Jeongjong of Joseon

Jeongjong (1 July 1357 – 26 September 1419), personal name Yi Bang-gwa, later Yi Gyeong , was the second monarch of the Joseon dynasty 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.

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. 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.

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, in present-day P'anmun Ward, Kaesŏng, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Family
Consort(s) and their respective issue
 * Father: King Taejo of Joseon (11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408)
 * Grandfather: Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (1315 – 18 April 1360)
 * Grandmother: Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (1304–?)
 * Mother: Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (4 September 1337 – 23 September 1391)
 * Grandfather: Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon
 * Grandmother: Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State
 * Queen Jeongan of the Gyeongju Gim clan (9 January 1355 – 25 June 1412)
 * Royal Noble Consort Seong of the Chungju Ji clan (1355–?)
 * Yi Hu-saeng, Prince Deokcheon (1395 – 10 November 1465), tenth son
 * Yi Mal-saeng, Prince Dopyeong (9 August 1402 – 1446), twelfth son
 * Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Chungju Ji clan (1360–?)
 * Yi Won-saeng, Prince Uipyeong (1385 – 4 August 1461), first son
 * Yi Mu-saeng, Prince Seonseong (26 November 1392 – 7 July 1460), seventh son
 * Yi Ho-saeng, Prince Imseong (1397–1465), tenth son
 * Princess Hamyang (1417–?), eighth daughter
 * Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haengju Gi clan (1370 – 13 June 1430)
 * Yi Ui-saeng, Prince Geumpyeong (1385 – 3 November 1435), second son
 * Princess Sangwon (1390–?), first daughter
 * Yi Gun-saeng, Prince Sunpyeong (1392 – 21 August 1462), fourth son
 * Princess Goseong (1395–?), second daughter
 * Princess Jeonsan 1398–?), third daughter
 * Princess Sukshin (1401–1486), fifth daughter
 * Yi Yung-saeng, Prince Jeongseok (1409 – 10 October 1464), fourteenth son
 * Yi Seon-saeng, Prince Murim (1410 – 19 February 1475), fifteenth son
 * Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Nampyeong Mun clan (1368–?)
 * Yi Gwi-saeng, Prince Jongui (1389 – 26 April 1451), third son
 * Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Haepyeong Yun clan (1368–1417)
 * Yi Nok-saeng, Prince Imeon (1392 – 6 August 1450), fifth son
 * Yi Deok-saeng, Prince Sudo (15 February 1393 – 10 July 1449), eighth son
 * Yi Bok-saeng, Prince Seokbo 1399–1447), eleventh son
 * Yi Bo-saeng, Prince Jangcheon (1418 – 15 March 1465), sixteenth son
 * Princess Haman (1400–?), fourth daughter
 * Princess Incheon (1407–?), sixth daughter
 * Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Pyeongchang Yi clan (1370 – 1443)
 * Yi Jong-saeng, Prince Jinnam (1406 – 27 November 1470), thirteenth son
 * Royal Princess Gaui of the Yu clan (1372–?)
 * Yi Bul-no (1392–1410), sixth son
 * Princess Deokcheon (1410–?), seventh daughter
 * Kisaeng Cho Gung-jang (1385–?)
 * Gi Mae (시비 기매; 其每; 1374–?)
 * Yi Ji-woon (이지운; 李志云; 1394–?), ninth son

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.