Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king 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 r ...

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...

from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging

Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a Religious Confucianism, religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, ...

and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, political discord and incompetent leadership during the

Japanese invasions of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

marred his later years.Seonjo
at

Doosan Encyclopedia ''Doosan Encyclopedia'' is a Korean language encyclopedia published by Doosan Group, Doosan Donga (두산동아). The encyclopedia is based on the ''Dong-A Color Encyclopedia'' (동아원색세계대백과사전), which comprises 30 volumes and ...

Biography

Background

King Seonjo was born Yi Yeon in 1552 in

Hanseong 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 ...

(today, Seoul), capital of Korea, as the third son of Prince Deokheung (덕흥군), himself son of

King Jungjong Jungjong of Joseon (16 April 1488 – 29 November 1544), personal name Yi Yeok (Korean: 이역; Hanja: 李懌), firstly titled Grand Prince Jinseong (Korean: 진성대군; Hanja: 晉城大君), was the 11th ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. ...

and Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan Ahn clan (창빈 안씨). On his mother’s side, Yi Yeon was also a great-great-great-grandson of Princess Jeongui, the daughter 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 ...

and

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 ...

. Princess Jeongui’s granddaughter, Lady Ahn of the Juksan Ahn clan, married Jeong Sang-jo (정상조, 鄭尙祖), his great-grandfather and son of

Jeong In-ji Jeong In-ji (; December 28, 1396 – November 26, 1478) was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar, historian who served as Vice Minister of Education or Deputy Chief Scholar (Head of Office for Special Advisors) during the reign of King Sejong the Gre ...

through his second wife, Lady Yi of the Gyeongju Yi clan. As well as Jeong Sang-jo being the younger half-brother of

Jo Gwang-jo Jo Gwangjo (, 23 August 1482 – 10 January 1520), also often called by his pen name Jeong-am (), was Korean Neo-Confucian scholar who pursued radical reforms during the reign of Jungjong of Joseon in the early 16th century. He was framed with ...

. He was given the title of Prince Haseong, and was eventually adopted by Queen Insun. When King Myeongjong died young without an heir, Prince Haseong was the next in the line of succession. Then, by decision of the royal court, he was crowned king in 1567 at the age of 16.Seonjo
at Encyclopedia of Korean Culture His father had the status of ''Grand Internal Prince'' (대원군, ''Daewongun'', 'Great Prince of the Court).Daewongun
at

. An honorary title given to the father of the king who is not a direct heir from the previous king.

Early Reign (1567–1575)

King Seonjo focused on the improvement of the lives of the common people, as well as rebuilding the nation after the political corruption during the chaotic reign of

Yeonsangun Yeonsangun of Joseon or Prince Yeonsan of Joseon (23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506), personal name Yi Yung ( Korean: 이융; Hanja: 李㦕), was the tenth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon's ...

and

. He encouraged

Sarim scholars The Sarim (sometimes Saarim), or "forest of scholars", was a powerful faction of literati that dominated Middle and Late Joseon politics in Korea. History of Sarim faction Early beginning The philosophical lineage of the Sarim scholars origina ...

, who had been persecuted by entrenched aristocrats in four different purges between 1498 and 1545 during reign of Yeonsangun and Jungjong. Seonjo continued the political reforms of King Myeongjong, and put many famous Confucian scholars, including

Yi Hwang Yi Hwang (January 3, 1502– January 3, 1571) was the most important Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. He was a figure of the Neo-Confucian literati, established the Yeongnam School and set up the Dosan S ...

Yi I Yi Yi (; December 26, 1536 – February 27, 1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. Yi I is often referred to by his pen name Yulgok (" Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianJeong Cheol Jeong Cheol (Hangul: 정철, Hanja: 鄭澈; 18 December 1536 – 7 February 1594) was a Korean statesman and poet. He used the pen-names Gyeham (계함) and Songgang (송강), and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang. He was expelled by the ...

, and

Yu Seong-ryong Ryu Seong-ryong (November 1542 – May 1607), was a scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He held many responsibilities including the Chief State Councillor position in 1592. He was a member of the "Eastern faction", and a follower o ...

, in office. Seonjo also reformed the civil service examination system, particularly the civil official qualification exam. The previous exam was mainly concerned with literature, not with politics or history. The king himself ordered the system to be reformed by increasing the importance of these other subjects. He also restored the reputations of executed scholars such as

, who died in Third Literati Purge of 1519, and denounced the accomplishments of corrupt aristocrats, notably

Nam Gon Nam Gon ( ko, 남곤, 南袞; 147110 March 1527) was a Korean politician, poet, Neo-Confucian scholar, thinker, writer and Prime Minister during the Joseon Dynasty. His nicknames were Jijeong (지정, 止亭), Jijokdang (지족당, 知足堂) a ...

, who instigated the purge under Jungjong and contributed greatly to the corruption of the era. These acts earned the king the respect of the general populace, and the country enjoyed a brief era of peace.The Academy of Korean Studies, ''Korea through the Ages Vol. 1'' p189-p195, The Editor Publishing Co., Seoul, 2005.

Political division and East-West feud (1575–1592)

Among the scholars King Seonjo called to the government were

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 ...

and Kim Hyowon. Sim was a relative of the queen and heavily conservative. Kim was the leading figure of the new generation of officials and called for liberal reforms. The scholars who supported King Seonjo began to split into two factions, headed by Sim and Kim. Members of the two factions even lived in the same neighborhood; Sim's faction lived on west side of the city while Kim's followers gathered on the east side. Consequently, the two factions began to be called the Western Faction and the

Easterners The Easterners () were a political faction of the Joseon dynasty. This faction appeared during the reign of Seonjo of Joseon in sixteenth-century Korea. Originating from friends of Gim Hyowon, they soon encompassed most of the disciples of Jo ...

; this two-faction based political system lasted 200 years and later helped bring about the collapse of the Joseon dynasty. At first the Westerners earned the favor of the king, since Sim was related to the queen and also had larger support from wealthy nobles. However, their attitudes on reformation and Sim's indecisiveness helped the Easterners take power, and the Westerners fell out of favor. Reforms were accelerated during the first period of influence of the Easterners, but then many Easterners began to urge others to slow down the reforms. The Easterners were once again divided into the Northern and the Southern Faction.

led the Southern faction while the Northerners divided even further after arguments over many issues; the greater Northern faction came to become extremely liberal in the scope of their reform goals, while the “lesser” Northern faction was less reformist but still more open to reform than the Southerners. The political divisions caused the nation to be weakened, since the size of the military was also one of the issues on the reform agenda.

Yi I Yi Yi (; December 26, 1536 – February 27, 1584) was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. Yi I is often referred to by his pen name Yulgok (" Chestnut valley"). He was also a politicianJurchens Jurchen (Manchu: ''Jušen'', ; zh, 女真, ''Nǚzhēn'', ) is a term used to collectively describe a number of East Asian Tungusic-speaking peoples, descended from the Donghu people. They lived in the northeast of China, later known as Manch ...

and

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

. However, both factions rejected Yi's suggestions, and the size of the army was decreased further since many believed the peaceful period would last. The Jurchens and Japanese used this opportunity to expand their influence in

East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea ...

, resulting in the Seven-Year War, and the foundation of the

Qing Dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

in China, both of which would lead to devastation on the Korean Peninsula. King Seonjo faced many difficulties dealing with both new threats, sending many skilled military commanders to the northern front, while contending with Japanese leaders

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Cour ...

and

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fello ...

in the south. However, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, the Japanese soon proved themselves to be the greater threat; and many Koreans began to fear that their country would be taken over by the Japanese. Many officials concerned with the defense of the kingdom urged the king to send delegates to Hideyoshi, their major purpose being to find out whether Hideyoshi was preparing for invasion or not. However, the two government factions could not even agree on this issue of national importance; so a compromise was made and one delegate from each faction was sent to Hideyoshi. When they returned to Korea, their reports only caused more controversy and confusion.

Hwang Yun-gil Hwang Yun-gil (; 1536–?), also known as Hwang Yun'gil, was a Korean diplomat and ambassador. He was a member of the Western faction in the Joseon court. He represented Joseon interests in a ''tongsinsa'' (diplomatic mission or corresponding env ...

, of the Westerners faction, reported that Hideyoshi was raising huge numbers of troops,Hwang Yun-gil
at

but Kim Seong-Il, of the Easterners faction, told the king that he thought these large forces were not for the war against Korea, since he was trying to complete his reforms quickly to prevent lawlessness and quash the bandits now roaming the countryside.Kim Seong-il
at

Since the Easterners had the bigger voice in government at the time, Hwang's reports were ignored and Seonjo decided not to prepare for war, even though the attitude of Hideyoshi in his letter to Seonjo clearly showed his interest in the conquest of Asia.Japanese invasions of Korea 1592–1598
at

Six-Year War (1592–1598)

In 1591, after the delegates had returned from Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi sent his own delegates to visit King Seonjo, and asked permission to pass through the Korean Peninsula to invade China, in effect declaring war against the Joseon kingdom. The king was surprised; after refusing the Japanese request he sent a letter to

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the Capital city, capital of the China, People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's Li ...

to alert the Chinese that the Japanese were actually preparing for full-scale war against the Korean-Chinese alliance. He also ordered the construction of many forts in the coastal regions and sent generals

Sin Rip Sin Rip (sometimes romanized as Shin Rip or Shin Rib) (Hangul: 신립, Hanja: 申砬; 16 November 1546 – 7 June 1592) was a Korean general and a member of the Pyeongsan Sin clan. He passed the Korean national military examinations at the age o ...

and

Yi Il Yi Il (; 1538 – 1601) was a Korean military official of the mid-Joseon Period. During the reign of Seonjo of Joseon, he made a great contribution to the conquest of the Jurchen people in the north. When Imjin War occurred, he was appointed Mob ...

to the southern coast to prepare for war. While the Koreans were busy making their preparations, the Japanese manufactured muskets for many of their soldiers, mobilized warriors from across the entire country.Japanese invasions of Korea 1592–1598
at Encyclopedia of Korean Culture On April 13, 1592, about 700 Japanese ships under

Konishi Yukinaga Konishi Yukinaga (小西行長, baptized under the personal name Agostinho (Portuguese for Augustine); 1558 – November 6, 1600) was a Kirishitan daimyō under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is notable for his role as the vanguard of the Japane ...

invaded Korea. Konishi easily burned Fort Busan and Fort Donglae, killed commanders

Jeong Bal Navy captain Jeong Bal (정발, 鄭撥, 1553–1592) was a Joseon dynasty navy captain who commanded a garrison at Busan port. Death He was killed in action in 1592, during the Siege of Busan, while defending the garrison from elements of the ...

and

Song Sang-hyeon Song Sang-hyeon (; 1551 – 23 May 1592) was a civil minister, writer, and general during the Joseon dynasty. He was the prefect of Dongnae during the Siege of Dongnae, one of the first battles of the Imjin War. He led troops against Japanese ...

and marched northward. On the next day even more troops under

Katō Kiyomasa was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Azuchi–Momoyama and Edo periods. His court title was Higo-no-kami. His name as a child was ''Yashamaru'', and first name was ''Toranosuke''. He was one of Hideyoshi's Seven Spears of Shizugatake. Biography ...

and

Kuroda Nagamasa was a ''daimyō'' during the late Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods. He was the son of Kuroda Kanbei, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's chief strategist and adviser. Biography His childhood name was Shojumaru (松寿丸). In 1577, when Nagamasa was ...

landed, also marching toward Hanyang. A huge Japanese fleet under

Todo Takatora Todo may refer to: * Todo Bichig, Kalmyk ‘Clear Script’ * To-do list, a time management implementation * TODO (tag), a computer programming comment tag * ''Todo'' (album) Tōdō may refer to: * Tōkyūjutsu () or Tōdō (), a Japanese divina ...

and

Kuki Yoshitaka (1542 – November 17, 1600) was a naval commander during Japan's Sengoku Period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was also the ninth headmaster of the Kuki family's school of martial arts, Kukishin-ryū and thus a very sk ...

supported them from the sea. General Yi Il faced Katō Kiyomasa at the Battle of Sangju, which was won by Japanese. Then Yi Il met General Sin Rip, but their combined forces were also defeated at the

Battle of Chungju The Battle of Chungju or the Battle of Tangeumdae was the last battle of the Chungju Campaign fought between the Koreans and Japanese during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. Chungju is located just south of the Han River and Seoul, Korea ...

by Konishi Yukinaga. Then Seonjo appointed General Kim Myeong-won as Commander-in-Chief and Field Marshal, and ordered him to defend the capital. Then the king moved to

Pyongyang Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populat ...

, since the Japanese began to seize the capital. He later moved even further north to the border city of

Uiju Ŭiju County is a kun, or county, in North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The county has an area of 420 km², and a population of 110,018 (2008 data). Name Ŭiju appears as Uiju in South Korea's Revised Romanization and as Yizhou in Chinese ...

just before the fall of Pyongyang. While the king was absent from the capital, many people who had lost hope in the government plundered the palace and burned many public buildings. This resulted in even more damage than that perpetrated by the Japanese after they had captured the city. Although the army continued to lose men and battles, the navy successfully cut the Japanese supply line from the sea; Admiral

Yi Sun-sin Admiral Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral and military general famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty. Over the course of his career, Admiral Yi foug ...

defeated the Japanese fleet several times and did much damage to the supply ships. With the navy blocking supplies, Chinese forces arrived and began to push the Japanese southward, eventually retaking Pyongyang. Konishi Yukinaga successfully blocked a Chinese advance at

Battle of Byeokjegwan The Battle of Byeokjegwan was a military engagement fought on 27 February 1593 between the armies of the Ming dynasty led by Li Rusong and Japanese forces under Kobayakawa Takakage. It resulted in Japanese victory and Ming retreat. Background A ...

, and again tried to push the Koreans northward, but the crucial blow came at the Battle of Hangju, where General Gwon Yul defeated the Japanese with a much smaller force. The Japanese then decided to enter into peace negotiations, while both sides continued fighting. During these negotiations Koreans retook Seoul, but the palaces had all been burnt to the ground, so Seonjo repaired one of the old royal family's houses and renamed it

Deoksugung Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by members of Korea's Royal Family during the Joseon monarchy until the annexation of Korea by Japan in ...

, making it one of the official palaces. The peace negotiations between the Chinese and Japanese ended unsuccessfully, due to a lack of understanding between the two sides and misrepresentation of the Koreans. The Japanese again invaded Korea in 1597; but this time all three nations were ready for war, and the Japanese were not able to advance as easily as in 1592. The Japanese tried to take Hanyang from both land and sea routes. At first the plan seemed to work well when Todo Takatora defeated Admiral

Won Gyun Won Gyun (; 12 February 1540 – 27 August 1597) was a Korean general and admiral during the Joseon Dynasty. He is best known for his campaigns against the Japanese during Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea. Won was a member of Wonju Won family, ...

at the Battle of Chilchonryang, but the plan was abandoned when the Korean navy under Admiral Yi Sun-sin defeated the Japanese fleet under Todo Takatora in the

Battle of Myeongnyang In the Battle of Myeongnyang, on October 26, 1597, the Korean Joseon Kingdom's navy, led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin, fought the Japanese navy in the Myeongnyang Strait, near Jindo Island, off the southwest corner of the Korean peninsula. Wit ...

with only 13 ships. The battle effectively ended the war, and in 1598 the Japanese at last withdrew from Korea after the sudden death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The

Battle of Noryang The Battle of Noryang, the last major battle of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), was fought between the Japanese navy and the combined fleets of the Joseon Kingdom and the Ming dynasty. It took place in the early morning of 16 ...

marked the end of the war, with the last Japanese units under Konishi Yukinaga leaving Korea.

Later days (1598–1608)

Despite all the efforts put in by Seonjo during the war, such as establishing army training facilities and reforming taxation laws – people were awarded with increase of social class, exemption of labor or crimes in return for payment of tax in rice – the war left a devastated land and starving people. After the war, his wish of reconstructing the nation was impeded by the political turmoil caused by quarrelling political factions and famine. King Seonjo lost hope in governing the nation, and let his Crown Prince

Gwanghaegun Gwanghae-gun or Prince Gwanghae (4 June 1575 – 7 August 1641), personal name Yi Hon (Hangul: 이혼, Hanja: 李琿), was the 15th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. As he was deposed in a coup d'état, he did not receive a temple name. ...

rule in his place. However, when the queen gave birth to a son (Gwanghaegun was the second son of Lady Kim, the king's concubine), the succession also became a matter of contention. King Seonjo died in 1608, while political division and outside threats still darkened the skies over Korea.

Family

* * Grandfather ** King Jungjong of Joseon (16 April 1488 – 29 November 1544) (조선 중종) * Grandmother ** Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan Ahn clan (2 September 1499 – 7 November 1549) (창빈 안씨) * Father **Biological: Yi Cho, Grand Internal Prince Deokheung (2 April 1530 – 14 June 1559) (이초 덕흥대원군) **Adoptive: King Myeongjong (명종대왕) (3 July 1532 - 2 August 1567) * Mother **Biological: Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong of the Hadong Jeong clan (23 September 1522 – 24 June 1567) (하동부대부인 정씨) ***Maternal Grandfather: Jeong Se-Ho (1486 – 1563) (정세호, 鄭世虎) ***Maternal Grandmother: Lady Yi of the Gwangju Yi clan (광주 이씨) **Adoptive: Queen Insun of the Cheongsong Sim clan (인순왕후 심씨) (7 June 1532 - 12 February 1575) *Consorts and their Respective Issue(s): # Queen Uiin of the Bannam Park clan (5 May 1555 – 5 August 1600) (의인왕후 박씨) — No issue. # Queen Inmok of the Yeonan Kim clan (15 December 1584 – 13 August 1632) (인목왕후 김씨) ##

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 w ...

(27 June 1603 – 8 September 1685) (정명공주), ''Eleventh daughter'' ##''Fourteenth daughter (1604 - 1604)'' ## Yi Ui, Grand Prince Yeongchang (12 April 1606 – 19 March 1614) (이의 영창대군), ''Thirteenth son'' # Royal Noble Consort Gong of the

Gimhae Kim clan The Gimhae Kim clan () is one of the Korean clans. This clan traces their origin to Suro of Geumgwan Gaya. King Suro was the founder of Gaya confederacy, and his descendant, Kim Yu-sin is renowned for unifying the Silla polity. It was considered ...

(16 November 1553 – 13 June 1577) (공빈 김씨) ## Yi Jin, Prince Imhae (20 September 1572 – 3 June 1609) (이진 임해군), ''First son'' ## Yi Hon, Crown Prince Gwanghae (4 June 1575 – 7 August 1641) (이혼 광해세자), ''Second son'' # Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Kim clan (1555 – 1613) (인빈 김씨) ## Yi Seong, Prince Uian (1577 – 24 February 1588) (이성 의안군), ''Third son'' ## Yi Ho, Prince Shinseong (6 January 1579 – 8 December 1592) (이후 신성군), ''Fourth son'' ## Yi Bu, Prince Jeongwon (2 August 1580 – 29 December 1619) (이부 정원군), ''Fifth son'' ## Princess Jeongsin (1583 – 1653) (정신옹주), ''First daughter'' ## Princess Jeonghye (1584 – 1638) (정혜옹주), ''Second daughter'' ## Princess Jeongsuk (1587 – 6 November 1627) (정숙옹주), ''Third daughter'' ## Yi Gwang, Prince Uichang (1589 – 1645) (이광 의창군), ''Eighth son'' ## Princess Jeongan (1590 – 1660) (정안옹주), ''Fifth daughter'' ## Princess Jeonghwi (1593 – 15 July 1653) (정휘옹주), ''Sixth daughter'' # Royal Noble Consort Sun of the

(순빈 김씨) (? - 1647) ## Yi Bu, Prince Sunhwa (10 October 1580 – 18 March 1607) (이부 순화군), ''Sixth son'' # Royal Noble Consort Jeong 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� ...

(1567 – 1626) (정빈 민씨) ## Yi Gong, Prince Inseong (29 October 1588 – 20 May 1628) (이공 인성군), ''Seventh son'' ## Princess Jeongin (1590 – 10 January 1656) (정인옹주), ''Fourth daughter'' ## Princess Jeongseon (1 April 1594 – 1 August 1614) (정선옹주), ''Seventh daughter'' ## Princess Jeonggeun (1601 – 11 July 1613) (정근옹주), Tenth ''daughter'' ## Yi Yeong, Prince Inheung (1604 – 1651) (이영 인흥군), ''Twelfth son'' # Royal Noble Consort Jeong 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 ...

(1563 – 1638) (정빈 홍씨) ## Princess Jeongjeong (1595 – 1666) (정정옹주), ''Eighth daughter'' ## Yi Ju, Prince Gyeongchang (23 September 1596 – 16 January 1644) (이주 경창군), ''Ninth son'' # Royal Noble Consort On 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 ...

(1581 – 1664) (온빈 한씨) ## Yi Je, Prince Heungan (1598 - 1624) (이제 흥안군), ''Tenth son'' ## Yi Reuk, Prince Gyeongpyeong (June 1600 – 28 November 1673) (이륵 경평군), ''Eleventh son'' ## Princess Jeonghwa (1604 – 1667) (정화옹주), ''Twelfth daughter'' ## Yi Gye, Prince Yeongseon (21 January 1607 – 24 October 1649) (이계 영선군), ''Fourteenth son'' # Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeonil Jeong clan (귀인 정씨) (1557 - 1579) # Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Dongrae Jeong clan (숙의 정씨) (1564 - 1580) # Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Kim clan (숙의 김씨) # Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Han clan (숙의 한씨) # Deposed Royal Consort So-won of the Yun clan (폐 소원 윤씨) (? - 1632) # Court Lady Kim (상궁 김씨) (? - 1623)No issue # Unknown ## ''Fifteenth son (? - 1603)died prematurely '' ## ''Ninth daughter (1596 - 1601)'' ## ''Thirteenth Daughter (? - 1603)''

Modern depictions

*Portrayed by Kim Sung-ok in the 1995

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, ...

TV series ''

West Palace ''West Palace'' () is a 1995 South Korean television series starring Lee Young-ae, Kim Kyu-chul and Lee Bo-hee. It aired on KBS2 from July 7 to December 26, 1995, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:40 for 52 episodes. Synopsis The series is based on th ...

''. *Portrayed by Park Chan-hwan in the 1999-2000 MBC TV series '' Hur Jun''. *Portrayed by Im Dong-jin in the 2003 SBS ''The King's Woman''. *Portrayed by

Choi Cheol-ho Choi Cheol-ho (; born 2 March 1970) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame after appearing in the hit drama ''Queen of Housewives'' (also known as ''My Wife is a Superwoman'', 2009). Other notable roles include King Seonjo in '' The Immortal ...

in the 2004-2005

KBS1 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, ...

TV series ''

Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin ''Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin'' (; lit. "The Immortal Yi Sun-sin") is a South Korean television series based on the life of Yi Sun-sin, starring Kim Myung-min in the title role. It aired on KBS1 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 from September ...

''. *Portrayed by

Kim Chang-wan Kim Chang Wan (born February 22, 1954) is a South Korean singer, composer, musician, actor, host, radio DJ and writer. Career Sanulrim Kim Chang-wan, along with his younger brothers Kim Chang-hoon and Kim Chang-ik, began composing music d ...

in the 2010 film ''

Blades of Blood ''Blades of Blood'' (; lit. "Like the Moon Escaping from the Clouds") is a 2010 South Korean action drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik. The film is based on Park Heung-yong's graphic novel ''Like the Moon Escaping from the Clouds''. Plot In the ...

''. *Portrayed by

Jeon No-min Jun No-min (born Jun Jae Yong on August 28, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Among his recent roles were the villainous Hwarang warrior Seolwon in ''Queen Seondeok'', and the fictional independence fighter Damsari in ''Bridal Mask''. Filmograph ...

in the 2013 MBC TV series ''

Hur Jun, The Original Story ''Hur Jun, The Original Story'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series about the life of Heo Jun, a commoner who rose up the ranks to become a royal physician in Joseon (he used the pen name "Guam"). It aired on MBC from March 18 to Septembe ...

''. *Portrayed by

Jeong Bo-seok Jeong Bo-seok (; born 1961) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Television series Film Television show Theater Awards and nominations References External linksJung Bo-seok Fan Cafeat Daum * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jeon ...

in the 2013 MBC TV series '' Goddess of Fire''. *Portrayed by

Lee Sung-jae Lee Sung-jae (born August 23, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Among his notable works include the films '' Art Museum by the Zoo'', ''Attack the Gas Station'', ''Barking Dogs Never Bite'', and '' Kick the Moon'', as well as the television series ...

in the 2014 KBS2 TV series ''

The King's Face ''The King's Face'' (; Hanja: 王의 얼굴) is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Seo In-guk, Jo Yoon-hee, Lee Sung-jae, Kim Gyu-ri and Shin Sung-rok. It aired on KBS2 from November 19, 2014 to February 5, 2015 on Wednesdays and Thur ...

''. *Portrayed by Kim Tae-woo in the 2015 KBS1 TV series ''The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War''. *Portrayed by

Park Yeong-gyu Park Yeong-gyu (born 28 October 1953) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Attack the Gas Station ''Attack the Gas Station!'' ( ko, 주유소 습격 사건) is a 1999 Korean crime-comedy film directed by Kim Sang-jin ...

in the 2015 MBC TV series ''

Splendid Politics ''Splendid Politics'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Cha Seung-won, Lee Yeon-hee, Kim Jaewon, Seo Kang-joon, Han Joo-wan and Jo Sung-ha. It aired on MBC from April 13 to September 29, 2015 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22: ...

''. *Portrayed by

Lee Ji-hoon Lee Ji-hoon may refer to: * Lee Ji-hoon (entertainer) (born 1979) South Korean singer and actor * , South Korean actor * Lee Ji-hoon (actor, born 1988) Lee Ji-hoon (born October 29, 1988) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in t ...

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''. *Portrayed by Kim Hyun-bin in the 2016 MBC TV series ''

Flowers of the Prison ''Flowers of the Prison'' () is a 2016 South Korean drama television series starring Jin Se-yeon, Go Soo, Kim Mi-sook, Jung Joon-ho, Park Joo-mi, Yoon Joo-hee, , Jun Kwang-ryul and Choi Tae-joon. It is MBC's special project drama to commemora ...

''. *Portrayed by

Jang Hyuk Jeong Yong-jun (born December 20, 1976), better known as Jang Hyuk, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films '' Volcano High'' (2001) and '' Windstruck'' (2004), and the television dramas '' Successful Story o ...

in the 2019 tvN TV Series ''

The Crowned Clown ''The Crowned Clown'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, and Lee Se-young. A remake of the 2012 film ''Masquerade'', the series centers on the tale of a Joseon King and his doppelganger, a clown wh ...

''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seonjo Of Joseon 1552 births 1608 deaths 16th-century Korean monarchs 17th-century Korean monarchs People from Seoul

Biography

Background

Early Reign (1567–1575)

Political division and East-West feud (1575–1592)

Six-Year War (1592–1598)

Later days (1598–1608)

Family

Modern depictions

See also

References