Queen Sunwon (순원왕후; 8 June 1789 – 21 September 1857), of the

Andong Kim clan {{unreferenced, date=December 2014 The Andong Kim clan (Hangul: 안동 김씨, Hanja: 安東金氏) refers to two Korean clans. They were prominent yangban families during Korea's Joseon Dynasty originating from Andong, North Gyeongsang provinc ...

was the queen consort and wife of

Sunjo of Joseon Sunjo of Joseon (29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834, reigned 1800–1834) was the 23rd king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. Sunjo was the 2nd son of King Jeongjo with Royal Noble Consort Su, one of King Jeongjo's concubines. Biography He w ...

. She was known as Queen Dowager Myeonggyeong (명경왕대비) after her husband's death in 1834. She served as regent between 1834 and 1841 during her grandson,

Heonjong of Joseon Heonjong of Joseon (8 September 1827 – 25 July 1849) was the 24th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the grandson of King Sunjo of Joseon, Sunjo. His father was Crown Prince Hyomyeong (posthumously named Munjo of Joseon), who died at t ...

's reign, and in 1849–1852 during her adoptive son,

Cheoljong of Joseon Cheoljong of Joseon (25 July 1831 – 16 January 1864) was the 25th king of the Joseon, reigning from 1849 to 1864. After Heonjong of Joseon died without male heir in 1849, Queen Sunwon chose Cheoljong, aged 19, to be the next king, as the heir ...

's reign. She was posthumously called as Sunwon, the Respectful Empress (순원숙황후, 純元肅皇后).

Biography

Early life and marriage

The future Queen Consort was born into the

on 8 June 1789. She was the first daughter and third child of

Kim Jo-sun Kim Jo-Sun ( ko, 김조순, born June 13, 1975) is a female South Korean archer and Olympic champion. She competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where she won a gold medal with the South Korean archery team (with Kim Kyung-wook and Yo ...

and his wife, Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan. Through her mother, Lady Kim is a maternal descendant of

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 ...

Queen Insun 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 husba ...

’s younger brother, and

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 ...

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 ...

’s father. As her mother’s side was connected to the royal family since her maternal grandfather, Sim Geon-ji, was a 5th cousin of Sim Neung-geon (심능건, 沈能建; 1752 – 7 July 1817); who was the son-in-law of

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

as he was married to his daughter,

Princess Hwaryeong Princess Hwaryeong (화령옹주; 2 March 1753 – 3 September 1821) was a royal princess of the Joseon Dynasty and the eleventh daughter of Yeongjo of Joseon. Life Princess Hwaryeong was born on 2 March 1753 as the eleventh daughter of King Ye ...

. Sim Geon-ji was also close to Sim Hwan-ji (심환지, 沈煥之; 1730 – 18 October 1802); who was a member of the Noron Byeokpa faction. Because of this, Sim Hwan-ji was able to interfere with the final selection of who could become Queen Consort. As Lady Kim was from the Andong Kim clan, which was under the leadership of her father

, who was also a member of the Noron faction and who served as

Jeongjo of Joseon Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800), personal name Yi San (Korean: 이산; Hanja: 李祘), sometimes called Jeongjo the Great (Korean: 정조대왕; Hanja: 正祖大王), was the 22nd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. ...

's closest aide, Lady Kim emerged as a powerful soon-to-be queen when she was selected among the young girls.

Life as Queen Consort and Dowager

In 1802 at the age of 13, Lady Kim married King Sunjo and became the Queen of Joseon. The Queen eventually bore 5 children; the future Heonjong in 1809,

Princess Myeongon Princess Myeongon (Hangul: 명온공주, Hanja: 明溫公主; 1810 - 1832) was a Joseon Dynasty princess, as the eldest daughter of King Sunjo and Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clan. Biography She was born in 1810, as the eldest daughter and s ...

in 1810,

Princess Bokon Princess Bokon (Hangul: 복온공주, Hanja: 福溫公主; 26 October 1818 - 12 May 1832) was a Korean princess, as the second daughter of Sunjo of Joseon and Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clan. Biography She was born on October 26, 1818 as the ...

in 1818, and

Princess Deokon Princess Deokon (Hangul: 덕온공주, Hanja: 德溫公主; 1822 - 1844) was the youngest daughter of Sunjo of Joseon and Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clan. She was the last Princess of Korea born to a King and Queen. Biography The Princess wa ...

in 1828—with only one son dying in infancy in 1820. When her husband died in 1834, she became regent for her eight-year-old grandson, King Heonjong and the political power remained in the hands of her family, the

until 1840, when it passed to the family of Heonjong's mother,

Queen Sinjeong Queen Sinjeong (Hangul: 신정왕후, Hanja: 神貞王后; 21 January 1809 – 4 June 1890), also known as Queen Dowager Hyoyu (효유왕대비), of the Pungyang Jo clan, was the only wife of Crown Prince Hyomyeong and mother of Heonjong of Joseo ...

, 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 B ...

, following the

Catholic persecution of 1839 The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. Prior to the death of her grandson in 1849 and becoming regent once again, the Queen had outlived her children as one of her remaining daughters,

, died in 1844. The Queen eventually became regent again during King Cheoljong’s reign in 1849. With her influence, she had the king marry a daughter from her clan in 1851, who was known as

Queen Cheorin Queen Cheorin (27 April 1837 – 12 June 1878), of the Andong Kim clan, was queen consort of Joseon by marriage to Cheoljong of Joseon, King Cheoljong. She was known as Queen Dowager Myeongsun (명순대비) after the death of her husband and du ...

, and ruled as regent until his fourth year of reign in 1852. Queen Sunwon later died in

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 ...

, on 21 September 1857. The Queen's clan power later diminished when Queen Shinjeong adopted Grand Internal Prince Heungseon’s son,

Yi Myeong-bok Gojong (; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) was the monarch of Korea from 1864 to 1907. He reigned as the last King of Joseon from 1864 to 1897, and as the first Emperor of Korea from 1897 until his forced abdication in 1907. He is known ...

, as her own to become the next king. The Queen Dowager stepped down and gave all power to the Grand Internal Prince Heungseon to help his son as regent; thus removing all power of the

’s influence as well as the

in the end. Queen Sunwon is buried with her husband in Inreung located in

Naegok-dong Naegok-dong is a '' dong'', neighbourhood of Seocho-gu in Seoul, South Korea. Education * High Schools ** Daniel High School * Elementary Schools ** Naegok Elementary School ** Eonnam Elementary School See also *Administrative divisions of ...

Seocho District Seocho District () is one of the 25 ''Administrative divisions of South Korea#Gu (District), gu'' (local government districts) which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seocho is generally referred to as a part of Gangnam (Seoul), Greater Gan ...

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

Family

* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Saeng-hae (김생해, 金生海) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Geuk-hyo (김극효, 金克孝) (16 September 1542 - 3 February 1618) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Jeong of the Dongrae Jeong clan (본관: 동래정씨) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Sang-gwan (김상관, 金尙觀) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Gwang-chan (김광찬, 金光燦) (1597 - 24 February 1668) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Kim of the Yeonan Kim clan (본관: 연안 김씨) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Su-hang (김수항, 金壽恒) (1629 - 9 April 1689) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Na of the Anjeong Na clan (본관: 안정 나씨) * Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Chang-jib (김창집, 金昌集) (1648 - 2 May 1722) * Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Park (박씨) * Great-Great-Grandfather ** Kim Je-gyeom (김제겸, 金濟謙) * Great-Grandfather ** Kim Dal-haeng (김달행, 金達行) * Grandfather ** Kim Yi-jong (김이중, 金履中); served as Prime Minister * 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 ...

(본관: 평산 신씨, 平山申氏) * Father **

(김조순, 金祖淳) (1765–1832) * Mother ** Internal Princess Consort Cheongyang of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청양부부인 심씨, 靑陽府夫人沈氏) (1766 - 1828) *** Grandfather: Sim Geon-ji (심건지, 沈健之) *** 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); Sim Geon-ji's second wife *** Step-grandmother: Lady Song 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. ...

(증 정경부인 은진 송씨) * Siblings ** Older brother: Kim Yu-geun (김유근, 金逌根) (March 1785 - July 1840); became the adopted son of Kim Yong-sun (김용순, 金龍淳) and Lady Hong of the Pungsan Hong clan (정경부인 풍산 홍씨, 貞敬夫人豊山洪氏) ** Older brother: Kim Won-geun (김원근, 金元根) (1786 - 1832) ** Younger brother:

Kim Jwa-geun Kim Jwa-geun () (1797 – 5 June 1869) was a Korean political figure from the Andong Kim clan, who held a number of high-ranking government positions in the late Joseon period, including Chief State Councillor at King Cheoljong's court. He wa ...

(김좌근, 金左根) (1797–1869) *** Sister-in-law: Lady Yun (윤씨, 尹氏) **** Adoptive nephew: Kim Byeong-gi (김병기, 金炳冀) (1818 - 1875) ***** Adoptive niece-in-law: Lady Nam (남씨, 南氏); Nam Gu-sun's daughter ***** Adoptive grand-nephew: Kim Yong-gyun (김용균, 金用均) ** Younger sister: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan *** Brother-in-law: Nam Gu-sun (남구순, 南久淳) **** Nephew: Nam Byeong-cheol (남병철, 南秉哲) (1817 - 1863) **** Niece: Lady Nam (남씨, 南氏) ** Younger sister: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan *** Brother-in-law: Yi Gyeom-jae (이겸재, 李謙在) ** Younger sister: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan *** Brother-in-law: Yi Geung-woo (이긍우, 李肯愚) ** Younger brother: Kim Son-geun (김손근, 金遜根) * Husband ** Yi Gong, King Sunjo (조선 순조) (29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834) *** Father-in-law: Yi San, King Jeongjo (조선 정조) (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800) *** Mother-in-law: Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan (수빈 박씨) (1 June 1770 – 6 February 1823) **** Legal mother-in-law: Queen Hyoui of the Cheongpung Kim clan (효의왕후 김씨) (5 January 1754 – 10 April 1821) * Issue ** Son:

Crown Prince Hyomyeong Crown Prince Hyomyeong (18 September 1809 – 25 June 1830), born Yi Yeong, and posthumously honored as King Munjo, was a member of the Joseon Dynasty. Life and death The prince was the eldest son of King Sunjo, husband of Queen Sinjeong and ...

(효명세자) (18 September 1809 – 25 June 1830) *** Daughter-in-law: Crown Princess Jo of the

(신정익황후 조씨) (21 January 1809 – 4 June 1890) **** Grandson: King Heonjong of Joseon (헌종) (8 September 1827 – 25 July 1849) ***** Granddaughter-in-law:

Queen Hyohyeon Queen Hyohyeon (27 April 1828 – 18 October 1843) (Hangul: 효현왕후 김씨, Hanja: 孝顯王后金氏) of the Andong Kim clan, was the wife and the queen consort of King Heonjong of Joseon, the 24th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. She was p ...

of the

(효현왕후 김씨) (27 April 1828 – 18 October 1843) ***** Granddaughter-in-law:

Queen Hyojeong Queen Hyojeong (6 March 1831 – 2 January 1904; 효정왕후 홍씨) of the Namyang Hong clan, was the second wife and queen consort of King Heonjong of Joseon, the 24th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. After his death in 1849, she was known as ...

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 ...

(효정왕후 홍씨) (6 March 1831 – 2 January 1904) **** Adoptive grandson: Yi Hui, Emperor Gojong of Korea (8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) (광무태황제) ***** Adoptive granddaughter-in-law: Min Ja-yeong, Empress Myeongseong 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� ...

(17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895) (명성태황후 민씨) ** Daughter:

(명온공주) (1810–1832) *** Son-in-law: Kim Hyeon-geun (김현근, 金賢根) of the Andong Kim clan (1810 - 1868) **** Granddaughter: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (김씨, 金氏); died prematurely **** Unnamed grandchild; died prematurelyAccording to the tomb of Princess Myeong-on, written by Hong Seok-ju, it is recorded that she was pregnant twice, but lost both of them prematurely. **** Adoptive grandson: Kim Byeong-chan (김병찬, 金炳瓚) ** Daughter:

(복온공주) (1818–1832) *** Son-in-law: Kim Byeong-ju (김병주, 金炳疇) of the Andong Kim clan (1819 - 1853) ** Unnamed son (1820 - 1820) ** Daughter:

(덕온공주) (1822–1844) *** Son-in-law: Yun Ui-seon (윤의선, 尹宜善) (? - 1887) **** Adoptive grandson: Yun Yong-gu (윤용구, 尹用求) ** Adoptive son: King Cheoljong of Joseon (철종대왕) (25 July 1831 – 16 January 1864) *** Adoptive daughter-in-law: Queen Cheorin of the Andong Kim clan (철인왕후 김씨) (27 April 1837 – 12 June 1878) **** Adoptive grandson: Prince Royal Yi Yung-jun (원자 이융준) (22 November 1858 – 25 May 1859)

Popular culture

* Portrayed by

Han Soo-yeon Han Soo-yeon ( born April 24, 1983) is a South Korean actress best known for her roles in Korean dramas, '' Pure Love'' (2013) and ''Love in the Moonlight'' (2016). Early life and education Han was born in South Korea, and moved with her mother ...

in the 2016

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 '' Moonlight Drawn by Clouds''. *Portrayed by

Bae Jong-ok Bae Jong-ok (born May 13, 1964) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a TV actress after she was recruited by KBS, and has since been active in both film and television. While concurrently maintaining an acting career, Bae completed a doct ...

in the 2020–2021

tvN TVN may refer to: * TVN (Australian TV channel), a former horse racing channel * Televisión Nacional de Chile, a public broadcaster * TVN (Indonesia), a former television station; predecessor of Rajawali Televisi * TVN (Norway), or TVNorge, a comm ...

TV series '' Mr. Queen''.

References

External links

* http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/korea_heads.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Sunwon, Queen 19th-century Korean people 1789 births 19th-century women rulers 1857 deaths Regents of Korea Gim clan of Andong Royal consorts of the Joseon dynasty Korean queens consort 19th-century Korean women Korean posthumous empresses