Sunjo of Joseon
조선 순조
朝鮮純祖
Heavily damaged portrait of Sunjo of Joseon
King of Joseon
ReignAugust 1800 – 13 December 1834
PredecessorJeongjo of Joseon
SuccessorHeonjong of Joseon
Regent
Born(1790-07-29)29 July 1790
Jibokheon, Changgyeong Palace, Hanseong
Died13 December 1834(1834-12-13) (aged 44)
Hwajangjeon, Gyeonghui Palace, Hanseong
Burial
Illeung, Seoul, Korea
SpouseQueen Sunwon
IssueCrown Prince Hyomyeong
An unknown Prince
Princess Myeongon
Princess Bokon
Princess Deokon
Princess Yeongon
HouseHouse of Yi
FatherKing Jeongjo of Joseon
MotherRoyal Noble Consort Su
ReligionKorean Confucianism
Signature
Sunjo of Joseon
Hangul
순조
Hanja
純祖
Revised RomanizationSunjo
McCune–ReischauerSunjo
Birth name
Hangul
이공
Hanja
李玜
Revised RomanizationI Gong
McCune–ReischauerRi Kong

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 was born with the title of His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong on 29 July 1790 (18 June 1790 in lunar calendar). Upon the death of his father, King Jeongjo, Yi Gong ascended to the throne at age 10 on 4 July 1800, lunar calendar.

In 1802, aged 13, King Sunjo married Lady Kim, known posthumously as Queen Sunwon, daughter of Kim Jo-sun, who was a leader of the Andong Kim clan.

Since he ascended the throne at a young age, Queen Dowager Jeongsun, the second queen of King Yeongjo, ruled as queen regent, which allowed her to wield power over state affairs. Queen Jeongsun's influence was to such extent that during Sunjo's reign, the status of Lady Hyegyeong, the mother of Jeongjo and the grandmother of Sunjo, became a point of contention. During Jeonjo's reign, Lady Hyegyeong was treated with respect and as the mother of King Jeongjo despite the fact that Lady Hyegyeong was married to Crown Prince Sado who had been forced to commit suicide during the reign of Yeongjo, which had greatly affected Hyegyeong's status due to the controversy surrounding Sado's suicide. Following Sunjo's ascension, her status was lowered and despite Sunjo's efforts to reverse this later in his reign, they were unsuccessful.[1] Despite King Sunjo's efforts to reform politics, the fundamental principles of government deteriorated. The state examination became disordered and corruption in the government personnel administration prevailed. This resulted in disorder in society and various riots broke out among the people, including the revolt by Hong Gyeong-nae in 1811–1812.[2] The Ogajaktongbeop (五家作統法), a census registration system to group five houses as one unit, was carried out in this period, and oppression against Roman Catholicism began in earnest.[3]

Korean diplomatic ship 1811

In 1811 the last diplomatic envoys were sent by Korea to Japan. Based on records of that trip, a reconstruction of the diplomatic vessel has been made for the National Maritime Museum of Korea.

King Sunjo died after reigning for 35 years in 1834 at the age of 44. He was first buried next to Jangneung, Paju, the tomb of King Injo and Queen Inryeol but later moved to Illeung, Seoul as the Feng Shui at the old site was deemed to be unfavourable.[4]

Family

His full posthumous name

King Sunjo has the 2nd longest posthumous name for an emperor of Korea.

  • English: King Sunjo Seongak Yeondeok Hyeondo Gyeongin Sunhui Cheseong Eungmyeong Heumgwang Seokgyeong Gyecheon Baegeuk Yungwon Donhyu Euihaeng Soyun Huihwa Junryeol Daejung Jijeong Honghun Cheolmo Geonsi Taehyeong Changun Honggi Gomyeong Bakhu Ganggeon Sujeong Gyetong Suryeok Gongyu Beommun Anmu Jeongryeong Gyeongseong-hyo the Great of Joseon
  • Hangul: 순조선각연덕현도경인순희체성응명흠광석경계천배극융원돈휴의행소윤희화준렬대중지정홍훈철모건시태형창운홍기고명박후강건수정계통수력공유범문안무정령경성효대왕
  • Hanja: 純祖先覺淵德顯道景仁純禧體聖凝命欽光錫慶繼天配極隆元敦休懿行昭倫熙化峻烈大中至正洪勳哲謨乾始泰亨昌運弘基高明博厚剛健粹精啓統垂曆建功裕範文安武靖英敬成孝肅大王

Ancestry

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lim, Hye Ryun (September 2015). "The changes of Hyegyonggung`s status at the time of King Yeongjo`s reign to King Sunjo`s one". 조선시대사학회. 74.
  2. ↑ Seok Hwa, Kang (2022). "A Study on the Progress for the Jungju Castle Battle occurred in 1812 and the Comparison of the Capabilities of the Government Forces with the Rebel Armies". Korea Journal Central. 124. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Cultural Heritage, the source for Koreans' Strength and Dream". Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Heonilleung Royal Tomb Seoul, Korea". Exploring Korea. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Biological son of Grand Internal Prince Jeongye and Grand Internal Princess Consort Yongseong.
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