Jungjong of Joseon

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Jungjong of Joseon (1488 – 1544, r.1506–1544), born Yi Yeok, ruled during the 16^th century in what is now Korea. He succeeded his half-brother, Yeonsangun, because of the latter's misrule, which culminated in a coup placing Jungjong on the throne.

Reign

During the early days of his reign, he worked hard as the new king to wipe out the remnants of the Yeonsangun era. He planned a large-scale reformation of the government, with one of his secretaries, Jo Gwang-jo and numerous liberal politicians. However, the reformation faced much opposition from conservative nobles who led the coup in 1506 that placed Jungjong in power. The king himself knew the reform would result in failure because it was too idealistic and far from the realities of his day. Finally in 1519, conservative officials led by Hong Gyeongju, one of the leaders of the coup in 1506, petitioned the king to remove Jo Gwangjo from the court and execute his followers. This incident is known as the Gimyo massacre of scholars.

After this incident, King Jungjong never had the chance to rule on his own. The government was mostly handled by the various conservative factions, each of them backed by one of the King's queens or concubines. In 1524 the conservative factions collided with each other, deposing the corrupt official Kim Anro. Kim Anro's followers took their revenge in 1527 by intriguing against Lady Park, one of the King's concubines, which led to her execution. Kim Anro came back to power but was removed from government, and then executed by the new queen's brothers, Yun Wonro and Yun Wonhyeong. However, Yun Im, ally of Kim Anro, was able to keep his nephew as crown prince, since the new queen, Queen Munjeong, did not have a son until later. Injong would later be declared the crown prince. His uncle Yun Im plotted against the Yun brothers, who were the crown prince's relatives. Many officials and scholars gathered around the two centers of power and each group developed into a separate political faction. Yun Im's faction became known as ‘Greater Yun’ and the brothers' faction as ‘Smaller Yun’.

As the dynasty weakened as a consequence of the continual internal conflict, foreign powers driven away by earlier monarchs returned with much greater effect. Wokou pirates and privateers often plundered southern coastal regions, while the Jurchens attacked the northern frontier numerous times, bleeding the army dry.

In his early days of reform, Jungjong encouraged the publishing of many books, but after the massacre in 1519 all publications were stopped. He also tried to improve self-government of local areas and succeeded in reforming the civil service examination. In the latter days of his reign, he realized the importance of defense and encouraged military service.

Jungjong was clearly a generous, good and able administrator. However, his reign was mostly marked by political confusion created by the many corrupt officials, and the failure of his reforms. His policy had always faced opposition from his council members; and unlike his predecessors, he did not have much power to appoint his court officials because true power rested with the leaders of the 1506 coup that placed him in power, and later the queens' family members. He didn't accomplish much during his reign, but it was a very calm era compared to that of Yeonsangun.

Jungjong is also well known for appointing Jang Geum as one of his personal doctors. Never in Korean history had a woman become a royal physician. It is also worth noting that since Jungjong's reign, Korea has never had a female royal or presidential physician, even to this day.

Family

• Father: King Seongjong (성종)
• Mother: Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan (정현왕후 윤씨)^[1]
• Consorts:

1. Queen Dangyeong of the Seongeun Shin clan (단경왕후 신씨)
2. Queen Janggyeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (장경왕후 윤씨)
3. Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (문정왕후 윤씨)
4. Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the Park clan (경빈 박씨, ?-May 23, 1533)^[2]
5. Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Hong clan (희빈 홍씨, 1494-1581)^[3]
6. Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan Ahn clan (창빈 안씨, 1499-1549)
7. Hong Suk-ui (숙의 홍씨)
8. Lee Suk-ui (숙의 이씨)
9. Na Suk-ui (숙의 나씨)
10. Lee Suk-won (숙원 이씨)
11. Kim Suk-won (숙원 김씨)

• Issue:

1. Royal Prince Successor (왕세자), Only Son of Queen Janggyeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
2. Grand Prince Gyeongwon (경원대군), Only Son of Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
3. Prince Bokseong(복성군), Only Son of Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the Park clan.
4. Prince Geumwon (금원군), 1st Son of Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Hong clan.
5. Prince Bongseong (봉성군), 2nd Son of Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Hong clan.
6. Prince Yeongyang (영양군), 1st Son of Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan Ahn clan.
7. Prince Deokheung (덕흥군), 2nd Son of Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ansan Ahn clan.^[4]
8. Prince Haean (해안군), Only Son of Hong Suk-ui.
9. Prince Deokyang (덕양군), Only Son of Lee Suk-ui.
10. Princess Hyohye (효혜공주), Only Daughter of Queen Janggyeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
11. Princess Uihye (의혜공주), 1st Daughter of Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
12. Princess Hyosun (효순공주), 2nd Daughter of Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
13. Princess Gyeonghyeon (경현공주), 3rd Daughter of Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
14. Princess Insun (인순공주), 4th Daughter of Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan.
15. Princess Hyesun (혜순옹주), 1st Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the Park clan.
16. Princess Hyejeong (혜정공주), 2nd Daughter of Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the Park clan.
17. Princess Jeongsin (정신옹주), Only daughter of Royal Noble Consort Chang of the Ahn clan.
18. Princess Jeongsun (정순옹주), 1st Daughter of Lee Suk-won.
19. Princess Hyojeong (효정옹주), 2nd Daughter of Lee Suk-won.
20. Princess Sukjeong (숙정옹주), Only Daughter of Kim Suk-won.

His full posthumous name

• King Jungjong Gonghee Hwimun Somu Heumin Seonghyo the Great of Korea
• 중종공희휘문소무흠인성효대왕
• 中宗恭僖徽文昭武欽仁誠孝大王

Modern depiction

Jungjong appears in many Korean TV drama programs, most notably in recent times in the dramas Hwang Jin-i and Dae Jang Geum. He is also portrayed (albeit in an almost minor role) in the TV series "Ladies of the Palace," or "Yeoin Cheonha" ("Woman of the World") This drama portrays the women of the era pulling the strings and highlights the rivalry between Queen Munjeong and the royal concubines. In all three dramas, he is portrayed as a righteous man who wants the best for the people of Joeseon but is always being persuaded by his officials.

He is also portrayed briefly in the TV series The King and I most recently.

References

1. ^ More popularly known as "Dowager Queen Jasun" (자순대비)
2. ^ Biological daughter of Park Soo-rim; adopted daughter of Park Won-jong, one of the minority officials whol helped Jungjong rise on the throne.
3. ^ Daughter of Hong Gyeong-ju, one of the minority officials who helped Jungjong rise on the throne.
4. ^ Later known as 덕흥대원군 "Deokheung, Prince of the Great Court", as he was father to King Seonjo. See Heungseon Daewongun for another example.

See also

• Seolleung and Jeongneung tombs