Ch'oe Hyowŏn


Ch'oe Hyowŏn, of the Haeju Choe clan, was a Joseon military officer. He was the father of Royal Noble Consort Suk and the maternal grandfather of King Yeongjo of Joseon.

Biography

There is little detailed information known about his family lineage. The names of his great-grandfather Ch'oe Ŏkji, grandfather T'ongjŏng Ch'oe Malchŏng, and father Ch'oe T'aeil are mentioned. However, none of them are documented in the family records of the Haeju Choe clan. It remains uncertain whether they are descendants of Ch'oe On, the founder of the Haeju Choe clan, several generations down the line.
His father Ch'oe Tae-il held no official position, but posthumously, he was appointed to the positions of Sukjongdaebu, Uijeongbu Jwachanseong, concurrently positions of Panuigeumbusa, and was posthumously promoted again to the positions of Daegwangbo Sukrokdaebu, Uijeongbu Uiejeong, concurrently serving as Yeonggyeongyeon and Ch'unch'ugwansa. His mother, Lady Pyeonggang Jang, the daughter of Tongdeoknang Jang Ji-won, was posthumously recognized as Jeonggyeongbuin. He was married to Hong Gye-nam's daughter, Lady Hong, from the Namyang Hong clan. They had two daughters and one son. Their second daughter eventually became the birth mother of Yi Geum, King Yeongjo. During his lifetime, Ch'oe Hyowŏn served as the General of the Vanguard, acting Deputy Chief Officer of the Loyal Martial Guard.
He died on 15 August 1672, at the age of 35. After his death, his grandson, King Yeongjo, posthumously promoted him the position of Daewangbo, Sukrokdaebu, concurrently holding the positions of Yŏngŭijŏng, Yeonggyeongyeon, and Hongmungwan on February 18, 1734.

Tombs

His burial site is located at 85th spot in Jin Gwan-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul. In the vicinity of his tomb, there are burial sites for his grandson Ch'oe Su-gang, father-in-law Hong Gye-nam, and the Hong Gye-ung family. The burial sites of his father, Ch'oe T'aeil, and grandfather, Ch'oe Malchŏng, are situated at 10-1 spot in Bulkwang-dong, Eunpyeong District. The epitaph was composed by the royal family member, Prince Seopyeonggun Lee Yo-ga.

Family