Yongsŏng Pudaebuin


Grand Internal Princess Consort Yongsŏng, or Grand Internal Princess Consort Yŏngwŏn, of the Yongdam Yeom clan, was a member of Joseon's royal family as the secondary consort of Grand Internal Prince Jeongye. She was also the biological mother of King Cheoljong of Joseon and received her title after her son's ascension to the throne.
Her father and grandfather were commoners without government offices. There are no records about the siblings of her grandfather or father.

Biography

Marriage

Lady Yŏm was a concubine of Yi Gwang. Her life and relationship with Yi Gwang's first wife, Grand Internal Princess Consort Wanyang, is unknown, but from King Cheoljong's Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, we know that he made no difference in serving them when he was a child.
In 1831, Lady Yŏm gave birth to a son who was named Yi Wŏnbŏm.

Cheoljong's reign

After his enthronement, Cheoljong granted positions for his three maternal uncles and for his mother's ancestors to the 5th generation. Her great-grandfather was appointed as Minister of Government Administration, her grandfather was appointed as Right Chanseong and her father was appointed as Chief State Councillor. According to a legend in the Ganghwa region, Cheoljong gave 3,000 pyeong of land to his poor relatives.
During the reign of Emperor Gojong, her relatives, Yŏm Hokwan and Yŏm Chaehŭng, had served in the royal court.

Death

Lady Yŏm died in March 1834. Her tomb was first located in Hongeun-dong, Hanseong-bu, but in 1851 it was moved to Gyeongjwa, Dapdong-ri, Sudong-myeon, Yangju-gun, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea alongside her husband, Grand Internal Prince Jeongye, and his first wife, Grand Internal Princess Consort Wanyang.
The tomb was built by Kim Jwa-geun, younger brother of Queen Sunwon, and the epitaph was written by Yi Ha-eung, Grand Internal Prince Heungseon, who was the father of Emperor Gojong.

Family

  • Father: Yŏm Sŏnghwa
  • Mother: Lady Chi of the Sangju Ji clan
Siblings:
  • Older brother: Yŏm Bogil
  • Unnamed older brother
  • Older sister: Lady Yŏm
Husband:
Issue: