Royal Noble Consort Gongbin Kim


Royal Noble Consort Gong of the Gimhae Kim clan was a consort of Seonjo of Joseon and the mother of Gwanghaegun.

Biography

Lady Kim was born into the Gimhae Kim clan in 1553 as the daughter of Kim Hui-cheol and Lady Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan. She was the eldest of three children.
She entered the palace and became a concubine of Seonjo of Joseon. Lady Kim became Royal Consort Suk-ui when she gave birth to Yi Jin in 1572, the King's eldest son. She eventually became Royal Consort Gwi-in in 1575 when she gave birth to Yi Hon, Prince Gwanghae.
Her father died in 1592 while serving as a medic in the Imjin War. This put Prince Gwanghae's position as crown prince in jeopardy because the Royal Consort had no one to support her and her two sons.
It is recorded that King Seonjo cared greatly for her and when she died due to a postpartum disease he mourned for her. She monopolized the love of the king, and because of this, other concubines were often neglected. When her life was in jeopardy, she said that someone was cursing her and told her that she would die if King Seonjo did not investigate quickly.
After her son Gwanghaegun became King, she was posthumously appointed Queen Gongseong while adding Jasukdanin. In 1615, her son added Gyeongryeol and Myeongheon in 1616; thus completing her posthumous to Gyeongryeol Myeongheon Jasuk Danin. But she was stripped of her title, and was given back the title of Bin after her son was deposed in 1623.
Her burial site is in Seongmyo Royal Tomb, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Family

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