Royal Noble Consort Wonbin Hong

Royal Noble Consort Won of the Pungsan Hong clan (27 May 1766 – 7 May 1779) was a concubine of King Jeongjo of Joseon.

Early life
Lady Hong was born into the Pungsan Hong clan, on May 27, 1766. She was the second child and only daughter of Hong Nak-chun and his wife, Lady Yi of the Ubong Yi clan. Through her father, Lady Hong is an 11th-degree great-niece of Lady Hyegyeong (mother of King Jeongjo), as well as the 5th great-granddaughter of Hong Joo-won and Princess Jeongmyeong.

Palace Life
Lady Hong was chosen as a concubine to Jeongjo of Joseon when she was 12 years old, in June 1778. She entered the palace as Royal Noble Consort Won, alternatively known as Lady Sukchang. As a royal consort, it was said that she was treated like a formal consort in Chinese court, receiving morning greetings from the ministers and the physicians, and had posthumous titles conferred to her upon her death. Her older brother, Hong Guk-yeong, was a chief royal secretary who hoped to enhance his power through her marriage with Jeongjo.

However, she soon experienced a phantom pregnancy. Fearing a scandal, she attempted to cover it up, but failed. Out of grief, she died on May 7, 1779.

Legacy
Jeongjo himself composed a eulogy for her. She was then posthumously honoured as Insuk and Lady Hyohwi. Her tomb was first located on the present grounds of Korea University, Inmyeongwon, but was later moved to Seosamreung , Wondang-dong, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. In the present, the former site of Inmyeongwon remains on the grounds of Korea University, so it is called 'Aegungun'

After her death, her older brother, Hong Guk-yeong was enraged over the fact that she died unforgiven by Queen Hyoui and her remark that he would have no influence over the next heir. He was ultimately exiled for trying to poison Queen Hyoui out of anger over his sister's death and to prevent his bargain from being exposed, for Queen Hyoui discovered it and threatened to tell King Jeongjo. He aborted the attempt after discovering that the King was taking her place at the food ceremony and tearfully confessed.

Currently, the Central Research Institute for Korean Studies reports that the handwritten book “Eojeinsukwonbinhaengjang”. It is said that it is unusual for the king to write a concubine's coat of arms or eulogy. According to the “Eojeinsukwonbinhaengjang”, Lady Hyegyeong showed special affection to Consort Won. This is the direct opposite of the story that Lady Hyegyeong herself wrote in Hanjungnok (한중록, 閑中錄/恨中錄), written after King Jeongjo’s death. In the Annals of Sunjo, there is a section emphasizing that there is an allegation that she and Won-Bin shared a close relationship in supporting one another, but it is said to be not true. The classic novel “The Diary of Lady Sukchang”, which seems to have been written by a person from the family line of Hong Guk-yeong, depicts Won-Bin's entrance into the palace, but Lady Hyegyeong gives the impression that she was on the supportive side of Queen Hyoui.

Family

 * Father: Hong Nak-chun
 * Mother: Lady Yi of the Ubong Yi clan
 * Sibling(s)
 * Older brother: Hong Guk-yeong (1748 – 28 April 1781)
 * Husband: Yi San, King Jeongjo (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800)
 * Children
 * Adoptive son: Yi Dam, Prince Seonggye (21 January 1769 – 20 November 1786)
 * Adoptive daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Pyeongsan of the Pyeongsan Shin clan (13 June 1770 – 17 March 1801)
 * Adoptive grandson: Yi Hui, Prince Ikpyeong (16 October 1824 – 18 September 1863)

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Lee Ae-jung in the 2001 MBC TV series Hong Guk-yeong.
 * Portrayed by Ji Sung-won in the 2007 MBC TV series Lee San, Wind of the Palace.
 * Portrayed by Park Seo-kyung in the 2021 MBC TV series The Red Sleeve.