Queen Insun (인순왕후 심씨; 27 June 1532 – 12 February 1575), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Hwan, King Myeongjong. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1545 until her husband's death in 1567, after which she was honoured as Queen Dowager Uiseong (의성왕대비). She served as regent of Korea during the minority of her adoptive son, king Yi Yeon, King Seonjo, from 1567 until 1568.

Biography

Early life

Lady Sim was born on 27 June 1532 to Sim Kang and Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan. She is the eldest within 10 siblings, including

Sim Ui-gyeom Sim Ui-gyeom (1535–1587) was a Korean philosopher and politician during the Joseon Dynasty. A Neo-Confucian scholar, he was the head of the Westerner political faction. Sim was also the younger brother of Queen Insun and a member of the Cheo ...

. Through her mother, she is a 6th great-granddaughter 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 ...

and

King Taejong Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won ( Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he ...

; through her 5th great-grandfather,

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 ...

Marriage

In April 1542, Lady Sim was arranged to marry Grand Prince Gyeongwon; the only son of King Jungjong and

Queen Munjeong Queen Munjeong (Hangul: 문정왕후, Hanja: 文定王后; 2 December 1501 – 5 May 1565), of the Papyeong Yun clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and third queen consort of Yi Yeok, King Jungjong. She was queen consort of Joseon ...

. Lady Sim was given the title of Princess Consort (부부인).

Queen

In 1545, when King Injong passed away, her husband was enthroned as the next king of joseon as there wasn't any heirs from Queen Inseong. The Princess Consort then became the next Queen Consort and had a son,

Crown Prince Sunhoe Crown Prince Sunhoe (Hangul: 순회세자, Hanja: 順懷世子; 1 July 1551 – 6 October 1563), born Yi Bu, or Lee Bu () was crown prince of Joseon Dynasty and the only son of Myeongjong of Joseon and Queen Insun. Biography In 1557, Yi Bu at ...

, in 1551. The crown prince died in 1563; leaving no heirs from King Myeongjong who also died in 1567. This left Prince Haseong (the future

King Seonjo Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, politi ...

), a son of Grand Internal Prince Deokheung and Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong, to become the next crowned prince.

Regency and Later Life

The Queen consort became Queen Regent in 1567 upon on the prince's enthronement as king because he was young. In 1568, she stepped down as regent and became Queen Dowager. She was later given the title of Uiseong (의성, 懿聖) in 1569. Her reign as Queen Dowager lasted 8 years as she died on 12 February 1575 within Changgyeong Palace's Tongmyeong Hall. Nearby where her mother-in-law, Queen Munjeong, is buried, the Queen is buried with her husband in Kangreung.

Trivia

Queen Insun eventually became the 5th great-grandaunt of

Queen Danui Queen Danui (단의왕후, 端懿王后, 11 July 1686 – 8 March 1718), was the first wife and princess consort of Crown Prince Hwiso, the future Gyeongjong of Joseon. She died before her husband's ascension to the throne. Biography The future ...

, King Gyeongjong's first wife. She is also a 4th great-granddaughter of

Sim On Shim On (1375 – 18 January 1419) was a Korean politician. He was the Chief State Councillor of the Korean Joseon from September 1418 to December 1418 and the father of Queen Soheon and father-in-law to King Sejong. He is known for his treason ...

and a 3rd great-grandniece of

Queen Soheon Queen Soheon (소헌왕후 심씨, 12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Do, King Sejong and the mother of Yi Hyang, King Munjong and Yi Yu, King Sejo ...

King Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...

's wife.

Family

Parent * Father − Sim Kang (1514 – 1567) (심강, 沈鋼) ** 1) Grandfather − Sim Yeon-Won (1491 – 1558) (심연원) *** 2) Great-Grandfather − Sim Sun-mun (심순문, 沈順門) **** 3) Great-Great-Grandfather - Sim Won (심원, 沈湲) ***** 4) Great-Great-Great-Grandfather - Sim Hoe (심회, 沈澮) (1418 - 1493); younger brother of

****** 5) Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather - Sim On (심온, 沈溫) (1375 – 18 January 1419); father of

****** 5) Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother - Internal Princess Consort Sunheung of the

Sunheung Ahn clan The Sunheung Ahn clan (순흥 안씨, ) is a clan connected with the town of Sunheung, South Korea, and was well known during the Goryeo Dynasty and in the early Joseon Dynasty for its "blue-blood" status. 73.5% of people with the Korean surna ...

(순흥부부인 안씨) (? - 1444) ***** 4) Great-Great-Great-Grandmother - Lady Kim of the Wonju Kim clan (정경부인 원주 김씨, 貞敬夫人原州金氏) **** 3) 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 ...

(증 정경부인 전주 이씨) *** 2) Great-Grandmother − Lady Shin of the

Pyeongsan Shin clan The Pyeongsan Sin clan or Pyeongsan Shin clan () is one of the great aristocratic houses which originated from Korea. The clan was key in the foundation of the Goryeo dynasty and gained its power during this time. However, it became less promi ...

(증 정경부인 평산 신씨, 贈貞敬夫人平山申氏) ** 1) Grandmother − Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (경주 김씨) * Mother − Yi Hui-gyeong, Internal Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Yi clan (1511 – 1559) (이희경 완산부부인 전주 이씨, 李希慶完山府夫人全州李氏) ** 1) Grandfather − Yi Dae, Prince Jeonseong (전성군 이대) (21 July 1488 - 29 October 1543) ** 2) Grandmother − Lady Jeong of the Dongrae Jeong clan (동래 정씨) (? - 9 January 1557) Sibling * Younger brother − Sim In-gyeom (심인겸, 沈仁謙) (1533 - 1580) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Lee (이씨) ** Nephew − Sim Eom (심엄, 沈㤿); became the adoptive son of

* Younger brother −

(심의겸, 沈義謙) (1535 - 1587) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Han of the

Cheongju Han clan The Cheongju Han clan (Hangul: 청주 한씨, Hanja: 淸州韓氏) is a Korean noble family. It is also called the House of Han or the Han clan of Cheongju. It is considered one of the most prominent clans since the Gojoseon period. In the Sil ...

( 정부인 청주 한씨, 貞夫人淸州韓氏) ** Nephew − Shim Non (심논, 沈惀) ** Niece − Lady Sim * Younger brother − Sim Ye-gyeom (심예겸, 沈禮謙) (1537 - 1578) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨) * Younger brother − Sim Ji-gyeom (심지겸, 沈智謙) (1540 - 1568) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Lee (이씨) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Heo (허씨) ** Nephew − Sim Gyeong (심경, 沈憬) * Younger brother − Sim Shin-gyeom (심신겸, 沈信謙) (1542 - 1596) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Jeong (정씨) ** Nephew − Sim Yool (심율, 沈慄) ** Nephew − Sim Gak (심각, 沈恪) ** Nephew − Sim Yi (심이, 沈怡) ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim * Younger brother − Sim Chong-gyeom (심충겸, 沈忠謙) (1545 - 1594) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (증 정경부인 전주 이씨) ** Nephew − Sim Heun (심흔, 沈忻) ** Nephew − Sim Yeol (심열, 沈悅) (1569 - 1646);The 4th great-grandfather of

became the adoptive son of Shim Ye-gyeom ** Nephew − Sim Jong (심종, 沈悰) ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim * Younger brother − Sim Hyo-gyeom (심효겸, 沈孝謙) (1547 - 1600) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Nam (남씨) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Lee (이씨) ** Nephew − Sim Pib (심핍, 沈愊) ** Nephew − Sim Cheok (심척, 沈惕) ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim * Younger brother − Sim Je-gyeom (심제겸, 沈悌謙) (1550 - 1589) * ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Shin (신씨) ** Nephew − Sim Yu (심유, 沈愉) ** Nephew − Sim Hyeob (심협, 沈協) ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim ** Niece − Lady Sim * Younger sister − Lady Sim (청송 심씨) * ''Brother-in-law'' − Im Yeong-ro (임영로, 任榮老) of the

Pungcheon Im clan The Pungcheon Im clan () is a Korean clan based in Kwail County, South Hwanghae Province. According to the research held in 2015, the number of Pungcheon Im clan’s member was 143881. Their founder was who was from Shaoxing, China and came to ...

(풍천 임씨) * Younger sister − Lady Sim (청송 심씨) * ''Brother-in-law'' − Yi Byeok (이벽, 李鼊) of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨) Consort and Issue *Husband -

Myeongjong of Joseon Myeongjong of Joseon (3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567, r. 1545–1567) was the 13th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Munjeong, who was Jungjong's third queen. He became king ...

(3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567) (조선명종) #Son - Yi Bu, Crown Prince Sunhoe (1 July 1551 – 6 October 1563) (이부 순회세자) ##Daughter-in-law - Crown Princess Gonghoe of the Musong Yun clan (1550 – 14 April 1592) (공회빈 윤씨) #Adoptive son -

Seonjo of Joseon Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, politi ...

(조선선조) (26 November 1552 - 16 March 1608) ##Adoptive daughter-in-law - Queen Uiin of the Bannam Park clan (의인왕후 박씨) (5 May 1555 - 5 August 1600) ##Adoptive daughter-in-law - Queen Inmok of the Yeonan Kim clan (인목왕후 김씨) (15 December 1584 - 13 August 1632) ### Adoptive granddaughter -

Princess Jeongmyeong Princess Jeongmyeong (27 June 1603 – 8 September 1685) was a Joseon Royal Princess as the tenth daughter of King Seonjo, from Queen Inmok. During her older half-brother's reign, she suffered hardships, and her title was revoked, but later it wa ...

(정명공주) (27 June 1603 – 8 September 1685) ### Unnamed adoptive granddaughter (1604); died prematurely ### Adoptive grandson - Yi Ui, Grand Prince Yeongchang (이의 영창대군) (12 April 1606 – 19 March 1614)

Popular culture

* Portrayed by

Jang Hee-jin Jang Hee-jin (born May 9, 1983) is a South Korean actress. She began her career as a model for the fashion magazines CeCi, Marie Claire and Cindy the Perky. Jang has appeared in several television series and films, including '' Myung-wol the ...

in the 2016

JTBC JTBC (shortened from ''Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company'' (; stylized as jtbc) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on 1 December 2011. JTBC ...

TV series '' Mirror of the Witch''.

References

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Insun, Queen 16th-century Korean people 1532 births 1575 deaths Regents of Korea Royal consorts of the Joseon dynasty Korean queens consort 16th-century women rulers