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Korean name
Hangul	정종
Hanja	定宗
Revised Romanization	Jeongjong
McCune–Reischauer	Chŏngjong
Birth name
Hangul	이방과, later 이경
Hanja	李芳果, later 李曔
Revised Romanization	I Banggwa, later I Gyeong
McCune–Reischauer	I Panggwa, later I Kyŏng
Courtesy name
Hangul	광원
Hanja	光遠
Revised Romanization	Gwangwon
McCune–Reischauer	Kwangwŏn

Names
	Yi Bang-gwa (이방과; 李芳果) → Yi Gyeong (이경; 李曔)
Era name and dates
	Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Hongmu (Hongwu) (홍무; 洪武): 1398; Geonmun (Jianwen) (건문; 建文): 1399–1400;
Posthumous name
	Joseon: King Gongjeong Uimun Jangmu Onin Sunhyo the Great (공정의문장무온인순효대왕; 懿文莊武溫仁順孝大王); Ming dynasty: Gongjeong (공정; 恭靖);
Temple name
	Jeongjong (정종; 定宗)

Jeongjong
정종
定宗
Jeongjong; 정종; 定宗
King Emeritus of Joseon
Tenure	13 November 1400 – 26 September 1419
Successor	Taejong
King of Joseon
Reign	5 September 1398 – 13 November 1400
Enthronement	Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong
Predecessor	Taejo
Successor	Taejong
Regent	Prince Jeongan (1398–1400)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure	26 August 1398 – 5 September 1398
Predecessor	Crown Prince Yi Bang-seok
Successor	Crown Prince Yi Bang-won
Born	1 July 1357; Yi Seong-gye's Mansion, Dongbuk-myeon, Goryeo
Died	26 September 1419 (aged 62); Indeok Palace, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Hurŭng, Kaesŏng, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea
Spouse(s)	Queen Jeongan (died 1412)
Issue; details...	15 sons, 8 daughters
Names
Names
	Yi Bang-gwa (이방과; 李芳果) → Yi Gyeong (이경; 李曔)
Era name and dates
	Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Hongmu (Hongwu) (홍무; 洪武): 1398; Geonmun (Jianwen) (건문; 建文): 1399–1400;
Posthumous name
	Joseon: King Gongjeong Uimun Jangmu Onin Sunhyo the Great (공정의문장무온인순효대왕; 懿文莊武溫仁順孝大王); Ming dynasty: Gongjeong (공정; 恭靖);
Temple name
	Jeongjong (정종; 定宗)
Clan	Jeonju Yi
Dynasty	Yi
Father	Taejo of Joseon
Mother	Queen Sinui
Religion	Korean Buddhism → Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Military career
Allegiance	Goryeo; Joseon
Years of service	1376–1398
Rank	Commander of the Central Army
Commands	The Three Military Divisions (Taejo's Guard Corps); The Three Military Divisions; The Central Army;
Battles / wars	Waegu subjugation Jirisan Mountain, Jeolla Province (1377); Haeju, Hwanghae Province (1389); Dogosan Mountain, Yeongju, Yanggwang Province (1390); Munhwa County, Hwanghae Province (1393); Yeongnyeong County, Pyeongan Province (1393); ;

Jeongjong (Korean: 정종; Hanja: 定宗; 1 July 1357 – 26 September 1419),^[b]^[c] personal name Yi Bang-gwa (이방과; 李芳果), later Yi Gyeong (이경; 李曔), was the second monarch of the Joseon of Korea. He was the second son of King Taejo, the founder of the dynasty. Before ascending to the throne, he was known as Prince Yeongan (영안군; 永安君).

Biography

Born in 1357 as the second son of Yi Seong-gye (posthumously King Taejo) and his first wife Lady Han, he was a prudent, generous, brave, and able military officer. During the latter days of the declining Goryeo dynasty, Jeongjong followed his father to various battlefronts and fought at his side. When his father took the throne in 1392, he became a prince.

Taejo had two wives — the first one, who gave birth to six sons (including Jeongjong), died before he was crowned; the second wife was Lady Gang, with whom he had two sons. The king favored his youngest son, whose mother was Lady Gang. Chief State Councillor Jeong Do-jeon also backed him as successor, causing much resentment in the other princes.

In 1398, Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bang-won (posthumously King Taejong) led a coup along with many military officers and killed his two younger half-brothers, Jeong Do-jeon, and many of his faction. Yi Bang-won first tried to show that he was not interested in the throne, so he gave a push to Yi Bang-gwa (who was the eldest son by then), to be the next crown prince. King Taejo was upset and abdicated in disgust, and Yi Bang-gwa became Joseon's second ruler.^[1] The same year he moved the government back to Gaegyeong, the old Goryeo capital.

In 1400, a conflict broke out between Yi Bang-won and his elder brother, Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bang-won's force attacked and defeated that of his brother Yi Bang-gan's, who was then sent into exile along with his family. General Park Bo, who persuaded Yi Bang-gan into rebellion, was executed. King Jeongjong, knowing that he was a mere political figurehead for his younger brother, appointed him as crown prince and abdicated months later.^[1]

He was an able and wise administrator despite his short reign being marked by bloodshed within the royal family.

Jeongjong died in 1419 and was buried alongside his wife, Queen Jeongan, at Hurŭng (후릉), in present-day P'anmun Ward, Kaesŏng, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Family

Father: King Taejo of Joseon (조선의 태조; 11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408)
- Grandfather: Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (조선의 환조 이자춘; 1315 – 18 April 1360)
- Grandmother: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨; 1304–?)
Mother: Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨; 4 September 1337 – 23 September 1391)
- Grandfather: Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon (안천부원군 한경)
- Grandmother: Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

Queen Jeongan of the Gyeongju Gim clan (정안왕후 김씨; 9 January 1355 – 25 June 1412)
Royal Noble Consort Seong of the Chungju Ji clan (성빈 지씨; 1355–?)
- Yi Hu-saeng, Prince Deokcheon (덕천군 이후생; 1395 – 10 November 1465), tenth son
- Yi Mal-saeng, Prince Dopyeong (도평군 이말생; 9 August 1402 – 1446), twelfth son
Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Chungju Ji clan (숙의 지씨; 1360–?)
- Yi Won-saeng, Prince Uipyeong (의평군 이원생; 1385 – 4 August 1461), first son
- Yi Mu-saeng, Prince Seonseong (선성군 이무생; 26 November 1392 – 7 July 1460), seventh son
- Yi Ho-saeng, Prince Imseong (임성군 이호생; 1397–1465), tenth son
- Princess Hamyang (함양옹주; 1417–?), eighth daughter
Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haengju Gi clan (숙의 기씨; 1370 – 13 June 1430)
- Yi Ui-saeng, Prince Geumpyeong (금평군 이의생; 1385 – 3 November 1435), second son
- Princess Sangwon (상원옹주; 1390–?), first daughter
- Yi Gun-saeng, Prince Sunpyeong (순평군 이군생; 1392 – 21 August 1462), fourth son
- Princess Goseong (고성옹주; 1395–?), second daughter
- Princess Jeonsan (전산옹주) 1398–?), third daughter
- Princess Sukshin (숙신옹주; 1401–1486), fifth daughter
- Yi Yung-saeng, Prince Jeongseok (정석군 이융생; 1409 – 10 October 1464), fourteenth son
- Yi Seon-saeng, Prince Murim (무림군 이선생; 1410 – 19 February 1475), fifteenth son
Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Nampyeong Mun clan (숙의 문씨; 1368–?)
- Yi Gwi-saeng, Prince Jongui (종의군 이귀생; 1389 – 26 April 1451), third son
Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan (숙의 윤씨; 1368–1417)
- Yi Nok-saeng, Prince Imeon (임언군 이녹생; 1392 – 6 August 1450), fifth son
- Yi Deok-saeng, Prince Sudo (수도군 이덕생; 15 February 1393 – 10 July 1449), eighth son
- Yi Bok-saeng, Prince Seokbo (석보군 이복생) 1399–1447), eleventh son
- Yi Bo-saeng, Prince Jangcheon (장천군 이보생; 1418 – 15 March 1465), sixteenth son
- Princess Haman (함안옹주; 1400–?), fourth daughter
- Princess Incheon (인천옹주; 1407–?), sixth daughter
Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Pyeongchang Yi clan (숙의 이씨; 1370 – 1443)
- Yi Jong-saeng, Prince Jinnam (진남군 이종생; 1406 – 27 November 1470), thirteenth son
Royal Princess Gaui of the Yu clan (가의궁주 유씨; 1372–?)
- Yi Bul-no (이불노; 1392–1410), sixth son
- Princess Deokcheon (덕천옹주; 1410–?), seventh daughter
Kisaeng Cho Gung-jang (초궁장; 1385–?)
Gi Mae (시비 기매; 其每; 1374–?)
- Yi Ji-woon (이지운; 李志云; 1394–?), ninth son

Ancestry

Ancestors of Jeongjong of Joseon

16. Yi Haeng-ni, King Ikjo of Joseon
(조선 익조 이행리)

8. Yi Chun, King Dojo of Joseon
(조선 도조 이춘)

17. Queen Jeongsuk of the Yeongheung Choe clan
(정숙왕후 최씨)

4. Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon
(조선 환조 이자춘)

18. Park Gwang, Internal Prince Anbyeon
(안변부원군 박광)

9. Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan
(경순왕후 박씨)

2. King Taejo of Joseon
(조선 태조)

20. Choe Jong-dae
(최종대)

10. Choe Han-gi, Internal Prince Yeongheung
(영흥부원군 최한기)

21. Lady Gim, Grand Princess Consort of Joseon State
(조선국대부인 김씨)

5. Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan
(의혜왕후 최씨)

11. Lady Yi, Grand Princess Consort of Joseon State
(조선국대부인 이씨)

1. Jeongjong of Joseon

24. Han Yu
(한유)

12. Han Gyu-in
(한규인)

6. Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon
(안천부원군 한경)

3. Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan
(신의왕후 한씨)

14. Shin Yun-ryeo
(신윤려)

7. Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State
(삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨)

In popular culture

Portrayed by Nam Seong-sik in the 1983 KBS TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
Portrayed by Lee Young-ho in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
Portrayed by Tae Min-young in the 1996–1998 KBS TV series Tears of the Dragon.
Portrayed by No Young-gook in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong.
Portrayed by Oh Hee-joon in the 2012–2013 SBS TV series The Great Seer.
Portrayed by Lee Tae-rim in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeong Do-jeon.
Portrayed by Seo Dong-won in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons.
Portrayed by Kim Myung-soo in the 2021 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won.

Notes

^ After Sejong ascended to the throne in 1418, Jeongjong was known as 'The Old King Emeritus' (노상왕; 老上王; Nosangwang) to distinguish him from his younger brother Taejong, who had also abdicated.
^ Unless otherwise noted, all dates in this article are given in the Korean calendar (lunisolar).
^ Born on 26 July 1357 and died on 15 October 1419 according to the solar calendar.

References

^ ^a ^b Yim, Seung-hye (16 January 2022). "KBS can't resist another telling of King Taejong's tale". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

Regnal titles
Jeongjong of Joseon House of Yi Born: 1 July 1357 Died: 26 September 1419
Preceded by Taejo	King of Joseon 5 September 1398 – 13 November 1400	Succeeded by Taejong