Deposed Queen Yun was the second queen of King Seongjong, the 9th king of Joseon, and the mother of Yeonsangun, known for his tyrannical rule. Her tragic life was marked by numerous events stemming from political conflicts and complex human relationships within the Joseon royal family.
Birth and Entrance to the Palace
Deposed Queen Yun was born on June 1, 1455 (the 3rd year of King Danjong's reign). Her hometown was Haman, and her father was Yun Gi-gyeon, while her mother was Lady Shin of the Goryeong Shin clan. Her maternal grandfather, Shin Pyeong, was from a prestigious family (a high-status family) closely related to Shin Suk-ju. However, she grew up in a poor household as her father passed away early. On March 19, 1473 (the 4th year of King Seongjong's reign), Yun was selected as one of King Seongjong's concubines (one of the king's other wives). After entering the palace, she gained King Seongjong's favor (love) with her modest and gentle demeanor and earned the trust of the three queens dowager (Queen Dowager Jeonghui, Queen Dowager Ansun, and Queen Dowager Sohye).
Life as Queen
After the first queen, Queen Gonghye, passed away, Yun was appointed queen in 1476 (the 7th year of King Seongjong's reign), and she gave birth to her son, Yeonsangun, on November 7 of the same year. According to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, there were conflicts between her and King Seongjong after she was appointed queen. She was reported to have possessed items related to witchcraft (magic) and poison (poisonous substances), wrote letters intending to harm people, and sent anonymous letters falsely accusing Lady Eom and Lady Jeong, whom she saw as rivals.
Deposition and Execution
In addition to her strange behaviors, Yun's speech and actions in the palace were inappropriate, and she repeatedly violated court etiquette (manners). While there are no official records, it was said that she once scratched the king's face with her nails. Due to her continuous misconduct, she was eventually deposed (stripped of her position) in 1479 (the 10th year of King Seongjong's reign). Deposed Queen Yun was banished to her home and ultimately forced to drink poison (execution). Interestingly, some unofficial stories (non-official records) suggest that Yun was deposed due to false accusations.
Impact After Death
Deposed Queen Yun's death had a significant impact on her son, Yeonsangun. Yeonsangun, who was young at the time of his mother's death, learned the truth only after ascending the throne. Harboring resentment (anger) over his mother's death, he punished those responsible for her demise. This led to a series of events related to Yeonsangun's tyrannical rule and caused political turmoil (chaos) within the Joseon royal family.
While Deposed Queen Yun's life was tragic, her story serves as an important resource for understanding the complex political situation and human relationships within the Joseon royal family. It reminds us of the significance of human relationships and political conflicts even today.
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