Sejo of Joseon

Biography

Early life

Born in 1417 as the fourth child and second son of Grand Prince Chungnyeong (future King Sejong) by his primary wife, Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (future Queen Soheon), he showed great ability at archery, horse riding and martial arts, and was also a brilliant military commander, though he never went to the battlefront himself. He also possessed musical talent, which delighted his father, who claimed that the prince could achieve many great things if he put his mind to it. In 1428, he received the title Grand Prince Suyang by which he is better known.

Rise to power

Following the death of King Sejong in 1450, Suyang's ill brother, Yi Hyang (later known as King Munjong), took the throne but died two years later, and the crown passed to his 12-year-old son, Yi Hongwi (posthumously named King Danjong). The new monarch was too young to rule the nation, and the government was controlled by Chief State Councillor Hwangbo In and General Kim Chongsŏ, who was the Left State Councillor. As Kim Chongsŏ and his faction used the chance to extend the power of court officials against royal family members, the tension between him and Suyang greatly increased not only Suyang himself, but his younger brother, Grand Prince Anpyeong, also sought an opportunity to take control of the country.

In order to court the support of the Ming dynasty, Suyang became an ambassador in 1452. He also surrounded himself with trusted allies, including his famous tactician, Han Myŏnghoe, who advised him to take over the government in a coup. In 1453, Suyang killed Kim Chongsŏ and his faction, thereby taking the reins of power into his own hands. After the coup, he arrested his own brother, Grand Prince Anpyeong, first sending him into exile, then sentencing him to death.

Reign

Finally, in 1455 Suyang forced the powerless king to abdicate, declaring himself the new ruler of Joseon (today known by the temple name "Sejo").

After his younger brother Grand Prince Geumsung, and six scholars, including Sŏng Sammun, Pak P'aengnyŏn and Yi Kae, plotted to remove him from power in an attempt to put his nephew back on the throne, Suyang demoted the former king Danjong from "King Emeritus" (Sangwang, 상왕, 上王) to "Prince Nosan" (Nosan-gun, 노산군, 魯山君) and later ordered him to commit suicide by poison.

Despite having snatched the throne from his young nephew and killing many people in the process, Sejo proved himself one of the ablest rulers and administrators in Korean history. First, he continued King Taejong's legacy of strengthening the monarchy by weakening the power of the State Council and bringing the officials directly under the king's control. He also further developed the administrative system, which had also been introduced by Taejong, enabling the government to determine exact population numbers and to mobilize troops effectively (this caused Yi Si-ae's Rebellion, which he suppressed). Just like Taejong, Sejo was a hardliner concerning foreign policy and attacked the Jurchens on the northern front in 1460 () and 1467 (). He also revised the land ordinance to improve the national economy and encouraged the publication of history, economy, agriculture, and religion books.

Sejo himself compiled a number of books based on his interests. One of them is Seokbosangjeol, a biography of Gautama Buddha. The others are Worinseokbo () and Yeokdaebyeongyo (). One of his crowning achievements was the cultural progress Joseon made during his reign, such as the establishment of Jongmyo court music. His father, King Sejong, had always wanted to use Korean music rather than Chinese music for ancestral ritual, but conservative court officials thought that Chinese music was far superior to Korean music and stopped Sejong's efforts. However, when King Sejo rose to the throne, he modified the ritual music composed by his father and used it for royal ancestral rituals, which is now inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity.

Most importantly, he compiled the Grand Code for State Administration, which became the cornerstone of dynastic administration and provided the first form of written constitutional law in Korea.

Death

Sejo died in 1468, and the throne passed to his sickly second son, Yi Hwang (Yejong of Joseon). His tomb is known as Gwangneung () and is located in Namyangju, South Korea.

Family

Parents

• Father: King Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450)
  • Grandfather: King Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 30 May 1422)
  • Grandmother: Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (29 July 1365 – 18 August 1420)
• Mother: Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (12 October 1395 – 19 April 1446)
  • Grandfather: Sim On (1375 – 18 January 1419)
  • Grandmother: Lady An of the Sunheung An clan (; 1373–1444)

Consorts and issue

• Queen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yun clan (8 December 1418 – 6 May 1483)
  • Yi Sehŭi, Princess Uiryeong (; 1437–?), first daughter — Disputed.
  • Yi Chang, Crown Prince Uigyeong (1438 – 2 September 1457), first son
  • Princess Uisuk (; 1441 – 15 January 1478), second daughter
  • Yi Hwang, Grand Prince Haeyang (14 January 1450 – 31 December 1469), third son
• Royal Noble Consort Geun of the Seonsan Pak clan (; 1425–1504)
  • Yi Sŏ, Prince Deokwon (; 7 April 1449 – 18 August 1498), second son
  • Yi Sŏng, Prince Changwon (; 1458 – 14 September 1505), fourth son
• Deposed Royal Consort So-yong of the Pak clan (; 1417 – 3 October 1465)
  • Yi Aji (; 1459–1463), fifth son
• Royal Consort Suk-won of the Goryeong Sin clan (; 1455 – ?)

Ancestry

() () () () () / (吾魯思不花)|17=17. Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Ch'oe clan ()|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;|18=18. Han Kyŏng, Internal Prince Ancheon()|20=20. Min Pyŏn()|24=24. Sim Ryong()|13=13. Lady Mun of the Incheon Mun clan()|15=15. Lady Kim of the Yeongju Kim clan()|19=19. Lady Sin of the Saknyeong Sin clan ()|22=22. Song Sŏn ()|25=25. Lady Kim()|21=21. Lady Hŏ of the Yangcheon Hŏ clan ()|23=23. Lady Ha of the Dalseong Ha clan()|26=26. Mun P'ildae()}}

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Kim Nam-gil in the film Canvas of Blood (2026)

Notes

References

References

1. (July 17, 2019). "King Sejo and Music".
2. (March 11, 2014). "Forgotten story of Princess Gyeonghye".
3. link
4. (1447). "Life History and Sermon of Buddha Abstracted from Buddhist Scriptures".