King Jeongjo
| Yi San | |
|---|---|
| King of Joseon Dynasty | |
Jeongjo's portrait from Seon-one-rok (royal genealogy book)
|
|
| Reign | 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800 |
| Predecessor | Yeongjo of Joseon |
| Successor | Sunjo of Joseon |
| Born |
28 October 1752 Changgyeong Palace, Kingdom of Joseon |
| Died | 18 August 1800 (aged 47) Changgyeong Palace, Kingdom of Joseon |
| Burial | Geolleung, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi |
| Spouse | Queen Hyoui |
| Issue | Sunjo of Joseon |
| House | House of Yi |
| Father | Crown Prince Sado |
| Mother | Princess Consort Hyegyeong |
| Jeongjo of Joseon | |
| Hangul | 정조 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 正祖 |
| Revised Romanization | Jeongjo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chŏngjo |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 이산 |
| Hanja | 李祘 |
| Revised Romanization | I San |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi San |
Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800) was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (r. 1776-1800). He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Korea. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo (r. 1724–1776) and succeeded by his son King Sunjo (r. 1800–1834).
Some say Jeongjo is one of the most successful and visionary rulers of the Joseon Dynasty. But it is also pointed out that he was overestimated.
Born as Yi San, he was the son of Crown Prince Sado (who was put to death by his own father, King Yeongjo) and Lady Hyegyeong (who wrote an autobiography, The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong detailing her life as the ill-fated Crown Princess of Korea). Lady Hyegyeong's collection of memoirs serves as a significant source of historical information on the political happenings during the reigns of King Yeongjo (her father-in-law), King Jeongjo (her son), and King Sunjo (her grandson).
When he was the Crown Prince, King Jeongjo met Hong Guk-yeong (홍국영, 洪國榮), a controversial politician who first strongly supported Jeongjo's accession and toiled to improve the king's power, but ended up being expelled because of his desire for power.
Jeongjo spent much of his reign trying to clear his father's name. He also moved the court to the city of Suwon to be closer to his father's grave. He built Hwaseong Fortress to guard the tomb. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The era before his rule was in disorder as his father was killed by royal decree of his own father, King Jeongjo's grandfather. King Yeongjo's ultimate decision to execute Crown Prince Sado was greatly influenced by other politicians who were against the Crown Prince. After King Yeongjo's death and on the day that Jeongjo became the King of Joseon, he sat on his throne in the throne room and looked at everyone and said, "I am the son of the late Crown Prince Sado..." This was a bold statement that sent shivers down the spines of all the politicians who were complicit in his father's death.
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Wikipedia