Yun Wŏnhyŏng


Yun Wŏnhyŏng was a Korean political figure of the Joseon period. He was the younger brother of Queen Munjeong, the 3rd wife of the 11th King Jungjong of Joseon and was the maternal uncle of the 13th King Myeongjong.
He was Chief State Councillor from 1563 to 1565. His courtesy name was Ŏnp'yŏng. In 1565, after the death of Queen Munjeong, both Yun and his wife, Jeong Nan-jeong, were exiled from the capital. Unable to make a political comeback, both committed suicide by poison.

Biography

In 1509, Yun Wŏnhyŏng was born as the fourth son and youngest child of Yun Chiim and Lady Yi of the Jeonui Yi clan. He was the younger brother of Queen Munjeong and a third cousin of Queen Janggyeong and Yun Im. He was also the great-great-grandnephew of Queen Jeonghui, who was the wife of Sejo of Joseon, the 7th King of Joseon. At 2-years-old, Yun's mother died.
Yun was a political figure from an aristocratic family and had a maternal relation to the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty. His family was of the Papyeong Yun clan. His niece, Royal Noble Consort Suk, the daughter of his brother Yun Wonryang, later became a concubine to King Injong.
In March 1515, Jungjong's second wife, Queen Janggyeong died and Jungjong formally married Yun Wŏnhyŏng's older sister, Lady Yun, to be the new Queen Consort. Their son was Grand Prince Gyeongwon.
In 1533, Yun Wŏnhyŏng passed the national examinations, and was appointed to the literature department of Byeol to become an officer. While pursuing an officer position, Yun also sought to make his nephew, Grand Prince Gyeongwon, the next king of Joseon. Yun was temporarily exiled for his actions but came back in 1544. He ran into some conflicts with two relatives who were officials: Yun Im and Kim Allo.
This made for a difficult situation since Kim Allo's granddaughter had married Yun Wŏnhyŏng's own nephew, Yun Paekwŏn. Also, Yun Im was the maternal uncle of Injong and the older brother of Queen Janggyeong.
In 1543, King Jungjong died. In 1545, King Injong died. Yun Wŏnhyŏng killed his opponents and relatives who supported his third cousin, among these being Yun Im. Later, his brother Yun Wollo was killed. In 1546, he controlled political powers. In 1547, he became Minister of Personnel, in 1551 Left State Councillor, and in 1563, Chief State Councillor.
When Queen Munjeong died in 1565, he lost all political power. This caused him and his second wife, Jeong Nan-Jeong to commit suicide.

Family

  • Father
  • * Yun Chiim
  • Mother
  • * Internal Princess Consort Jeonseong of the Jeonui Yi clan
  • Sibling
  • * Older brother: Yun Wongae
  • * Older brother: Yun Wonryang
  • * Older brother: Yun Wonp'il
  • * Older sister: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan
  • * Older sister: Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan
  • ** Brother-in-law: Yi Yeok, King Jungjong of Joseon
  • * Older brother: Yun Wollo
  • Wives and their issue
  • * Lady Kim of the Yonan Kim clan ; daughter of Kim Ansu
  • ** Daughter: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan
  • ** Son: Yun Ch'ongwŏn
  • ** Son: Yun Hyowŏn
  • * Jeong Nan-jeong of the Chogye Jeong clan
  • ** Daughter: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan

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