Queen Soheon

Queen Soheon (20 October 1395 – 28 April 1446), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Do (King Sejong) and the mother of Yi Hyang (King Munjong) and Yi Yu (King Sejo). She was queen consort of Joseon and honoured as Queen Gong from 1418 until her death in 1446.

Early life
Lady Sim was born as the first daughter and eldest child of nine children to Lord Sim On and Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan. Her paternal uncle, Sim Jong, was King Taejo's son-in-law (titled Prince Consort Cheongwon) through his marriage to the king's daughter, Princess Gyeongseon.

Marriage
In 1408 at the age of 13, she was arranged to marry King Taejong's son, Prince Chungyeong, to which her title became Princess Gyeongsuk. It's said that she was chosen for the marriage due to the fact that King Taejong's older sister, Princess Gyeongseon, was her paternal aunt; thus having royal family connections.

When her husband became grand prince, her title changed from ongju to gongju.

Her parents were given royal titles: her mother was given "Internal Princess Consort Samhanguk of the Sunheung Ahn clan", and her father was given "Internal Prince Cheongcheon".

During Taejong's 17th year of reign in 1417, Princess Gyeongsuk was also given the title of Internal Princess Consort Samhanguk.

On 6 July 1418, during the 18th year of Taejong's reign, Princess Gyeongsuk became Crown Princess Gyeong when Grand Prince Chungyeong (later King Sejong) became the crown prince successor to the throne, and when her husband became king on 9 September 1418, her title changed to Queen Gong (공비, 恭妃; Gongbi meaning Courteous Consort).

It's said that Queen Gong had a gentle and kind appearance but advocated strict adherence to laws and code of conduct.

Royal political conflicts
Just like her predecessor and mother-in-law, Queen Dowager Hudeok, Queen Gong experienced the loss of her family as Taejong felt threatened due to the influence of royal in-laws. She had lost her father, Sim On, in 1419 and two uncles in 1418 during her father-in-law's regency with her husband. Her mother and remaining relatives were also demoted to lower slave class.

But in 1426, rather than having his in-laws serve as slaves, Sejong expelled the Queen’s mother and relatives from Cheonan, and restored the posts of her brothers and male relatives.

Court officials brought up the topic of demoting or stripping Queen Gong's position as Queen, but King Sejong fought back. He stated that the Queen was to remain in her position due to giving birth to two princes prior to the conflict.

Rather than holding resentment towards to her husband, Queen Gong was understanding and supportive of her husband through the ordeal.

As a Queen with duties, it is said that the inner court was at its most peaceful during her care. King Sejong also praised her for being a good leader for the women of the palace.

Later life
On 14 April 1446, Queen Gong died at the age of 50 during her husband's 28th year of reign. King Sejong outlived her by 2 years and eventually died at the age of 52.

Queen Gong bore 10 children which included King Munjong and King Sejo.

Legacy
Queen Soheon was buried with her husband, King Sejong in a burial mound, surrounded by statues of scholars, military officials, and horses. The site has a memorial shrine and pond. Their tomb, Yeongneung, is within the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, west of the city of Yeoju.

Prince Suyang commissioned the creation of the Seokbosangjeol after the death of his mother, Queen Soheon, intending it to ease her passage to the next life. It was, however, also made available to the general population of Korea, to encourage the propagation of the Buddhist faith. It was translated from Chinese to Korea's native hangul characters, and as such represents the oldest form of indigenous Korean written text. The book was written at his father's request, and included more than 580 Buddhist lyrics by Sejong in Wolincheongangjigok. It was first published in 24 volumes in 1447 C.E. An original edition is held at the National Library of Korea in Seoul, where it is designated a Tangible Cultural Treasure.



Trivia
Through her younger brothers, Queen Soheon eventually became the 3rd great-grandaunt to Queen Insun; the wife of King Myeongjong, and Sim Ui-gyeom; the younger brother of Queen Insun. The Queen also became the 9th great-grandaunt to Queen Danui; the wife of King Gyeongjong.

Family
Parent
 * Father − Sim On (1375 – 20 January 1419)
 * Mother − Internal Princess Consort Samhanguk of the Sunheung Ahn clan (1373–1444)
 * Stepmother - Lady Park (1379–?)

Siblings


 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1397 -1458)
 * Younger brother − Sim Jun (1398–1448)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1400–?)
 * Half-brother – Sim Jang-su (1400–?)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1402–?)
 * Half-brother – Sim Jang-gi (1402–?)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1405–1466)
 * Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (1407–?)
 * Younger brother − Sim Hoe (1418–1493)
 * Younger brother − Sim Gyeol (1419–1470)

Husband
 * King Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450)
 * Mother-in-law – Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (29 July 1365 – 18 August 1420)
 * Father-in-law – King Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 30 May 1422)

Issue
 * Daughter – Princess Jeongso (1412 – 25 February 1424)
 * Son – Yi Hyang, King Munjong (15 November 1414 – 1 June 1452). Wives: a) Crown Princess Consort Hwi of the Andong Kim clan (1410–1429), b) Crown Princess Consort Sun of the Haeum Bong clan (1414–1436), c) Queen Hyeondeok of the Andong Gwon clan (17 April 1418 – 10 August 1441)
 * Daughter – Princess Jeongui (1415 – 11 February 1477). Husband: Ahn Maeng-Dam (1415–1462)
 * Son – Yi Yu, King Sejo (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468). Wife: Queen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yun clan (8 December 1418 – 6 May 1483)
 * Son – Yi Yong, Grand Prince Anpyeong (18 October 1418 – 18 November 1453). Wife: Princess Consort of the Yeongil Jeong clan (? – 31 May 1453)
 * Son – Yi Gu, Grand Prince Imyeong (7 January 1420 – 21 January 1469). Wives: a) Princess Consort of the Uiryeong Nam clan, b) Princess Consort Jean of the Jeonju Choi clan , c) Princess Consort of the Andong Ahn clan
 * Son – Yi Yeo, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong (2 May 1425 – 7 December 1444). Wife: Princess Consort Yeongga of the Pyeongsan Shin clan
 * Son – Yi Yu, Grand Prince Geumseong (28 March 1426 – 21 October 1457). Wife: Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Choi clan
 * Son – Yi Im, Grand Prince Pyeongwon (18 November 1427 – 16 January 1445). Wife: Princess Consort Gangnyeong of the Namyang Hong clan (?–1483)
 * Son – Yi Yeom, Grand Prince Yeongeung (23 May 1434 – 2 February 1467). Wives: a) Princess Consort Chunseong of the Haeju Jeong clan, b) Princess Consort Daebang of the Yeosan Song clan , c) Princess Consort Yeonseong of the Yeonan Kim clan

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Kim Young-ae in the 1983 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Tree with Deep Roots.
 * Portrayed by Im Seo-yeon in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon.
 * Portrayed by Lee Yoon-ji in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong.
 * Portrayed by Jang Ji-eun in the 2011 SBS TV series Deep Rooted Tree.
 * Portrayed by Jin Ki-joo in the 2015 MBC TV series Splash Splash Love.
 * Portrayed by Jeon Mi-seon in the 2019 film The King's Letters.