Queen Uiin

Queen Uiin (5 May 1555 – 5 August 1600 ), of the Bannam Park clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the first wife and first queen consort of Yi Yeon, King Seonjo, the 14th Joseon monarch. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1569 until her death in 1600.

Early life
The future queen was born on 5 May 1555 during the reign of King Myeongjong. Her father, Park Eung-sun, was a member of the Bannam Park clan. Her mother was a member of the Jeonju Yi clan. She had a younger brother.

Through her mother, Lady Park was a first cousin fifth times removed of her future husband, King Seonjo. King Seonjo and Lady Park both share King Sejong as their ancestor as he’s their 5th great-grandfather. King Seonjo’s father, Internal Grand Prince Deokheung, was the 3rd great-grandson of King Sejong, and King Seonjo’s mother, Internal Grand Princess Consort Hadong, was also the 3rd great-granddaughter of King Sejong.

Through her maternal 3rd great-grandmother, she was also a 4th great-granddaughter of Han Hwak and a 3rd great-grandniece of Queen Sohye; the mother of King Seongjong and daughter of Han Hwak.

Her first cousin, Park Mi, eventually became the 5th great-grandfather of Park Myeong-won; the husband of Princess Hwapyeong who was the eldest daughter of King Yeongjo and Royal Noble Consort Yeong.

Life as queen consort
She became queen consort at the age of 15 in 1569 when she married the 17-year-old King Seonjo. Her mother was given the royal title of "Internal Princess Consort Wansan" and her father being given the title of "Internal Prince Banseong".

She was unable to bear children, and her husband went to concubines to produce heirs. She built Buddhist temples all over the country for her to pray in and made frequent donations to the temples, including Geonbongsa and Beopjusa.

Imjin War and death
After the Imjin War, Seonjo fled to Uiju to seek protection, bringing his concubine, Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Kim clan and the Queen with him. But the Queen became separated on their way to their seek shelter, and so fled to Pyeonganam Island, Pyeongan Province. The King and Kim Inbin returned to the capital, but the Queen decided to stay in Haeju until 1597.

When the Second Invasion happened, Seonjo once again fled with Kim In-Bin but this time, the Queen fled together with Crown Prince Gwanghae. Her health deteriorated due to the strain of constantly moving from one place to another, and she later died at the age of 45, without any issue. She was posthumously honoured as Queen Uiin.

Family
Parent


 * Father − Park Eung-sun (11 June 1526 – 10 November 1580)
 * Mother − Yi Su, Internal Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Yi clan (1527–1595)

Sibling


 * Younger brother − Park Dong-eon (1557–1605)

Consort


 * Yi Yeon, King Seonjo (1552–1608)
 * Mother-in-law - Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong of the Hadong Jeong clan (1522–1567)
 * Legal mother-in-law - Queen Insun of the Cheongsong Sim clan (7 June 1532 – 12 February 1575)
 * Father-in-law − Grand Internal Prince Deokheung (1530–1559)
 * Legal father-in-law - Myeongjong of Joseon (3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567)

Issue


 * Adoptive son − King Gwanghae (1575–1641)
 * Adoptive daughter-in-law − Queen Hyejang of the Munhwa Yu clan (1576–1623)
 * Unnamed adoptive grandson; died prematurely
 * Adoptive grandson - Yi Ji, Deposed Crown Prince (31 December 1598 – 22 July 1623)
 * Adoptive granddaughter-in-law - Deposed Crown Princess Consort Park of the Miryang Park clan (1598 – May 1623)
 * Adoptive great-granddaughter - Unnamed princess

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Lee Hyo-choon in the 2003–2004 SBS TV series The King's Woman.
 * Portrayed by Hwang Mi-seon in the 2004–2005 KBS TV series Immortal Admiral Yi Soon Shin.
 * Portrayed by Im Ji-eun in the 2014 KBS2 TV series The King's Face.
 * Portrayed by Hwang In-young in the 2015 KBS TV series Jingbirok.
 * Portrayed by Kang Han-na in the 2016 JTBC TV series Mirror of the Witch.