Queen Inwon (3 November 1687 – 13 May 1757; 인원왕후 김씨), of the Gyeongju Kim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and fourth queen consort of Yi Sun, King Sukjong, the 19th

Joseon 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 ...

monarch. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1702 until her husband's death in 1720. She was honoured as Queen Dowager Hyesun (혜순왕대비) during the reign of her step-son Yi Yun, King Gyeongjong, and later as Grand Queen Dowager Hyesun (혜순대왕대비) during the reign of her adoptive son, Yi Geum, King Yeongjo.

Biography

Early life

Born on 3 November 1687 during the thirteenth year of the reign of King Sukjong, the future queen was the second daughter of Kim Ju-shin, entitled as Internal Prince Gyeongeun (경은부원군), and his wife, Internal Princess Consort Garim (가림부부인) of the

Imcheon Jo clan Imcheon Jo clan () was one of the Korean clans. Their Bon-gwan was in Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province. According to the research in 2015, the number of Imcheon Jo clan was 14258. Their founder was Jo Su gang (). He was a 5th son of Jo Yu ...

. She had one older sister, a younger sister, and two younger brothers.

Marriage and Palace Life

The 15 year old Lady Kim married King Sukjong on 3 October 1702, following the death of

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 ...

and the execution of Jang Hui-bin in 1701. Technically, she was Sukjong's fourth queen consort, but is officially recorded as the third queen consort of King Sukjong. Jang Ok-jeong was the actual third queen consort, but was ousted upon Queen Inhyeon's reinstatement. In 1703, she adopted Royal Noble Consort Suk’s son, Prince Yeoning, who was known to be her favorite and whom she regarded as her own son. In 1711, she came down with

smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) c ...

. Choi Suk-bin ordered the

gungnyeo Gungnyeo (literally "palace women")Han, Hee-sook, pp. 141–146 is a Korean term referring to women waiting on the king and other royalty in traditional Korean society. It is short for "gungjung yeogwan", which translates as "a lady officer of t ...

to go out of the palace and look for remedies among the commoners to save the Queen, who in the end survived.

Life as Queen Dowager

Following Sukjong's death in 1720, she was honoured as Queen Dowager Hyesun (혜순왕대비). Although her family was Soron, she changed her faction to Noron after Sukjong's death. King Gyeongjong suffered ill health and was unable to produce an heir—or to do much of anything for that matter. During his reign, the Noron and Soron factions battled for power. The Soron faction were the ruling political faction and supported Gyeongjong, and the Noron faction supported his half-brother, Prince Yeoning. The Noron faction and his step-mother, Queen Dowager Hyesun pressured him to appointed Prince Yeoning as his heir. According to one theory,

Queen Seonui Queen Seonui (14 December 1705 – 12 August 1730) of the Hamjong Eo clan, was the second wife of Yi Yun, King Gyeongjong, the 20th Joseon monarch. She was Queen of Joseon from 1720 until her husband's death in 1724, after which she was honoure ...

opposed Prince Yeoning and planned secretly to adopt Prince Milpung (밀풍군, ''Milpung-Kun''), a great-grandson of

Crown Prince Sohyeon Crown Prince Sohyeon (소현세자, 昭顯世子, 5 February 1612 – 21 May 1645) was the first son of King Injo of Joseon Dynasty. Sohyeon was a hostage in the Manchu court at Shenyang, by the terms of the peace treaty concluded after War ...

King Injo Injo of Joseon (7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649), born Yi Jong, was the sixteenth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the grandson of King Seonjo and son of Prince Jeongwon. He was the king during the Later Jin invasion of Joseon, ...

's first son. Two months after the King's enthronement, Prince Yeoning was installed as Crown Prince Successor (''Wangseje,'' 왕세제, 王世弟). Following the death of her step-son, King Gyeongjong, and the accession of her adoptive son,

King Yeongjo Yeongjo of Joseon (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776), personal name Yi Geum (Korean: 이금, Hanja: 李昑), was the 21st monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Sukjong, by his concubine Royal Noble Consort Suk ...

, in 1724, she was honoured as Grand Queen Dowager Hyesun (혜순대왕대비). It’s said that during her time in the palace, Queen Dowager Hyesun wrote 3 books: ''Syeongyun Yusa'' (션균유사), ''Syeonbi Yusa'' (션비유사), and ''Neok Ayukjang'' (뉵아육장).

Later life

During King Yeongjo’s reign, the Queen Dowager received filial piety from her adopted son and his wife,

Queen Jeongseong Queen Jeongseong (정성왕후 서씨; 12 January 1693 – 3 April 1757), of the Daegu Seo clan, was the first wife of King Yeongjo of Joseon and the adoptive mother of Crown Prince Sado. Biography The future queen was born on 12 January 1693 ...

. On 3 April 1757, her adoptive daughter-in-law Queen Jeongseong had died at the age of 64 within Changdeok Palace. A month later, the Queen Dowager later died on 3 May 1757 in the thirty-third year reign of

Changdeok Palace Changdeokgung (Hangul: 창덕궁, Hanja: 昌德宮; literally, "The Palace of Prospering Virtue"), also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five G ...

, aged 69. She is buried in Myeongreung in Goyang city,

Gyeonggi Province Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...

, near the tombs of King Sukjong and his second Queen Consort,

. She was posthumously honored as Queen Inwon (인원왕후, 仁元王后). King Yeongjo’s son,

Crown Prince Sado Crown Prince Sado (Hangul: 사도세자, Hanja: 思悼世子; 13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762), personal name Yi Seon (Hangul: 이선, Hanja: 李愃), was the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon. His biological mother was Royal Noble ...

, from Royal Consort Yeong, had been said to have grieved immensely; causing his mental illness to worsen. This was because the crown prince was close to his legal grandmother, Queen Inwon, and legal mother, Queen Jeongseong. His actions eventually caused him to die in a rice chest in 1762; five years after the queen’s death.

Family

Parent * Father − Internal Prince Gyeongeun, Kim Ju-shin (경은부원군 김주신, 慶恩府院君金柱臣) (1661 - 1721) ** 1) Grandfather − Kim Il-jin (김일진, 金一振)(1633 - 1665) *** 2) Great-Grandfather − Kim Nam-jong (김남중, 金南重) (1596 - 1663) **** 3) Great-Great-Grandfather − Kim Su-ryeom (김수렴, 金守廉) (1574 - 1651) ***** 4) Great-Great-Great-Grandfather − Kim Myeong-won (김명원, 金命元) (1534 - 13 December 1602) ****** 5) Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather − Kim Man-gyun (김만균, 金萬鈞) ******* 6) Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather − Kim Cheon-ryeong (김천령, 金千齡) ****** 5) Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother − Lady Ahn 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 ...

(순흥 안씨) ***** 4) Great-Great-Great-Grandmother − 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 ...

(청주 한씨) **** 3) Great-Great-Grandmother − Lady Seong of the Changnyeong Seong clan (정경부인 창녕 성씨, 貞敬夫人昌寧成氏) (1567 - 1648) *** 2) 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); Kim Nam-jong's second wife *** 2) Step Great-Grandmother − Lady Min of the

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� ...

(여흥 민씨); Kim Nam-jong's first wife ** 1) Grandmother − Lady Jo the

Pungyang Jo clan The Pungyang Jo clan () is a Korean clan that traces its origin to Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. According to the 2015 Korean census, the clan has 124,262 members. Origin Jo Maeng (조맹, 趙孟), who was also known by the name of Ba-woo or Bau ...

(증 정경부인 풍양 조씨, 孺人贈貞敬夫人豊壤趙氏) (1633–1685) * Mother − Internal Princess Consort Garim of the

(가림부부인 임천 조씨, 嘉林府夫人林川趙氏) (1660–1731) ** 1) Grandmother − Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan (한산 이씨, 韓山李氏) ** 1) Grandfather − Jo Kyeong-chang (조경창, 趙景昌) (1634 - 1694) Sibling * Older sister − Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan ** ''Brother-in-law'' − Yi Deok-rin (이덕린, 李德鄰) * Younger sister − Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan (증 정부인 경주 김씨, 贈貞夫人慶州金氏) ** ''Brother-in-law'' − Yun Myeon-gyu (윤면교, 尹勉敎) (1691 - 1766) * Younger brother − Kim Hu-yeon (김후연, 金後衍) (1694 - 1735) ** ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Yun of the Haepyeong Yun clan (해평 윤씨, 海平尹氏) * Younger brother − Kim Gu-yeon (김구연, 金九衍) (1699 - 1743) ** ''Sister-in-law'' − Lady Park of the Bannam Park clan (반남 박씨, 潘南朴氏) * Younger half-brother − Kim Ga-yeon (김가연, 金可衍) (1703 - ?) ** ''Half sister-in-law'' − Lady Seong of the Changnyeong Seong clan (창녕 성씨, 昌寧成氏) * Younger half-brother − Kim Nae-yeon (김내연, 金乃衍) (1708 - ?) ** ''Half sister-in-law'' − Lady Kyeong of the Cheongju Kyeong clan (청주 경씨, 淸州慶氏) *Younger half-sister − Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan ** ''Half brother-in-law'' − Gu Hong-jwa (구홍좌, 具弘佐) Consort * Husband − Yi Sun, King Sukjong (숙종대왕) (1661–1720) ** Father-in-law − Yi Yeon, King Hyeonjeong (현종대왕) (1641–1674) ** Mother-in-law − Queen Myeongseong of the Cheongpung Kim clan (명성왕후 김씨) (1642–1684) * Sister-in-law −

Princess Myeongseon Princess Myeongseon (Hangul: 명선공주, Hanja: 明善公主; 28 December 1659 – 12 September 1673) was a Joseon Korean princess as the oldest child of Hyeonjong of Joseon and Queen Myeongseong. She was the oldest-surviving sister of Sukjong o ...

(명선공주) (1659–1673) * Sister-in-law −

Princess Myeonghye Princess Myeonghye (Hangul: 명혜공주, Hanja: 明惠公主; 12 January 1663 – 11 June 1673) was a Korean princess as the second daughter of Hyeonjong of Joseon and Queen Myeongseong. She married a son of Shin Jeong (신정), named Shin Yo-gy ...

(명혜공주) (1662–1673) * Sister-in-law − Yi On-hui, Princess Myeongan (명안공주) (1665–1687) Issue * Adoptive son − Yi Geum, King Yeongjo (영조대왕) (1694–1776)

Full posthumous name

She was given the posthumous title *Queen Inwon, ''Hyesun Jagyeong Heonryeol Gwangseon Hyeonik Kangseong Jeongdeok Suchang Yeongbok Yunghwa Hwijeong Jeongwoon Jeongui Jangmok Inwon Wanghu'' *혜순자경헌렬광선현익강성정덕수창영복융화휘정정운정의장목인원왕후 *惠順慈敬獻烈光宣顯翼康聖貞德壽昌永福隆化徽精正運定懿章穆仁元王后.

In popular culture

*Portrayed by

Kang Boo-ja Kang Boo-ja (born February 8, 1941) is a South Korean actress. Kang was studying Korean Language and Literature at Chungnam National University when she dropped out to pursue acting. She made her acting debut in 1962 and has been active on Korea ...

in the 1988 MBC TV series ''500 Years of Joseon: Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong.'' *Portrayed by

Kim Yong-rim Kim Yong-rim (born March 3, 1940) is a South Korean actress. Kim made her acting debut in 1961 and has since worked steadily in Korean dramas, notably ''Silver Grass'', for which she won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the MBC Drama Awards The ...

in the 1998 MBC TV series ''The Great's King Road'' *Portrayed by

Oh Yeon-seo Oh Yeon-seo (, born Oh Haet-nim []; June 22, 1987), is a South Korean actress, singer and model and is best known for her roles in television dramas '' My Husband Got a Family'' (2012), '' Jang Bo-ri is Here!'' (2014), ''Shine or Go Crazy'' (201 ...

in the 2010 MBC TV series '' Dong Yi''. * Portrayed by

Kim Hae-sook Kim Hae-sook (; born December 30, 1955) is a South Korean actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in ...

in the 2015 film '' The Throne''. * Portrayed by Nam Ki-ae in the 2019 SBS TV series '' Haechi''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inwon 1687 births 1757 deaths Royal consorts of the Joseon dynasty Korean queens consort 18th-century Korean women People from Seoul