Yeonsangun of Joseon or Prince Yeonsan of Joseon (23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506), personal name Yi Yung ( Korean: 이융;

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

: 李㦕), was the tenth ruler 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 ...

. Often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon's history and perhaps all

Korean history The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago. Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825. The earliest ...

, he is notorious for launching two bloody purges, seizing hundreds of women from all over the

peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on a ...

to serve as palace entertainers, and appropriating Sungkyunkwan as a personal pleasure ground. Yeonsangun's despotic rule provided a stark contrast to the liberal era of his father, and as a much-despised overthrown monarch, he did not receive a

temple name Temple names are posthumous titles accorded to monarchs of the Sinosphere for the purpose of ancestor worship. The practice of honoring monarchs with temple names began during the Shang dynasty in China and had since been adopted by other dyna ...

Biography

Execution of his mother

Lady Yun, later known as the Deposed Queen Yun, served Yeonsangun's father, King Seongjong, as a

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive. Concubi ...

until the death of Queen Gonghye, Seongjong's first wife. With no heir, the king was urged by counselors to take a second wife to secure the

royal succession An order of succession or right of succession is the line of individuals necessitated to hold a high office when it becomes vacated such as head of state or an honour such as a title of nobility.Royal Queen Dowager Insu, discovered the truth and ordered Lady Yun into exile. After several attempts to restore the deposed queen to her former position, government officials petitioned that she be executed. Queen Yun died in 1482, after being ordered to commit suicide by drinking poison.

Literati purges

The crown prince grew up believing that he was the son of Queen Jeonghyeon, his father's third wife. He succeeded to the throne in 1495 and during his early reign, he was a wise and able administrator who strengthened the national defense and aided the poor. However, he also showed signs of a violent side when he killed Jo Sa-seo, one of his tutors, soon after becoming king. Yeonsangun eventually learned the truth about his biological mother and attempted to posthumously restore her titles and position. However, government officials belonging to the Sarim faction opposed his efforts on account of serving Seongjong's will, and greatly displeased, Yeonsangun started looking for ways to eliminate them. In 1498, Gim Il-son, a disciple of Gim Jong-jik, included a paragraph in the royal records that was critical of King Sejo's

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...

(1455). Gim Il-son and other followers of Gim Jong-jik were accused of treason by a rival faction, giving the king cause enough to order the execution of many Sarim officials and the mutilation of Gim Jong-jik's remains. This came to be known as the First Literati Purge (''Muo Sahwa''; 무오사화, 戊午士禍). In 1504,

Im Sa-hong Im Sahong (; 1445–1506) was a Korean scholar official and member of the royal family of Joseon Dynasty. He was a close minister of King Yeonsangun of Joseon . His courtesy name was Iui (이의). Family * Great-Great-Grandfather ** Im Gun- ...

revealed to Yeonsangun the details of his mother's death and showed him a blood-stained piece of clothing, the blood allegedly vomited by her after taking poison. Subsequently, Yeonsangun beat to death two of his father's concubines, Lady Jeong and Lady Eom, for their part in his mother's death. His grandmother, Grand Royal Queen Dowager Insu, also passed away soon after he pushed her during an altercation. He sentenced to death many government officials who had supported the execution of his mother, now posthumously honored as "Queen Jeheon" (제헌왕후, 齊獻王后), and ordered the grave of Han Myeong-hoe to be opened and the head to be cut off the corpse. Yeonsangun went as far punishing officials who were simply present at the royal court at that time, for the crime of not preventing the actions of those who abused his mother. Meanwhile, Im Sa-hong and his allies were promoted and they received many important offices and other rewards. This came to be known as the Second Literati Purge (''Gapja Sahwa''; 갑자사화, 甲子士禍).

Suppression of free speech and learning

Yeonsangun closed Sungkyunkwan, the royal university, as well as the Wongaksa Temple, and converted them into personal pleasure grounds, for which young girls were gathered from the eight provinces. He also demolished a large residential area in the capital and evicted 20,000 residents to build hunting grounds. People were forced into involuntary labor to work on these projects. Many commoners mocked and insulted him with posters written in

hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The l ...

, and in retaliation, Yeonsangun banned the use of the script. When court officials protested against his actions, he abolished the Office of Censors (whose function was to criticize any inappropriate actions or policies of the king) and the Office of Special Advisors (a library and research institute that advised the king with

Confucian 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 religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...

teachings). He ordered his ministers to wear a sign that read: "A mouth is a door that brings in disaster; a tongue is a sword that cuts off a head. A body will be in peace as long as its mouth is closed and its tongue is deep within" (口是禍之門舌是斬身刀閉口深藏舌安身處處牢). Chief Eunuch Gim Cheo-sun, who had served three kings, tried to convince him to change his ways, but Yeonsangun killed him by shooting arrows and personally cutting off his limbs. In addition, he also punished the eunuch's relatives down to the 7th degree, and when he asked the royal secretaries whether such punishment was appropriate, they did not dare to say otherwise.

Dethronement

In 1506, the 12th year of Yeonsangun's reign, a group of officials — notably

Park Won-jong Park Won-jong or Bak Wonjong ( Hangul: 박원종, Hanja: 朴元宗; 1467 – 1510) was a Korean politician and soldier during the Joseon Dynasty, who served as Chief State Councillor from 1506 to 1510. He was a major leader of the Jungjong coup ...

, Seong Hui-an, Yu Sun-jeong, and Hong Gyeong-ju — plotted against the despotic ruler. They launched their coup in September 1506, deposing the king and replacing him with his younger half-brother, Grand Prince Jinseong. The king was demoted to "Prince Yeonsan" (''Yeonsangun''; 燕山君, 연산군) and sent into exile on

Ganghwa Island Ganghwa Island (Hangul ; Hanja ), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea's west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainlan ...

, where he died after two months. His concubine,

Jang Nok-su Royal Consort Suk-yong (, died 1506), of the Heungdeok Jang clan, was the consort of Yeonsangun of Joseon. She is often compared with Jang Hui-bin and Jeong Nan-jeong, two other women of the Joseon dynasty. After the overthrow of Yeonsangun, ...

, who had encouraged and supported his misrule, was beheaded. In addition, despite the new king's reluctance, Yeonsangun's four young sons were also forced to commit suicide only a few weeks later.

Family

* Father: King Seongjong of Joseon (조선 성종) (19 August 1457 – 20 January 1495) **Grandfather: King Deokjong of Joseon (조선 덕종) (3 October 1438 – 2 September 1457) **Grandmother: Queen Sohye 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 ...

(소혜왕후 한씨) (7 October 1437 – 11 May 1504) * Biological mother: Deposed Queen Yun of the Haman Yun clan (폐비 윤씨) (15 July 1455 – 29 August 1482) **Grandfather: Yun Gi-gyeon (윤기견) **Grandmother: Lady Shin of the Goryeong Shin clan (고령 신씨) * Adoptive mother: Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan (정현왕후 윤씨) (21 July 1462 – 13 September 1530) Consorts and their respective issue(s): # Deposed Queen Shin of the Geochang Shin clan (폐비 신씨) (15 December 1476 – 16 May 1537) ## Yi Su-eok, Deposed Princess Hwisin (폐휘신공주 이수억) (2 September 1491 – ?), first daughter ## ''Second daughter'' ## ''Crown Prince Yi Bin-i, first son'' (왕세자 이빈이)(1494 – 1494) ## ''Third daughter'' (1495 – ?) ## Deposed Crown Prince Yi Hwang (폐세자 이황) (10 January 1498 – 24 September 1506), second son ## Yi Seong, Deposed Grand Prince Changnyeong (폐창녕대군 이성) (18 June 1500 – 24 September 1506), fourth son ## Yi In-su (이인수) (1501 – 12 September 1503), sixth son ## ''Seventh son'' (1502 – ?) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Yangseong Yi clan (폐숙의 이씨)Concubine of the second junior rank (''Sug-ui''; 숙의, 淑儀). ## Yi In, Deposed Prince Yangpyeong (폐양평군 이강수) (1498 – 1506), third son # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan (폐숙의 윤씨) (1481 – 1568) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Hyeonpung Gwak clan (폐숙의 곽씨) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Gwon clan (폐숙의 권씨) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Yeoheung Min clan (폐숙의 민씨) (? – 1519) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-yong of the Heungdeok Jang clan (폐숙용 장씨) (? – 1506) ## Yi Yeong-su (이영수) (1502 – ?), sixth daughter # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-yong of the Damyang Jeon clan (폐숙용 전씨) (? – 1506) ## ''Ninth daughter'' # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-yong of the Jo clan (폐숙용 조씨) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-won of the Choe clan (폐숙원 최씨)Concubine of the fourth junior rank (''Sug-won''; 숙원, 淑媛). # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-won of the Gim clan (폐숙원 김씨) (? – 1506) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-won of the Jang clan (폐숙원 장씨) # Deposed Royal Consort Sug-won of the Yi clan (폐숙원 이씨) # Palace Maid Jeong (나인 정씨) ## Yi Ham-geum (이함금), eighth daughter # Palace Maid Choe (나인 최씨) (? – 1504)Palace Maids Choe Jeon-hyang (최전향) and Su Geun-bi (수근비) were executed in 1504, during the 10th year of Yeonsangun's reign. # Palace Maid Su (나인 수씨) (? – 1504) # Palace Maid Gim (나인 김씨) (? – 1506) # ''Yeowan'' Wolhamae (여완 월하매) (? – 1506) # ''Yeowan'' Ahn of the Ahn clan (여원 안씨) # Medical Lady Gang (의녀 강씨) # Lady Jang (장씨) # Unknown ## ''Yi Bok-eok (이복억)(1499 - ?), fourth daughter'' ## ''Yi Bok-hak (이복합)(1501 - ?), fifth daughter'' ## ''Yi Dong-su (이돈수)(1501 - 1506), fifth son'' ## ''Yi Chong-su (이총수)(? - 1503),eigth son'' ## ''Yi Yeong-su (이영수)(? - 1503), ninth son'' ## ''Yu Jeong-su (이정수)(1505 - ?), seventh daughter'' ## ''Yi Tae-su (이태수)(1506 - 1506), tenth son''

Ancestry

In popular culture

* Portrayed by

Shin Young-kyun Shin Young-kyun (born November 6, 1928) is a South Korean actor, film producer, and politician. Biography Shin Young-kyun was born in Pyongsan, Hwanghae Province (now part of North Korea) in 1928. When he was 10 years old, Shin went to Seoul. ...

in the 1961 film '' Prince Yeonsan''. * Portrayed by

Yu In-chon Yu In-chon (born March 20, 1951) is a South Korean actor and a former Minister of Ministry of Culture and Tourism (South Korea), Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Yu In-chon was born in the city of Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, South Korea in 1951 ...

in the 1988 film '' Diary of King Yeonsan''. *Portrayed by

Yoo Dong-geun Yoo Dong-geun (born June 18, 1956) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the historical television dramas ''Tears of the Dragon'', '' Empress Myseongseong'', and ''Yeon Gaesomun''. He was also an adjunct professor ...

in the 1995 KBS TV series ''Jang Nok Soo.'' * Portrayed by Ahn Jae-mo and Gim Hak-joon in the 1998–2000

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 ''The King and Queen''. * Portrayed by Gim Yang-woo in the 2001–2002 SBS TV series ''Ladies in the Palace.'' *Portrayed by Jung Ki-sung in the 2003–2004 MBC TV series ''

Dae Jang Geum ''Dae Jang Geum'' (; literally "The Great Jang-geum"), also known as ''Jewel in the Palace'', is a 2003 South Korean historical drama television series directed by Lee Byung-hoon. It first aired on MBC from September 15, 2003 to March 23, 20 ...

.'' *Portrayed by Jung Jin-young in the 2005 film '' The King and the Clown.'' * Portrayed by

Jung Yoon-seok Jung Yoon-seok (born April 30, 2003) is a South Korean actor. He won Best Young Actor award in 2009 SBS Drama Awards for his role in '' Temptation of Wife''. Early life and education Born to Korean-Chinese parents, Jung began his acting c ...

and Jung Tae-woo in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series ''

The King and I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the chil ...

''. * Portrayed by

Jin Tae-hyun Jin Tae-hyun (born Kim Tae-hyun on February 15, 1981) is a South Korean actor. Personal life In December 2014, Jin announced his engagement to his '' Pure Pumpkin Flower'' co-star Park Si-eun. The couple got married in July 2015. In 2019, Jin ...

in the 2011–2012

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 ''

Insu, the Queen Mother ''Insu, the Queen Mother'' () is a 2011 South Korean historical television series, starring Chae Shi-ra, Hahm Eun-jung, Kim Young-ho, Kim Mi-sook, Baek Sung-hyun and Jeon Hye-bin. Focusing on the fierce power struggle among three women in the r ...

''. * Portrayed by

Kim Kang-woo Kim Kang-woo (born July 11, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known from his roles in ''The Taste of Money'' and '' The Missing''. Career Kim Kang-woo majored in Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University. In early, Kim work as singer in 1 ...

in the 2015 film ''

The Treacherous ''The Treacherous'' (; lit. "Treacherous Subject" or "Treacherous Retainer") is a 2015 South Korean period drama film directed by Min Kyu-dong. Plot The story of Joseon's tyrant king Yeonsan who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures, ...

''. * Portrayed by Kim Ji-suk in 2017 MBC TV series '' The Rebel''. * Portrayed by Ahn Do-gyu and Lee Dong-gun in 2017

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 '' Queen for Seven Days''.

Notes

References

{{Authority control 1476 births 1506 deaths Leaders ousted by a coup 15th-century Korean monarchs 16th-century Korean monarchs Dethroned monarchs