Yun Won-hyeong (Korean: 윤원형, 尹元衡; 1509 – 18 November 1565) 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.

Yoon Won-hyeong
윤원형
Chief State Councillor
In office
9 February 1563 – 9 September 1565
Preceded bySang Jin
Succeeded byYi Jun-gyeong
Right State Councillor
In office
15 June 1558 – 16 November 1558
Preceded byYoon Gae
Succeeded byAn Hyeon
In office
14 October 1551 – 17 October 1551
Preceded bySang Jin
Succeeded byYoon Gae
Personal details
Born1509
Joseon
Died18 November 1565(1565-11-18) (aged 55–56)
Gangeum-hyeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon

He was Chief State Councillor from 1563 to 1565. His courtesy name was Eonpyung (언평; 彦平). In 1565, after the death of Queen Munjeong, both Yun Won-hyeong and his wife, Jeong Nan-jeong, were exiled from the capital. Unable to make a political comeback, both committed suicide by poison.

Biography

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In 1509, Yun Won-hyeong was born as the fourth son and youngest child of Yun Ji-im and Lady Lee of the Jeonui Lee 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 Won-hyeong was a political figure from an aristocratic family and of maternal relation of the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty. His family was of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨; 波平 尹氏). His niece, Royal Noble Consort Suk,[note 1] later became a concubine to King Injong.[note 2]

In March 1515, Jungjong's second wife, Queen Janggyeong died and Jungjong formally married Yun Won-hyeong's older sister, Lady Yun, to be the new Queen Consort. Their son was Grand Prince Gyeongwon (the future King Myeongjong).

In 1533, Yun Won-hyeong 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 Ahn-ro.

This made for a difficult situation, since Kim Ahn-ro's granddaughter (the daughter of Princess Hyohye and his son, Kim Hui) had married Yun Won-hyeong's own nephew, Yun Baek-won. 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 Won-hyeong killed his opponents and relatives that supported his third cousin, among these being Yun Im. Later, his brother Yun Won-ro was killed (the Eulsa massacre). In 1546, he controlled political powers. In 1547, he became Minister of Personnel (Ijo Panseo), 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

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  • Father
    • Yun Ji-im (윤지임; 尹之任; 1475 – 14 April 1534)
  • Mother
    • Internal Princess Consort Jeonseong of the Jeonui Lee clan (전성부부인 전의 이씨; 全城府夫人 全義李氏; 1475–1511)
  • Sibling(s)
    • Older brother: Yun Won-gae (윤원개; 尹元凱; 1493–1535)
    • Older brother: Yun Won-ryang (윤원량; 尹元亮; 1495–1569)
    • Older brother: Yun Won-pil (윤원필; 尹元弼; 1496 – 9 May 1547)
    • Older sister: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (윤씨; 1499–?)
    • Older sister: Queen Munjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (문정왕후 윤씨; 文定王后 尹氏; 2 December 1501 – 5 May 1565)
    • Older brother: Yun Won-ro (윤원로; 尹元老; 1503–1546)
  • Wives and their issue(s)
    • Lady Kim of the Yeonan Kim clan (연안 김씨; 1509–?); daughter of Kim Ahn-su (김안수, 金安遂; 1485–1551)
      • Daughter: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨; 1536–?)
      • Son: Yun Chong-won (윤충원; 尹忠源; 1540–?)
      • Son: Yun Hyo-won (윤효원; 尹孝源; 1550–?)
    • Jeong Nan-jeong (정난정; 鄭允謙) of the Chogye Jeong clan (초계 정씨; 草溪 鄭氏; 1509–13 November 1565)
      • Daughter: Lady Yun of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨; 1545–?)
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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ His second elder brother Yun Won-ryang's daughter
  2. ^ son of King Junjong and Queen Janggyeong

References

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  1. ^ Chung Joo-won (April 28, 2016). "Joseon-era epic promises 'unexpected' adventures". Yonhap. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  2. ^ Jeong Joon-hwa (May 2, 2016). [어저께TV] '옥중화' 고수, 10분 등장만으로 증명한 가치. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  3. ^ Park Jin-hai (May 8, 2016). "Flower in Prison set to be next hit drama". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  4. ^ Lee Hye-ah (July 21, 2016). "Halfway through, Flower of Prison leaves much to be expected". Yonhap. Retrieved July 21, 2016.

Sources

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  • Lee, Hong-jik (이홍직) ed. (1983). 새國史事典 (Sae guksa sajeon) (Encyclopedia of Korean history). Seoul: Gyohaksa. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  • Lee, Ki-baek (tr. E.W. Wagner and E.J. Shultz) (1984). A new history of Korea. Seoul: Ilchokak.
  • Lee, Il-cheong (이일청) ed. (1993). 인명국사대사전 (Inmyeong guksa sajeon). Seoul: Goryeo Munhwasa. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
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