Queen Wonseong


Queen Wonseong of the Ansan Kim clan or formally called as Grand Queen Mother Wonseong was a Korean queen consort as the 3rd wife of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo who became the mother of his successors, Deokjong and Jeongjong.
She was born into the Ansan Kim clan as the eldest daughter of Kim Unbu and Lady Yi, daughter of Yi Hogyom from the Gyeongwon Yi clan. Kim Unbu was an influential royal court favorite and official. In 1010, King Hyeonjong who had fled to Naju, Jeolla Province due to the Khitan's invasion, stayed overnight in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province at Kim Unbu's house and Kim welcomed him with made his eldest daughter serve Hyeonjong comfortably. It was said too that Lady Kim made and dedicated clothes to Hyeonjong own. After this, Unbu's two other daughters also married to Hyeonjong.
According to Goryeosa, she firstly entered the palace in 1011 and was honoured as Primary Lady Yeongyeong not long after bearing her eldest son, Wang Heum in 1016. Then, she was given the "Yeongyeong Palace" and became Princess Yeongyeong after bearing her second son, Wang Hyeong in 1018. Beside Heum and Hyeong, she also had two other daughters from Hyeonjong. In 1022, she formally became a Queen consort and in 1027 stayed in "Janggyeong Palace". However, she eventually died a year later and was buried in Myeongneung tomb ; she was later enshrined in her husband's shrine.

Family

  • Father: Kim Un-bu
  • *Grandfather: Kim Kŭng-pil
  • **1st Older brother: Kim Chung-chan
  • **2nd Older brother: Kim Nan-won
  • **1st Younger sister: Queen Wonhye
  • **2nd Younger sister: Queen Wonpyeong
  • Mother: Grand Lady of Ansan County of the Gyeongwon Yi clan ; formally called as "Grand Lady of the Anhyo State"
  • *Grandfather: Yi Ho-gyom – the founder of the Gyeongwon Yi clan.
  • *Grandmother: Grand Lady of Ansan County of the Gyeongju Kim clan
  • Husband: King Hyeonjong of Goryeo
  • *1st son: King Deokjong of Goryeo
  • *2nd son: King Jeongjong of Goryeo
  • *1st daughter: Queen Inpyeong
  • *2nd daughter: Princess Gyeongsuk

    Posthumous name

  • After King Deokjong's ascension to the throne in 1031, he honoured his late mother as Grand Queen Mother and gave her a posthumous name as Yong-ui and Gong-hye.
  • In October 1056, name Yeong-mok ; Yang-deok ; Sin-jeol ; and Sun-seong was added.
  • In April 1140, name Ja-seong was added.
  • In October 1253, name Gwang-seon was added to her posthumous name too.

    In popular culture

  • Portrayed by Jung Han-bi in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
  • Portrayed by Ha Seung-ri in the 2023–2024 KBS2 TV series Korea-Khitan War.