean Empire times (1392–1910) and given to the Chief State Councillor as the highest government position of "Uijeongbu" (State Council). Existing for over 500 ...

Early life

Min Chi-rok was born into the

aristocratic Aristocracy (, ) is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the el, αριστοκρατία (), meaning 'rule of the best'. At the time of the word's ...

Yeoheung Min clan The Yeoheung Min clan () is a Korean clan that traces its origin to Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The 2015 Korean Census counted 167,124 members of the Yeoheung Min clan. Origin The Yeoheung Min clan's progenitor was Min Ching-do (민칭도, 閔� ...

in 1799 as the only son of Min Gi-hyeon, and his third wife, Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan. Min was a great-great-grandson of Min Jin-hu;

Queen Inhyeon Queen Inhyeon (Hangul: 인현왕후 민씨, Hanja: 仁顯王后閔氏; 15 May 1667 – 16 September 1701), of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the second wife and queen consort of King Sukjong, the 19th Joseon monarch. She was Queen of Joseon fr ...

’s eldest brother. He was also the 16th great-grandson of Min Yu (민유, 閔愉) who was the granduncle of

Queen Wongyeong Queen Wongyeong (원경왕후 민씨; 29 July 1365 – 18 August 1420) of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the primary wife of Taejong of Joseon, and the mother of Sejong the Great. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1400, and was honored as Queen J ...

. Min studied under scholar Oh Hui-sang (오희상) when he was young, and eventually married his daughter, Lady Oh of the

Haeju Oh clan Haeju Oh clan () is a Korean clan. Their Bon-gwan is in Haeju, Hwanghae Province. , the clan has a membership of 422735. Their founder was , who was the governor of Haeju county during the era of Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom foun ...

, as his first wife. But she later died at the age of 36 in 1833 with no offspring. After mourning for 3 years, he married Yi Gyu-nyeon's daughter, Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan in 1836. They eventually had a son and two daughters, but they all died prematurely. His wife then gave birth to a third daughter, Min Ja-yeong, on 17 November 1851 who would become the future Queen Consort to King Gojong. He died with an illness while he was in Sado City, Honshu, Japan on 17 September 1858.

Legacy

After his death, his wife and daughter went to live with his relatives in the House of Gamgodang, the house that King Sukjong built for

’s father in 1687, until his daughter became Queen. In 1861, a relative of his clan, Min Seung-ho, became his adoptive son to continue his family line. When Min Jayeong became Queen Consort in 1866, he was granted the royal title of “Min Chi-rok, Internal Prince Yeoseong”, and appointed as

after his death. His wife was also posthumously honored as

Internal Princess Consort Hanchang Internal Princess Consort Hanchang of the Hansan Yi clan (hangul: 한창부부인 이씨, hanja: 韓昌府夫人李氏; 1818 — 30 November 1874) was wife of Internal Prince Yeoseong and the mother of Empress Myeongseong, also the maternal gran ...

(한창부부인). His first wife was also granted the royal title of “Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong of the Haeju Oh clan” (해령부부인 해주 오씨, 海寧府夫人海州吳氏) as she was also considered the mother of Queen Min.

Aftermath

On 30 November 1874, his wife and their adoptive son, Min Seung-ho, died from a bombing assassination. Prior to his wife’s death, his daughter had started to involve herself in politics. She informally became known as

Queen Min Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

. Her political involvement eventually brought the Yeoheung Min clan more influence in politics and life threats from the Queen’s father-in-law,

Heungseon Daewongun Heungseon Daewongun (흥선대원군, 興宣大院君, 21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898; ), also known as the Daewongun (대원군, 大院君), Guktaegong (국태공, 國太公, "The Great Archduke") or formally Internal King Heungseon Heon ...

, who sought to get rid of her. Queen Min was assassinated in her husband’s private living quarters on 8 October 1895. Her death brought rage from various western powers, as Queen Min brought their influence into Joseon Dynasty politics.

Family

* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Min Hyo-son (Hangul: 민효손, Hanja: 閔孝孫) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (본관: 파평 윤씨); daughter of Yun Ji-kang (윤지강) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Min Yeo-jun (민여준, 閔汝俊) (1539 - 1599) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Yi of the

Jeonju Yi clan The Jeonju Yi clan () is a Korean clan with the surname Yi. Their Bon-gwan is in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The clan includes the former House of Yi which ruled the Joseon dynasty and the Korean Empire. Their founder was Yi Han (). His des ...

(전주 이씨, 全州李氏); descendant of

Grand Prince Hyoryeong Grand Prince Hyoryeong (Hangul: 효령대군, Hanja: 孝寧大君; 6 January 1396 – 12 June 1486), personal name Yi Bo (Hangul: 이보, Hanja: 李補), was the second son and fifth child of King Taejong of Joseon and his wife, Queen Wongyeong ...

* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Min Gi (Hangul: 민기, Hanja: 閔箕) (1568–18 January 1641) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Hong of the

Namyang Hong clan Namyang Hong clan () is one of the Korean clans. Their Bon-gwan is in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, Gyeonggi Province. According to the research held in 2015, the number of Namyang Hong clan members was 487,488. The Namyang Hong clan is divided into the ...

(남양 홍씨, 南陽洪氏); daughter of Hong Ik-hyeon (홍익현, 洪翼賢) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Min Gwang-hun (Hangul: 민광훈, Hanja: 閔光勳) (1595–1659), scholar during the reign of King Injong. * Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Yi of the Yeonan Yi clan (본관: 연안 이씨); daughter of Yi Gwang-jeong (이광정, 李光庭) * Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Min Yu-jung (민유중, 閔維重) (1630–1687). * Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Internal Princess Consort Eunseong of the

Eunjin Song clan Eunjin Song clan () is one of the Korean clans. Their ''Bon-gwan'' is in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. According to the research in 2015, the number of Eunjin Song clan was 226,050. Their founder was who was a descendant of Song Ju eun. ...

(은성부부인 은진 송씨, 恩城府夫人恩津宋氏) (1637 - 1672); Min Yu-jung's second wife, daughter of

Song Jun-gil Song Jun-gil (Hangul: 송준길, Hanja: 宋浚吉; 28 December 1606 – 2 December 1672), also known by his pen name Dongchundang, was a Korean politician and Neo-Confucian scholar, who lived during the Joseon Dynasty. Born in Okcheon, North Chu ...

(송준길, 宋俊吉), ''

'' during the reign of King Hyojong. * Great-Great-Grandfather ** Min Jin-hu (민진후, 閔鎭厚) (1659 – 1720), eldest brother of

(second consort of King Sukjong). * Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Yi of the

Yeonan Yi clan The Yeonan Yi clan () is one of the Korean clans. Their Bon-gwan is in Yeonan County, North Korea. According to the census held in 2015, the number of Yeonan Yi clan’s member was 164,036. Their founder was . It is did that around 660, he became ...

(본관: 연안 이씨); Min Jin-hu’s second wife, daughter of Yi Deok-ro (이덕로, 李德老) * Great-Grandfather ** Min Ik-su (민익수, 閔翼洙) (1690 – 1742). * Grandfather ** Min Baek-bun (민백분, 閔百奮) (1723 – ?) * Grandmother ** Lady Sim (심씨, 沈氏); daughter of Sim Jung-hyeon (심중현, 沈重賢) *Father ** Min Gi-hyeon (민기현, 閔耆顯) (1751 – 1 August 1811); was appointed to Kaeseong Ministry * Mother ** Stepmother - Lady Jo the Haman Jo clan (함안 조씨, 咸安趙氏) (1748 - 4 April 1764); daughter of Jo Jung-cheom (조중첨) ** Stepmother - Lady Yi of the Seongju Yi clan (성주 이씨, 星州李氏) (1763 - 15 March 1792) ** Biological mother - Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (본관: 연일 정씨, 延日鄭氏) (1773 - 9 March 1838); Min Gi-hyeon’s third wife *Wives and their respective issue(s): **Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong of the

(해령부부인 해주 오씨, 海寧府夫人海州吳氏) (1798 - 15 March 1833) ** Internal Princess Consort Hanchang of the Hansan Yi clan (한창부부인 한산 이씨, 韓昌府夫人李氏) (1818 - 30 November 1874) *** Unnamed son *** Unnamed daughter *** Unnamed daughter *** Adoptive son - Min Seung-ho (민승호, 閔升鎬) (1830 - 30 November 1874); son of Min Chi-gu (1795-1874) **** Adoptive daughter-in-law - Lady Kim of the

Gwangsan Kim clan The Gwangsan Kim clan (Hangul: 광산 김씨, Hanja: 光山金氏) is a Korean clan with its bon-gwan located in Gwangsan, present-day Gwangju. The members of the Gwangsan Kim clan are the descendants of Kim Heung-gwang (김흥광), the third ...

(본관: 광산 김씨, 光山金氏) (? - ? 23 April); Min Seung-ho's first wife ***** Unnamed adoptive grandson (? - 1874) ***** Adoptive grandson - Min Yeong-ik (민영익, 閔泳翊) (1860-1914); eldest son of Min Tae-ho (1834-1884) **** Adoptive daughter-in-law - Lady Kim of the Yeonan Kim clan (본관: 연안 김씨, 延安金氏) (? - ? 11 February); Min Seung-ho’s second wife **** Adoptive daughter-in-law - Lady Yi of the Deoksu Yi clan (본관: 덕수 이씨, 德水李氏) (? - ? 1 July);Daughter of Yi Min-seong (이민성, 李敏星) Min Seung-ho’s third wife *** Daughter - Min Ja-yeong, Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (17 November 1851 - 8 October 1895) (민자영, 閔玆暎) (명성황후 민씨) **** Son-in-law - Yi Myeong-bok, Emperor Gojong of Korea (8 September 1852 - 21 January 1919) (이명복 대한제국 고종황제) ***** Unnamed grandson (4 November 1871 - 8 November 1871) ***** Unnamed granddaughter (13 February 1873 - 28 September 1873) ***** Grandson - Yi Cheok, Emperor Sunjong of Korea (25 March 1874 - 24 April 1926) (이척 대한제국 순종황제) ****** Granddaughter-in-law - Empress Sunmyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (20 November 1872 - 5 November 1904) (순명효황후 민씨) ****** Granddaughter-in-law - Yun Jeung-sun, Empress Sunjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (19 September 1894 - 3 February 1966) (윤증순, 尹曾順) (순정황후 윤씨) ***** Unnamed grandson (5 April 1875 - 18 April 1875) ***** Unnamed grandson (18 February 1878 - 5 June 1878)

In popular culture

*Portrayed by Lee Do-ryeon in 2001-2002

KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

TV series ''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Min, Chi-rok 1799 births 1858 deaths Joseon scholar-officials