(29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834, reigned 1800–1834) was the 23rd king of the Korean
. He was born with the title of His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong. Sunjo was the 2nd son of King
which King Jeongjo had with Lady Subin, one of King Jeongjo's concubines.
Biography
Sunjo ascended to the throne at age 10 in 1800 upon the death of his father, King Jeongjo.
In 1802, King Sunjo married Lady Kim of Andong, known posthumously as Queen Sunwon, daughter of Kim Jo-sun who was a leader of 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. 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. 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.
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 Inyeo but later moved to Illeung, Seoul as the Feng Shui at the old site was deemed to be unfavourable.
Family
• Father: King Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800) (조선 정조)
• Grandfather : King Jangjo of Joseon (13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762) (조선 장조)
• Grandmother : Queen Heongyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan (6 August 1735 – 13 January 1816) (헌경왕후 홍씨)
• Mother: Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan (8 May 1770 – 26 December 1822) (수빈 박씨)
• Grandfather : Park Jun-Won (1739 – 1807) (박준원), third cousin of Bak Jiwon, a famous philosopher and politician.
• Grandmother : Lady Won of the Wonju Won clan (1740 – 1783) (원주 원씨)
• Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):
• Queen Sunwon of the Andong Kim clan (8 June 1789 – 21 September 1857) (순원왕후 김씨)
• # Yi Yeong, Crown Prince Hyomyeong (18 September 1809 – 25 June 1830) (이영 효명세자)
• # Princess Myeongon (13 October 1810 – 13 June 1832) (명온공주)
• # Princess Bokon (26 October 1818 – 12 May 1832) (복온공주)
• # An unknown Prince (1820 – ?) (대군)
• # Princess Deokon (10 June 1822 – 24 May 1844) (덕온공주)
• Royal Consort Suk-ui of the Miryang Park clan (? – 30 June 1854) (숙의 박씨)
• # Princess Yeongon (11 October 1817 – 8 April 1829) (영온옹주)
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 Korea
• Hangul:
• 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皇帝
Ancestry
In popular culture
• Portrayed by Kim Seung-soo in the 2016 KBS2 TV series Love in the Moonlight.
Sunjo of Joseon (29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834, reigned 1800–1834) was the 23rd king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. He was born with the title of His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong. Sunjo was the 2nd son of King Jeongjo which King Jeongjo had with Lady Subin, one of King Jeongjo's concubines.