Yejong of Joseon facts for kids

Yejong of Joseon (12 February 1450 – 31 December 1469) was the 8th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He succeeded his father, King Sejo, in 1468, when he was 18 years old (19 according to the Korean system), but was too physically ill to govern, and died a year later.

One of the most prominent incidents during his reign was the trial and death of General Nam I (남이 장군, 南怡), who was famous for having suppressed Yi Si-ae's rebellion along with General Gang Sun. At the age of 28, Nam I was appointed as Minister of War. However, when Yejong became King, Ryu Ja-gwang (유자광, 柳子光), who was jealous of Nam I, accused him of treason when he found out that the King himself was not fond of the general. Ryu also involved Gang Sun (강순, 康純) and initiated a trial witnessed by Yejong. They were found guilty and executed, while Ryu Ja-gwang was promoted to a high office. After this incident, there were many cases of Ryu accusing ministers who were apparently more prestigious than himself.

Biography

Yi Hwang was born in 1450, as the second son of Grand Prince Suyang and Lady Yun. After his father's ascension to the throne, he was formally known as Grand Prince Haeyang. He was promoted to Crown Prince at the age of 8, after the sudden death of his elder brother, Crown Prince Uigyeong.

In 1468, when he was 19, his father abdicated, but since he was not yet 20 years old and had been physically weak since his childhood, Queen Jeonghui, who was Yejong's mother, came to rule the nation instead. According to records of this era, political decisions were taken by the Queen and three subjects nominated by King Sejo.

Although his reign lasted just 14 months, several incidents had occurred. In 1468, the treason of Nam I greatly influenced Joseon politics. Just before his death in 1469, Joseon started to prohibit all trade with Japan. Yejong also granted common farmers the right to cultivate fields which originally belonged to the military.

He died when he was only 20 years old and his tomb is located in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. After Yejong's death, the throne was not inherited by his son. Instead, his nephew and the second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong, Prince Jalsan, became his heir and was later known as King Seongjong.

Family

• Father: King Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468) (조선 세조)
  • Grandfather: King Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450) (세종)
  • Grandmother: Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446) (소헌왕후 심씨)
• Mother: Queen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yun clan (8 December 1418 – 6 May 1483) (정희왕후 윤씨)
  • Grandfather: Yun Beon (1384 - 1448) (윤번)
  • Grandmother: Lady Yi of the Incheon Yi clan (1383 – 1456) (인천 이씨)
• Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):

1. Queen Jangsun of the Cheongju Han clan (22 February 1445 – 5 January 1462) (장순왕후 한씨)
   1. Yi Bun, Grand Prince Inseong (31 December 1461 – 4 December 1463) (이분 인성대군)
2. Queen Ansun of the Cheongju Han clan (12 March 1445 – 3 February 1499) (안순왕후 한씨)
   1. Princess Hyeonsuk (1464 – May 1502) (현숙공주)
   2. Yi Hyeon, Grand Prince Jean (13 February 1466 – 14 December 1525) (이현 제안대군)
   3. Princess Hyesun (September 1468 – 5 August 1469) (혜순공주)
3. Royal Noble Consort Gong of the Jeonju Choe clan (공빈 최씨)
4. Court Lady Gi (상궁 기씨)
5. Lady Yi (이씨)

Yejong's both legitimate sons, Grand Prince Inseong and Grand Prince Jean, died without issue. During the reign of Gojong, in 1874, Yi Ong, known as Prince Seoseong (서성군, 1487-1510) and a great-great-grandson of Sejong the Great, was posthumously appointed as heir to Grand Prince Inseong; similarly, (이파, 1515-1571), a 3-great-grandson of Jeongjong of Joseon, was granted the title Prince Nakpung (낙풍군) and became the heir to Grand Prince Jean that same year.

His full posthumous name

• King Yejong Yangdo Heummun Seongmu Euiin Sohyo the Great
• 예종양도흠문성무의인소효대왕
• 睿宗襄悼欽文聖武懿仁昭孝大王