Sunjo of Joseon

Names
	Yi Hong (이홍; 李玜)
Era dates
	Adopted the era name of the Qing dynasty
Posthumous name
	Joseon: Great King Seongak Munan Mujeong Yeonggyeong Seonghyo (선각문안무정영경성효대왕; 宣恪文安武靖英敬成孝大王); Korean Empire: Emperor Munan Mujeong Yeonggyeong Seonghyo Suk (문안무정영경성효숙황제; 文安武靖英敬成孝肅皇帝); Qing dynasty: Seongak (선각; 宣恪);
Temple name
	Sunjong (순종; 純宗) → Sunjo (순조; 純祖)

Sunjo
Sunjo
Emperor of Korea; (posthumously)
	State portrait, which was heavily damaged in the 1954 Busan fire
King of Joseon
Reign	18 August 1800 – 13 December 1834
Enthronement	23 August 1800; Injeongjeon Hall, Changdeokgung
Predecessor	Jeongjo
Successor	Heonjong
Regent	Grand Queen Dowager Yesun (1800–1804); Crown Prince Yeong (1827–1830);
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure	25 January – 18 August 1800
Predecessor	Crown Prince Yang
Successor	Crown Prince Yeong
Born	29 July 1790; Jipbokheon Pavilion, Changgyeonggung, Hanseong, Joseon
Died	13 December 1834 (aged 44); Hoesangjeon Hall, Gyeonghuigung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Illeung, Heonilleung, Seoul, South Korea
Spouse	Queen Sunwon (m. 1802)
Issue; Detail	Crown Prince Hyomyeong; Princess Myeongon; Princess Yeongon; Princess Bokon; Princess Deokon; Cheoljong of Joseon (adopted);
Names
Names
	Yi Hong (이홍; 李玜)
Era dates
	Adopted the era name of the Qing dynasty
Posthumous name
	Joseon: Great King Seongak Munan Mujeong Yeonggyeong Seonghyo (선각문안무정영경성효대왕; 宣恪文安武靖英敬成孝大王); Korean Empire: Emperor Munan Mujeong Yeonggyeong Seonghyo Suk (문안무정영경성효숙황제; 文安武靖英敬成孝肅皇帝); Qing dynasty: Seongak (선각; 宣恪);
Temple name
	Sunjong (순종; 純宗) → Sunjo (순조; 純祖)
Clan	Jeonju Yi
Dynasty	Yi
Father	King Jeongjo
Mother	Concubine Su biological; Queen Hyoui adoptive;
Religion	Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Signature
Korean name
Hangul	순조
Hanja	純祖
Lit.	"Genuine Progenitor"
RR	Sunjo
MR	Sunjo
Art name
Hangul	순재
Hanja	純齋
RR	Sunjae
MR	Sunjae
Courtesy name
Hangul	공보
Hanja	公寶
RR	Gongbo
MR	Kongbo

Sunjo (Korean: 순조; Hanja: 純祖; 29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834),^[d] personal name Yi Hong, was the 23rd monarch of the Joseon. He ascended to the throne at the age of 10, upon the death of his father, King Jeongjo. His reign was marked by the persecution of Catholics and his failed attempts at reforms that resulted in riots, notably Hong Kyŏngnae's Rebellion. following the establishment of the Korean Empire, he was honored as Emperor Suk.

Biography

In 1802, aged 12, King Sunjo married Lady Kim (posthumously Queen Sunwon), daughter of Kim Jo-sun, who was a leader of the Andong Kim clan.

Since he ascended to the throne at a young age, Queen Dowager Yesun, the second wife of his great-grandfather King Yeongjo, ruled as regent, which allowed her to wield power over state affairs. Queen Dowager Yesun's influence was to such extent that during Sunjo's reign, the status of Lady Hyegyŏng, the biological grandmother of Sunjo, became a point of contention. During Jeongjo's reign, Lady Hyegyŏng was treated with respect and as the mother of King Jeongjo despite the fact that Lady Hyegyŏng was the wife of Crown Prince Sado, who had been executed during Yeongjo's reign, which greatly affected Lady Hyegyŏng's status. Following Sunjo's ascension, her status was lowered and his efforts to reverse this later in his reign were unsuccessful.^[1]

Despite Sunjo's efforts to reform politics, the fundamental principles of governing deteriorated. The state examination became disordered and corruption in the government administration prevailed. This resulted in disorder in society and various riots broke out among the people, including the rebellion by Hong Kyŏngnae in 1812.^[2] The oppression against Catholicism began in earnest during this period.^[3]

In 1811, the last diplomatic envoys were sent by Joseon 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 at the age of 44, after reigning for 34 years. He was first buried next to Jangneung, the tomb of King Injo and Queen Inryeol in Paju, but was later moved to Seoul as the feng shui of the old site was deemed to be unfavorable.^[4]

Family

Father: King Jeongjo of Joseon (조선의 정조대왕; 28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800)
- Biological grandfather: King Jangjo of Joseon (조선의 장조대왕; 13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762)
- Legal grandfather: King Jinjong of Joseon (조선의 진종대왕; 4 April 1719 – 16 December 1728)
- Biological grandmother: Queen Heongyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan (헌경왕후 홍씨; 6 August 1735 – 13 January 1816)
- Legal grandmother: Queen Hyosun of the Pungyang Jo clan (효순왕후 조씨; 8 January 1716 – 30 December 1751)
Mother: Concubine Su of the Bannam Park clan (수빈 박씨; 1 June 1770 – 6 February 1823)
- Grandfather: Park Jun-won (박준원; 1739–1807)
- Grandmother: Lady, of the Wonju Won clan (원주 원씨; 1740–1783)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clan (순원왕후 김씨; 8 August 1789 – 21 September 1857)
- Yi Yeong, Crown Prince Hyomyeong (효명세자 이영; 18 September 1809 – 25 June 1830), first son
- Princess Myeongon (명온공주; 9 November 1810 – 10 July 1832), first daughter
- Princess Bokon (복온공주; 24 November 1818 – 10 June 1832), third daughter
- Second son (23 February – 26 May 1820)
- Princess Deokon (덕온공주; 27 July 1822 – 9 July 1844), fourth daughter
- Yi Byeon, King Cheoljong of Joseon (조선의 철종대왕 이변; 25 July 1831 – 16 January 1864), adopted son
Sugui of the Miryang Park clan (숙의 박씨; 1791 – 1854)
- Princess Yeongon (영온옹주; 19 November 1817 – 10 May 1829), second daughter

Ancestry

Ancestors of Sunjo of Joseon

King Sukjong

King Yeongjo

Concubine Suk of the Haeju Choe clan

King Jangjo

Yi Yu-beon

Concubine Yeong of the Jeonui Yi clan

Lady, of the Hanyang Kim clan

King Jeongjo

Hong Hyeon-bo

Hong Bong-han

Lady, of the Pungcheon Im clan

Queen Heongyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan

Yi Jib

Lady, of the Hansan Yi clan

Lady, of the Gigye Yu clan

Yi Gong, King Sunjo

Park Pil-ri

Park Sa-seok

Park Jun-won

Yu Su-gi

Lady, of the Gigye Yu clan

Concubine Su of the Bannam Park clan

Won Myeong-gu

Won Gyeong-yu

Lady, of the Wonju Won clan

Lady, of the Haepyeong Yun clan

In popular culture

Portrayed by Kim Seung-soo in the 2016 KBS2 TV series Love in the Moonlight.

Notes

^ Gagyeong (Jiaqing) (가경; 嘉慶): 1800–1820
Dogwang (Daoguang) (도광; 道光): 1821–1834
^ The posthumous name bestowed by China was notably omitted as a sign of the country's "independence".
^ Conferred in 1834 and 1857, respectively.
^ In the Korean calendar (lunisolar), he was born on the 18th day of the 6th lunar month and died on the 13th day of the 11th lunar month.

References

^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "Cultural Heritage, the source for Koreans' Strength and Dream". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^ "Heonilleung Royal Tomb Seoul, Korea". Exploring Korea. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.

Sunjo of Joseon

House of Yi

Born: 1790 Died: 1834

Regnal titles

Preceded by

Jeongjo

King of Joseon
1800–1834
with Queen Jeongsun (1800–1805)

Succeeded by

Heonjong

[1] Gagyeong (Jiaqing) (가경; 嘉慶): 1800–1820
Dogwang (Daoguang) (도광; 道光): 1821–1834

[2] The posthumous name bestowed by China was notably omitted as a sign of the country's "independence".

[3] Conferred in 1834 and 1857, respectively.

[4] In the Korean calendar (lunisolar), he was born on the 18th day of the 6th lunar month and died on the 13th day of the 11th lunar month.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] "Cultural Heritage, the source for Koreans' Strength and Dream". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2 September 2013.

[8] "Heonilleung Royal Tomb Seoul, Korea". Exploring Korea. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.

[9] Those who were listed were not reigning monarchs but posthumously recognized; the year following means the year of recognition.

[10] Only the crown princes that did not become the king were listed; the former year indicates when one officially became the heir and the latter one is that when one died/deposed. Those who ascended to the throne were excluded in the list for simplification.

[11] The title given to the biological father, who never reigned, of the kings who were adopted as the heir to a precedent king.

[12] The de jure monarch of Korea during the era was the Emperor of Japan, while the former Korean emperors were given nobility title "King Yi" instead.

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Authority control databases
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National	United States Korea
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