Munjong of Joseon

Yi Hyang was the longest serving heir apparent during the Joseon period, holding the position for a record 29 years.

In January 1421, Sejong instructed that his eight-year-old son be educated by scholars from the Hall of Worthies, then in October the same year, he was invested as crown prince and sent to study at the Sungkyunkwan.^[1] From 1442 until his own ascension to the throne in 1450, Yi Hyang served as regent and took care of state affairs during the final years of his father's reign, as Sejong developed various illnesses and disorders.^[2]

Most of his achievements were during his time as crown prince. Although credit is primarily given to Chang Yŏngsil for inventing the water gauge, the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty affirm that it was the prince who found measures of water levels in the ground. Yi Hyang also contributed to the development of the Korean vernacular script (today known as Hangul).^[3]

Yi Hyang ascended to the throne as King Munjong in 1450, and his reign marked the beginning of an imbalance of power at the Joseon court. Gim Bi-hwan describes the "interaction of the royal authority, administrative power, remonstrative power, and the collective authority of scholars outside the office," before Munjong as contributing to a situation that allowed the country to function constitutionally. During Munjong's reign, however, the balance collapsed, setting the stage for his brother to lead a coup d'etat in 1452 against Munjong's son.^[4]

Munjong's reign also saw the demolition of Gyejodang Hall, a building within Gyeongbokgung Palace, a facility that was used by Munjong when he was crown prince to handle state affairs on behalf of his father, Sejong and to greet foreign envoys.^[5]

During the reign of Munjong, books such as the Goryeosa and the Goryeosa Jeolyo were written. He was also deeply interested in military matters, and reformed the army into five sas from the previous twelve.^[6]

Munjong died on 10 June 1452 at the age of 37, likely of septicemia caused by infected boils.^[7] He was succeeded by his eldest son Danjong, who was only 12 at the time and was forced to abdicate in 1455 in favor of his uncle Grand Prince Seyong, who became King Sejo.

Munjong was first married to Lady Gim of the (old) Andong Gim clan, between 1427 and 1429. She reportedly used witchcraft to gain his love. She also burned the shoes of Munjong's concubine, and made her drink the ashes with alcohol. When her father-in-law, King Sejong, found out about these actions, he deposed her.

The same year his first wife was ousted, Munjong remarried to Lady Bong of the Haeum Bong clan. She was deposed in 1436, when it was discovered that she had a homosexual love affair with one of her palace maids named So-ssang (소쌍).

Lastly, in 1437, Lady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan became the third wife of Munjong, while he was still the crown prince. Originally a concubine, she gave birth to two daughters, one of whom was Princess Gyeonghye, and to Yi Hong-wi, Mujong's only surviving son, who later became King Danjong. Lady Gwon died in 1441, soon after the birth of her son, and when her husband took the throne, she was posthumously honored as "Queen Hyeondeok" (Hyeondeok Wanghu; 현덕왕후, 顯德王后).

• Father: King Sejong of Joseon (조선의 세종대왕; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450)
  • Grandfather: King Taejong of Joseon (조선의 태종대왕; 21 June 1367 – 8 June 1422)
  • Grandmother: Queen Wongyeong (원경왕후), of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨; 6 August 1365 – 27 August 1420)
• Mother: Queen Soheon (소헌왕후), of the Cheongsong Shim clan (청송 심씨; 20 October 1395 – 28 April 1446)
  • Grandfather: Shim On (심온), Internal Prince Cheongcheon (청천부원군; 1375 – January 1419)
  • Grandmother: Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인), of the Sunheung An clan (순흥 안씨; ?–1444)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

• Deposed Crown Princess (폐빈), of the (old) Andong Kim clan (구 안동 김씨)
• Deposed Crown Princess (폐빈), of the Haeum Bong clan (하음 봉씨)
• Queen Hyeondeok (현덕왕후), of the Andong Gwon clan (안동 권씨; 26 April 1418 – 19 August 1441)
  • Unnamed daughter (?–1433)
  • Princess Gyeonghye (경혜공주; 1435 – 27 January 1474), first daughter
  • Yi Hong-wi (이홍위), King Danjong of Joseon (조선의 단종대왕; 18 August 1441 – 16 November 1457), first son
• Concubine Suk (숙빈), of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨)
  • Unnamed daughter (1441–1444)
• Sugui (숙의), of the Nampyeong Mun clan (남평 문씨; 1426–1508)
• Soyong (소용), of the Munhwa Yu clan (문화 유씨)
• Soyong (소용), of the Andong Gwon clan (안동 권씨)
• Soyong (소용), of the Dongnae Jeong clan (동래 정씨)
  • Unnamed son
• Soyong (소용), of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨)
• Palace Lady (상궁), of the Jang clan (장씨)^[d]
  • Unnamed son
• Palace Lady (사칙), of the Yang clan (양씨; 1414–?)^[e]
  • Princess Gyeongsuk (경숙옹주; 1439–?), second daughter
  • Unnamed daughter (1450–1451)

• Portrayed by Hwang Chi-hoon in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
• Portrayed by Jeon Moo-song in the 1998 KBS1 TV series The King and the Queen.
• Portrayed by Oh Eun-chan and Lee Sang-yeob in the 2008 KBS TV series The Great King, Sejong.
• Portrayed by Park Jung-chul in the 2008 film The Divine Weapon.
• Portrayed by Jung Dong-hwan in the 2011 KBS2 TV series The Princess' Man.
• Portrayed by Sunwoo Jae-duk in the 2011 JTBC TV series Insu, the Queen Mother.
• Portrayed by Kim Tae-woo in 2013 film The Face Reader.
• Portrayed by Han Jeong-woo and Choi Seung-hoon in the 2016 KBS1 TV series Jang Yeong-sil.

• History of Korea
• List of monarchs of Korea
• Styles and titles in Joseon