Inbin Kim


Royal Noble Consort Gyeonghye of the Suwon Kim clan was a consort of Seonjo of Joseon and the paternal grandmother of Injo of Joseon.

Life

Early life

Lady Kim was born in the Suwon Kim clan as the daughter of Kim Han-U and his wife, Lady Yi. Her maternal grandfather was of the royal Jeonju Yi clan and a great-grandson of Taejong of Joseon, making Consort In and her husband cousins. Her niece was also a royal concubine of Gwanghaegun of Joseon, Royal Consort Sowon Shin.

Royal Consort

Royal Noble Consort Gyeong, one of Lady Kim's cousins, who was a royal concubine to Myeongjong of Joseon, raised her in the royal palace. Lady Kim caught the eyes of Queen Insun, who recommended her to King Seonjo as a concubine. In 1573, the 4th year of Seonjo's reign, Lady Kim was appointed as Sukwon, the lowest rank of the king's consorts. She was promoted more in later years, becoming in 1604, Royal Noble Consort with the prefix of In, meaning benevolence.
During her time spent in the palace, she gave birth to four sons and four daughters; only her first son died in childhood. The King favoured her second son, Prince Shinseong, hoping to make him Crown Prince. After the Imjin War broke out, Prince Shinseong died in Uiju County and his elder half-brother, Gwanghaegun, was made heir. Although Inbin Kim didn't have a good relationship with Consort Gong, she defended Gwanghaegun later in life.

Death

Consort In died on 30 November 1613, aged 58, during the reign of Gwanghaegun of Joseon. Gwanghaeun suspended court for three days and posthumously awarded her the name Gyeonghye.

Family

  • Father: Kim Han-U
  • Mother: Lady Yi, of the Jeonju Yi clan
Consort and issue