Royal Consort Ik-Bi


Royal Consort Ik of the Gaeseong Wang clan was the 4th wife of her eleventh cousin, King Gongmin of Goryeo as they were same descents from King Hyeonjong and Queen Wonhye.

Marriage and palace life

In October 1366, he took Wang as his Queen Consort since he didn't have any issue from his first marriage. Then, in December, she became Ik-Bi and was given the new surname Han. Later in May 1367, along with Consort Ahn, they went to Gorari and watched Gyeoggu Game.
However, in 1373, his first wife, Princess Noguk died which reportedly mentally unbalanced him. He then ordered members of the Jajewi, an elite group of young and handsome men, to have sex with his consorts to impregnate them. At this time, Gracious Consort Yi, Consort Yeom and Consort Ahn refused the order. Ik-Bi also refused it, but Gongmin threatened her with a sword so she was forced to have relationships with Han Ahn, Hong Ryun, Gwon Jin, Hong Gwan and No Seon under Gongmin's watch. After this, the men often went to her chamber at night under the pretext of fulfilling the King's order. However, Yun Ga-gwan along with two other self-defense committee members disobeyed the King's command and became delinquents for a while.
It is written in the Life of Hong Ryoun that in 1374, the eunuch Choi Man-Seng reported to King Gongmin that Consort Ik was in her fifth month of pregnancy. The King was greatly pleased by this, and asked who was the father. When he learned that it was Hong Ryun, he told the eunuch that he would now have to kill him and the entire group of Jajewi men in order to keep the secret of her baby's paternity. Choi reported this to Hong's group and later, on 22 September, they assassinated Gongmin in his sleep. Hong was eventually assassinated by Yi In-im related forces and then Ik-Bi gave birth to their daughter on 1 October.
In 1390, the former consort was given land by the king after she raised his youngest daughter, Princess Gyeonghwa at her own mansion.

Family

In popular culture

TV series

Film