Yejong of Joseon

Yejong
예종
睿宗
King of Joseon
ReignSeptember 22, 1468 – January 9, 1470
EnthronementJungmun Gate, Sugang Palace, Hanseong
PredecessorSejo
SuccessorSeongjong
RegentQueen Jeonghui (1468–1470)
Born(1450-01-23)January 23, 1450
Grand Prince Suyang's Mansion, Hanseong, Joseon
DiedJanuary 9, 1470(1470-01-09) (aged 19)
Jamidang Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Changneung Mausoleum, Seooneung Cluster, Goyang, South Korea
Spouses
(m. 1460; died 1462)
(m. 1463)
Issue
among others...
Seongjong of Joseon (adopted)
Names
Yi Hwang (이황; 李晄)
Posthumous name
  • Joseon: King Heummun Seongmu Uiin Sohyo the Great (흠문성무의인소효대왕; 欽文聖武懿仁昭孝大王)
  • Ming dynasty: Yangdo (양도; 襄悼)
Temple name
Yejong (예종; 睿宗)
ClanJeonju Yi
DynastyYi
FatherSejo of Joseon
MotherQueen Jeonghui
ReligionKorean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Korean name
Hangul
이황
Hanja
李晄
RRI Hwang
MRI Hwang
Monarch name
Hangul
예종
Hanja
睿宗
RRYejong
MRYejong
Courtesy name
Hangul
명조, 평남
Hanja
明照, 平南
RRMyeongjo, Pyeongnam
MRMyŏngjo, P'yŏngnam

Yejong (Korean예종; Hanja睿宗; January 23, 1450 – January 9, 1470), personal name Yi Hwang (이황; 李晄), firstly titled Grand Prince Haeyang (해양대군; 海陽大君), was the eighth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. His older brother was Crown Prince Uigyeong. He succeeded his father, King Sejo, in 1468, when he was 19 years old, but was too physically ill to govern, and died a year later.

One of the most prominent incidents during his reign was the trial and death of General Nam I, who was famous for having suppressed Yi Si-ae's Rebellion along with General Gang Sun. At the age of 28, Nam I was appointed as Minister of Military Affairs. However, when Yejong took the throne, Yu Chagwang, who was jealous of Nam I, accused him of treason when he found out that the king himself was not fond of the general. Yu also involved Gang Sun and initiated a trial witnessed by Yejong. They were found guilty and executed, while Yu Chagwang was promoted to a high office. After this incident, there were many cases where Yu accused ministers who were apparently more prestigious than himself.