Queen Insun

Queen Insun (27 June 1532 – 12 February 1575), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Hwan, King Myeongjong. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1545 until her husband's death in 1567, after which she was honoured as Queen Dowager Uiseong. She served as regent of Korea during the minority of her adoptive son, king Yi Yeon, King Seonjo, from 1567 until 1568.

Early life
Lady Sim was born on 27 June 1532 to Sim Kang and Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan. She was the eldest within 10 siblings, including Sim Ui-gyeom. Through her mother, she was a 5th great-granddaughter of Queen Wongyeong and King Taejong; through her 4th great-grandfather, Grand Prince Hyoryeong. Her uncle was Yi Ryang.

Marriage
In April 1542, Lady Sim was arranged to marry Grand Prince Gyeongwon; the only son of King Jungjong and Queen Munjeong. Lady Sim was given the title of Princess Consort.

Queen
In 1545, when King Injong passed away, her husband was enthroned as the next king of joseon as there wasn't any heirs from Queen Inseong. The Princess Consort then became the next Queen Consort and had a son, Crown Prince Sunhoe, in 1551.

The Crown Prince died in 1563; leaving no heirs from King Myeongjong who also died in 1567. This left Prince Haseong (the future King Seonjo), a son of Grand Internal Prince Deokheung and Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong, to become the next crowned prince.

Regency and later life
The Queen Consort became Queen Regent in 1567 upon on the prince's enthronement as king because he was young. In 1568, she stepped down as regent and became Queen Dowager. She was later given the title of Uiseong in 1569.

Her reign as Queen Dowager lasted 8 years as she died on 12 February 1575 within Changgyeong Palace's Tongmyeong Hall. Nearby where her mother-in-law, Queen Munjeong, is buried, the Queen is buried with her husband in Kangreung.

Family
Parent


 * Father − Sim Kang (심강, 沈鋼; 1514–1567)
 * Mother − Yi Hui-gyeong, Internal Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Yi clan (1511–1559)

Sibling


 * Younger brother − Sim In-gyeom (June 1533 – 17 November 1580)
 * Younger brother − Sim Ui-gyeom (1535–1587)
 * Younger brother − Sim Ye-gyeom (1537–1598)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1538–1579)
 * Younger brother − Sim Ji-gyeom (1540–1568)
 * Younger brother − Sim Shin-gyeom (1542–1596)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1543–?); Ryu Hui-bal’s first wife
 * Younger brother − Sim Chung-gyeom (1545–1594)
 * Younger brother − Sim Hyo-gyeom (20 September 1547 – 24 September 1600)
 * Younger brother − Sim Je-gyeom (1550–1589)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1556–?)

Consort and Issue
 * Husband - Myeongjong of Joseon (3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567)
 * 1) Son - Yi Bu, Crown Prince Sunhoe (1 July 1551 – 6 October 1563)
 * 2) Daughter-in-law - Crown Princess Gonghoe of the Musong Yun clan (1550 – 14 April 1592)
 * 3) Adoptive son - Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608)
 * 4) Adoptive daughter-in-law - Queen Uiin of the Bannam Park clan (5 May 1555 – 5 August 1600)
 * 5) Adoptive daughter-in-law - Queen Inmok of the Yeonan Kim clan (15 December 1584 – 13 August 1632)
 * 6) Adoptive granddaughter - Princess Jeongmyeong (27 June 1603 – 8 September 1685)
 * 7) Unnamed adoptive granddaughter (1604); died prematurely
 * 8) Adoptive grandson - Yi Ui, Grand Prince Yeongchang (12 April 1606 – 19 March 1614)

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Jang Hee-jin in the 2016 JTBC TV series Mirror of the Witch.