Yeongjo of Joseon, personal name Yi Geum, was the 21st monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Sukjong, by his concubine Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choe clan. Before ascending to power, he was known as Prince Yeoning. His life was characterized by political infighting and resentment due to his biological mother's low-born origins.
Jeongjo of Joseon, personal name Yi San, sometimes called Jeongjo the Great, was the 22nd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After succeeding his grandfather, King Yeongjo, he made various attempts to reform and improve the nation.
Crown Prince Sado, personal name Yi Seon, was the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon. His biological mother was Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Yi clan. Due to the prior death of Sado's older half-brother, Crown Prince Hyojang, the new prince was the probable future monarch. However, at the age of 27, he died, most likely of dehydration and possibly of starvation after being confined in a rice chest on the orders of his father in the heat of summer.
Queen Jeongsun, of the Gyeongju Kim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and second queen consort of Yi Geum, King Yeongjo, the 21st Joseon monarch. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1759 until her husband's death in 1776, after which she was honoured as Queen Dowager Yesun (예순왕대비) during the reign of her step-grandson Yi San, King Jeongjo and as Grand Queen Dowager Yesun (예순대왕대비) during the reign of her step great-grandson Yi Gong, King Sunjo.
Princess Hwawan was a Joseon princess and the ninth daughter of King Yeongjo of Joseon.
Queen Hyoui, of the Cheongpung Kim clan, was the wife and queen consort of King Jeongjo of Joseon. In 1899, Emperor Gojong posthumously gave her the name of Hyoui, the Kind Empress.
The Fatal Encounter is a 2014 South Korean film based on a real-life assassination attempt on King Jeongjo. Jeongjo is portrayed by Hyun Bin, in his first role in a period drama and first acting project after being discharged from mandatory military service.
Lady Hyegyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan, also known as Queen Heongyeong, was a Korean writer and Crown Princess during the Joseon Dynasty. She was the wife of Crown Prince Sado and mother of King Jeongjo. In 1903, Emperor Gojong gave her the posthumous name of Heongyeong, the Virtuous Empress.
The Throne is a 2015 South Korean historical drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik, starring Song Kang-ho and Yoo Ah-in. Set during the reign of King Yeongjo, the film is about the life of Crown Prince Sado, the heir to the throne who was deemed unfit to rule and, at age 27, was condemned to death by his own father by being locked in a rice chest for eight days.
Secret Door is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Han Suk-kyu, Lee Je-hoon, Kim Yoo-jung, Park Eun-bin, Kim Min-jong, and Choi Won-young. It aired on SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 from 22 September to 9 December 2014 for 24 episodes.
Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Yi clan, alternatively known as Lady Seonhui, was a concubine of King Yeongjo of Joseon and the mother of Crown Prince Sado. She is most well known for advising Yeongjo to execute their son, as the latter suffered from serious mental illnesses.
Crown Prince Uiso or Crown Prince Successor Uiso, personal name Yi Jeong was a Joseon Crown Prince as the son of Crown Prince Sado and Crown Princess Consort Hyegyeong and was third in line of succession to the throne to King Yeongjo. He was the older brother of King Jeongjo. His Chinese name was Changheung.
Prince Sanggye or Crown Prince Wanpung was a Korean prince, an adopted son of Jeongjo of Joseon and biological child of Prince Euneon. His first name was Yi Jun, his changed name was Yi Dam, and his other name was Yi Shik. His posthumous epithet is unknown.
Queen Hyosun, of the Pungyang Jo clan, was the crown princess of Joseon. She was never known by the title queen during her lifetime. Both Hyosun and her husband were posthumously made the adoptive parents of the future King Jeongjo in 1764, in an attempt to distance the boy from the crimes of his birth father, Crown Prince Sado. She was posthumously called as Hyosun, the Bright Empress.
Crown Prince Munhyo, personal name Yi Sun, was the first son of Jeongjo of Joseon and his favorite concubine, Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Changnyeong Seong clan. He was the older half-brother of King Sunjo.
Royal Noble Consort Won of the Pungsan Hong clan was a concubine of King Jeongjo of Joseon.
Royal Noble Consort Hwa of the Namwon Yun clan was a concubine of King Jeongjo of Joseon.
Princess Jeongmyeong was a Joseon Royal Princess as the tenth daughter of King Seonjo, from Queen Inmok. During her older half-brother's reign, she suffered hardships, and her title was revoked, but later it was reinstated after her half-nephew ascended the throne. Due to this, her life was believed to have been as brittle and unfortunate like her ancestor and her descendant who were famous for their unfortunate fates as the Princess of Joseon and Korean Empire.
Hong Guk-yeong, was a noted Korean scholar and politician of Joseon dynasty who first strongly supported King Jeongjo's accession and toiled to improve the king's power, but ended up being expelled because of his desire for power. He served the king in the closest proximity of all government officials and often enjoyed great power that was derived from the king's favor. Hong Guk-yeong and Han Myeong-hoe are some examples of chief royal secretaries who were the most powerful officials of their time.
Princess Cheongyeon was a royal princess of the Joseon Dynasty. She was the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyeong.
