Seongjong of Joseon


Seongjong of Joseon was the ninth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 and ruled until 1494.

Biography

He was the grandson of King Sejo, nephew of Yejong and second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong. He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 when the weak king died and his son was too young to succeed him. Since he was too young to govern the kingdom effectively, Queen Jeonghee, his grandmother, ruled the nation in his name, along with the king's mother, Queen Insu. In 1476, at the age of 19, he began to govern the country in his own name.
His reign was marked by the prosperity and growth of the national economy, based on the laws laid down by kings Taejong, Sejong, and Sejo. He himself was a gifted ruler. In 1474, the code of law, first ordered by King Sejo, was completed and put into effect. Seongjong also ordered revisions and improvements to the code.
Besides the law, he also encouraged Confucian scholars; He greatly expanded Hongmungwan, the royal library and advisory council to the king at the same time, and strengthened so-called Three Offices as check and balance on the Royal Court. For the first time since King Sejong, he brought many liberal Confucian scholars to his court, whose political views went against those of the conservative officials who had helped kings Taejong and Sejo to power. In this way he made his rule more effective by appointing able administrators regardless of their political views. His policy resulted in many positive innovations, increasing his number of supporters. The king himself was an artist and scholar, and liked to argue about the finer points of politics with more liberal scholars. He encouraged scholars to publish numerous books about geography and social etiquette, for example, as well as areas of knowledge that benefited the common people.
It was under Seongjong's reign that the Widow Remarriage Ban was enacted, which strengthened pre-existing social stigma against women who remarried by barring their sons from public office. In 1489, Seongjong condemned a woman of the royal clan, Yi Guji, when it was discovered that she had cohabited with her slave after being widowed.
He also sent several military campaigns against the Jurchens on the northern border in 1491, like many of his predecessors. The campaign, led by Gen. Heo Jong, was successful, and the defeated Jurchens led by Udige retreated to the north of Amrokgang. King Seongjong was succeeded by his son, Yeonsangun, in 1494.

Family

  1. Queen Gonghye of the Cheongju Han clan
  2. Queen Jeheon of the Haman Yun clan
  3. # Prince Yi Hyo-Shin
  4. # Yi Yung, Crown Prince Yeonsan
  5. # Unnamed son
  6. Queen Jeonghyeon of the Papyeong Yun clan
  7. # Princess Sunsuk
  8. # Princess Shinsuk
  9. # Yi Yeok, Grand Prince Jinseong
  10. Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Andong Kim clan
  11. # Princess Hwisuk
  12. # Princess Gyeongsuk
  13. # Yi Jong, Prince Musan
  14. # Princess Hwijeong
  15. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Chogye Jeong clan
  16. # Yi Hang, Prince Anyang
  17. # Yi Bong, Prince Bongan
  18. # Princess Jeonghye
  19. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Yeongwol Eom clan
  20. # Princess Gongshin
  21. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Andong Kwon clan
  22. # Yi Byeon, Prince Jeonseong
  23. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Uiryeong Nam clan
  24. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Lee clan
  25. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Ha clan
  26. # Yi Sun, the Prince Gyeseong
  27. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Namyang Hong clan
  28. # Princess Hyesuk
  29. # Yi Su, Prince Wanwon
  30. # Yi Nyeom, Prince Hwoesan
  31. # Yi Don, Prince Gyeonseong
  32. # Yi Hwoe, Prince Ikyang
  33. # Yi Chim, Prince Gyeongmyeong
  34. # Yi In, Prince Euncheon
  35. # Princess Jeongsun
  36. # Yi Hui, Prince Yangwon
  37. # Princess Jeongsuk
  38. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Jeong clan
  39. Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Kim clan
  40. Royal Consort Suk-yong of the Shim clan
  41. # Princess Gyeongsun
  42. # Princess Sukhye
  43. # Yi Gwan, Prince Yiseong
  44. # Yi Jeon, Prince Yeongan
  45. Royal Consort Suk-yong of the Kwon clan
  46. # Princess Gyeonghwi
  47. Royal Consort Suk-Won of the Yun clan

    His full posthumous name