Royal Noble Consort Gongbin Kim

Royal Noble Consort Gong of the Gimhae Kim clan (Korean공빈 김씨; Hanja恭嬪 金氏; 16 November 1553 – 13 June 1577) was a consort of Seonjo of Joseon and the mother of Gwanghaegun.

Gong-bin Kim
공빈 김씨
Royal Consort of the First Senior Rank
Born16 November 1553
Joseon
Died13 June 1577 (age 23)
Joseon
Burial
Seongmyo Mausoleum, Namyangju, South Korea
SpouseSeonjo of Joseon
Issue
ClanGimhae Kim (by birth)
Jeonju Yi (by marriage)
DynastyYi (by marriage)
FatherKim Hui-cheol
MotherLady Gwon of the Andong Gwon clan
Korean name
Hangul
공빈 김씨
Hanja
恭嬪金氏
Revised RomanizationGongbin Gimssi
McCune–ReischauerKongbin Kimssi

Biography

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Lady Kim was born into the Gimhae Kim clan in 1553 as the daughter of Kim Hui-cheol and Lady Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan.[1] She was the eldest of three children.

She entered the palace and became a concubine of Seonjo of Joseon. Lady Kim became Royal Consort Suk-ui (숙의; 淑儀) when she gave birth to Yi Jin in 1572, the King's eldest son. She eventually became Royal Consort Gwi-in (귀인; 貴人) in 1575 when she gave birth to Yi Hon, Prince Gwanghae.

Her father died in 1592 while serving as a medic in the Imjin War. This put Prince Gwanghae's position as crown prince in jeopardy because the Royal consort had no one to support her and her two sons.

It is recorded that King Seonjo cared greatly for her and when she died due to a postpartum disease he mourned for her. She monopolized the love of the king, and because of this, other concubines were often neglected. When her life was in jeopardy, she said that someone was cursing her and told her that she would die if King Seonjo did not investigate quickly.

After her son Gwanghaegun became King, she was posthumously appointed Queen Gongseong (공성왕후; 恭聖王后) while adding Jasukdanin (자숙단인; 慈淑端仁). In 1615, her son added Gyeongryeol (경렬; 敬烈) and Myeongheon (명헌; 明獻) in 1616; thus completing her posthumous to Gyeongryeol Myeongheon Jasuk Danin (경렬명헌자숙단인공성왕후; 敬烈明獻慈淑端仁恭聖王后). But she was stripped of her title, and was given back the title of Bin after her son was deposed in 1623.[2]

Her burial site is in Seongmyo Royal Tomb, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.[3][4]

Family

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  • Father: Kim Hui-Cheol, Internal Prince Haeryeong (김희철 해령부원군; 1519 – 1 August 1592)
  • Mother: Lady Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan (정경부인 안동 권씨)
  • Siblings
    • Younger brother: Kim Ye-jik (김예직; 金禮直; 1565–1623)
    • Younger brother: Kim Ui-jik (김의직; 金義直)
  • Husband: Yi Yeon, King Seonjo (조선 선조; 26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608)
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References

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  1. ^ 선조수정실록 11권, 선조 10년 5월 1일 戊子 3번째기사.
  2. ^ 광해군일기[중초본] 106권, 광해 8년 8월 19일 정사 5번째기사 161.
  3. ^ Royal tombs of Gongbi. "Seongmyo Royal Tomb, Namyangju".
  4. ^ 성묘 (成墓), Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean), Academy of Korean Studies, retrieved 2024-03-26