Prince Bongseong (鳳城君, 7 May 1528 (9th day of 4th lunar month) – 17 November 1547 (25th day of intercalary 9th lunar month)) was a royal of [[Joseon]], the seventh son and sixth non-queen-born son of [[Jungjong of Joseon|Jungjong]]. His birth mother was [[Consort Hui Hong]]. He was implicated in lit
Born~Died 1528 ~ 1547Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:51 PM
Prince Bongseong (鳳城君, 7 May 1528 (9th day of 4th lunar month) – 17 November 1547 (25th day of intercalary 9th lunar month)) was a royal of Joseon, the seventh son and sixth non-queen-born son of Jungjong. His birth mother was Consort Hui Hong. He was implicated in literati purges and treason cases, was compelled to take his own life, and was later exonerated.
Prince Bongseong's mother, Consort Hui Hong, was the daughter of Hong Gyeong-ju of the Namyang Hong clan, who was enrolled among the Jeongguk merit subjects, and she became a royal concubine through political maneuvering by the Jeongguk merit subjects. In particular, she took the lead in eliminating the and 's group. Consort Hui had two sons, Geumwongun and Prince Bongseong.
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The Veritable Records of Jungjong records only that construction of Prince Bongseong's residence was halted after censors submitted memorials objecting to it,4 and that a servant of Prince Bongseong fought with a servant of another household; there is no direct record concerning Prince Bongseong.5 Meanwhile, Prince Bongseong married the daughter of Jeong Yu-in, a former magistrate who had served as a Junior Secretary (정랑). The exact date of the marriage is not recorded, but it is presumed to have taken place by 1545 (1st year of Injong) at the latest.6
In 1545 (1st year of Injong, 1st year of Myeongjong's reign), Injong died after eight months on the throne and Myeongjong ascended. On 1 September of that lunar year, Kim Myeong-yun, then governor of Gyeonggi Province, reported a treasonous plot: that Yun Im, the maternal uncle of Injong, had intended to place Prince Gyerim7 or the young Prince Bongseong on the throne instead of Grand Prince Gyeongwon (Myeongjong). At the time, Myeongjong ordered that Prince Gyerim be arrested, but because Prince Bongseong was young, he said Bongseong was unlikely to have participated and ordered that he not be interrogated for the time being.8 Kim Myeong-yun, who reported this plot, was Prince Bongseong's maternal uncle by marriage; he fabricated this matter in order to flatter Queen Munjeong, Myeongjong's mother, who had seized power after Myeongjong's accession, along with her younger sister's husband Yun Won-hyeong and Yi Gi.2 This was the beginning of the so-called Eulsa Purge.9
However, from 6 September of that lunar year, five days after the report, during the interrogations of those involved, Prince Bongseong's name continually came up. It was claimed that Yun Im had intended to place Prince Gyerim or Prince Bongseong on the throne after Injong's death, instead of Grand Prince Gyeongwon, who was ill. The reason was that Yun Im feared that if Grand Prince Gyeongwon ascended, his maternal uncle Yun Won-ro and others would gain power and his own family would certainly be wiped out; it was also said that by installing Prince Gyerim or Prince Bongseong, Myeongjong could be removed.101112 As a result, Prince Bongseong was impeached by censors several times, but Myeongjong continued to protect him, saying he was too young.1314 Meanwhile, his birth mother, Consort Hui Hong, became uneasy as these events unfolded and eventually left the palace and returned to her private home.15 However, censors continued to impeach Prince Bongseong afterward,16 and in the following year, 1546 (1st year of Myeongjong), on 12 September of the lunar calendar, he was exiled to Uljin in Gangwon Province.1718
However, when Myeongjong learned that Prince Bongseong had fallen ill in Pyeongchang on the way to exile and was staying there,19 he moved the place of exile to Pyeongchang,20 and sent medicine and physicians to treat him.21
Jeongmi Purge
One year after Prince Bongseong's exile, on 18 September 1547 (2nd year of Myeongjong) of the lunar calendar, Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers Jeong Eon-gak discovered an anonymous placard at Yangjae Station22 south of the Han River and reported it to Myeongjong. The anonymous placard, written in red characters, contained the words: "A woman is seizing power from above, and treacherous officials such as Yi Gi are manipulating authority below; the nation can be expected to perish soon. How could this not be lamentable? On the last day of the middle autumn month." This is known as the Yangjae Station wall-placard incident; it was a literati purge that arose in the aftermath of the Eulsa Purge, and is sometimes called the Jeongmi Purge.2324 At the time, this incident was a fabrication by Queen Munjeong and the Yun Won-hyeong faction in order to eliminate the Sarim forces.2526
Regarding these events, the Yun Won-hyeong faction argued that the reason was that the treason of Yun Im and others had been punished too leniently at the outset, and then advised that not only Yun Im's faction but also Prince Bongseong be executed without exception. At that time, Myeongjong ordered the execution of only Prince Gyerim. The historian who recorded this incident in the Veritable Records criticized the excess of the Yi Gi faction, which, having branded the Yun Im faction as traitors, urged that even Prince Bongseong be killed to prove it, calling it an extreme measure.27 Nevertheless, memorials calling for Prince Bongseong's death continued afterward, but Myeongjong did not approve them at all.2829
Meanwhile, Yi Hwang, who was then serving in the Office of Special Advisers, was testified by his disciple to have submitted a chaja (memorial) calling for Prince Bongseong's execution.30
Death and Evaluation
Meanwhile, on 16 intercalary 9th day of the lunar calendar in 1547 (2nd year of Myeongjong), Chief State CouncilorYun In-gyeong and others from the Six Ministries again urged that Prince Bongseong be killed. In the end, Myeongjong could not withstand this pressure and ordered Prince Bongseong to take his own life. At this time, Prince Bongseong was 20 years old. It is said that when he received the order, Prince Bongseong bathed and immediately took his own life.31
Prince Bongseong's title was restored only on 15 October 1567 (1st year of Seonjo's reign) of the lunar calendar, after Seonjo's accession.32 Then, 150-some years later, on 18 intercalary 5th day of the lunar calendar in 1732 (8th year of Yeongjo), the posthumous name Uimin (懿愍) was conferred on him by Yeongjo.
The Veritable Records entry from the day the order for Prince Bongseong's suicide was issued describes him as follows: "Because he was wise and the most virtuous among Jungjong's sons, he met the most tragic calamity in the Eulsa year. Moreover, although the rebels set up Prince Bongseong, he himself had done nothing and knew nothing. As a close royal relative, Prince Bongseong should have been protected even when everyone urged his execution, but at this time he was ordered to take his own life, so in truth he was killed. Under the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, it would have been written, 'Prince Wan (岏) of Gong was killed.'"31
Prince Bongseong married the daughter of Jeong Yu-in, a Junior Secretary. However, because he died young at the age of 20, he left no heirs, and his widow, Lady Jeong, took in Prince Munseong as an adopted son to succeed him.234 Prince Munseong was the great-grandson of Gyeongmyeong-gun, son of Seongjong, and was formally adopted in 1576 (9th year of Seonjo).1
Prince Munseong had two sons, and their descendants spread to form today's Bongseong branch of the royal clan.2
The family relations were compiled based on the records of the Seonwonrok.35
Prince Bongseong (鳳城君, 7 May 1528 (9th day of 4th lunar month) – 17 November 1547 (25th day of intercalary 9th lunar month)) was a royal of Joseon, the seventh son and sixth non-queen-born son of Jungjong. His birth mother was Consort Hui Hong. He was implicated in literati purges and treason cases, was compelled to take his own life, and was later exonerated.
Prince Bongseong's mother, Consort Hui Hong, was the daughter of Hong Gyeong-ju of the , who was enrolled among the , and she became a through political maneuvering by the Jeongguk merit subjects. In particular, she took the lead in eliminating the and 's group. Consort Hui had two sons, Geumwongun and Prince Bongseong.
The Veritable Records of Jungjong records only that construction of Prince Bongseong's residence was halted after censors submitted memorials objecting to it,4 and that a servant of Prince Bongseong fought with a servant of another household; there is no direct record concerning Prince Bongseong.5 Meanwhile, Prince Bongseong married the daughter of Jeong Yu-in, a former magistrate who had served as a Junior Secretary (정랑). The exact date of the marriage is not recorded, but it is presumed to have taken place by 1545 (1st year of Injong) at the latest.6
In 1545 (1st year of Injong, 1st year of Myeongjong's reign), Injong died after eight months on the throne and Myeongjong ascended. On 1 September of that lunar year, Kim Myeong-yun, then governor of Gyeonggi Province, reported a treasonous plot: that Yun Im, the maternal uncle of Injong, had intended to place Prince Gyerim7 or the young Prince Bongseong on the throne instead of Grand Prince Gyeongwon (Myeongjong). At the time, Myeongjong ordered that Prince Gyerim be arrested, but because Prince Bongseong was young, he said Bongseong was unlikely to have participated and ordered that he not be interrogated for the time being.8 Kim Myeong-yun, who reported this plot, was Prince Bongseong's maternal uncle by marriage; he fabricated this matter in order to flatter Queen Munjeong, Myeongjong's mother, who had seized power after Myeongjong's accession, along with her younger sister's husband Yun Won-hyeong and Yi Gi.2 This was the beginning of the so-called Eulsa Purge.9
However, from 6 September of that lunar year, five days after the report, during the interrogations of those involved, Prince Bongseong's name continually came up. It was claimed that Yun Im had intended to place Prince Gyerim or Prince Bongseong on the throne after Injong's death, instead of Grand Prince Gyeongwon, who was ill. The reason was that Yun Im feared that if Grand Prince Gyeongwon ascended, his maternal uncle Yun Won-ro and others would gain power and his own family would certainly be wiped out; it was also said that by installing Prince Gyerim or Prince Bongseong, Myeongjong could be removed.101112 As a result, Prince Bongseong was impeached by censors several times, but Myeongjong continued to protect him, saying he was too young.1314 Meanwhile, his birth mother, Consort Hui Hong, became uneasy as these events unfolded and eventually left the palace and returned to her private home.15 However, censors continued to impeach Prince Bongseong afterward,16 and in the following year, 1546 (1st year of Myeongjong), on 12 September of the lunar calendar, he was exiled to Uljin in Gangwon Province.1718
However, when Myeongjong learned that Prince Bongseong had fallen ill in Pyeongchang on the way to exile and was staying there,19 he moved the place of exile to Pyeongchang,20 and sent medicine and physicians to treat him.21
Jeongmi Purge
One year after Prince Bongseong's exile, on 18 September 1547 (2nd year of Myeongjong) of the lunar calendar, Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers Jeong Eon-gak discovered an anonymous placard at Yangjae Station22 south of the Han River and reported it to Myeongjong. The anonymous placard, written in red characters, contained the words: "A woman is seizing power from above, and treacherous officials such as Yi Gi are manipulating authority below; the nation can be expected to perish soon. How could this not be lamentable? On the last day of the middle autumn month." This is known as the Yangjae Station wall-placard incident; it was a literati purge that arose in the aftermath of the Eulsa Purge, and is sometimes called the Jeongmi Purge.2324 At the time, this incident was a fabrication by Queen Munjeong and the Yun Won-hyeong faction in order to eliminate the Sarim forces.2526
Regarding these events, the Yun Won-hyeong faction argued that the reason was that the treason of Yun Im and others had been punished too leniently at the outset, and then advised that not only Yun Im's faction but also Prince Bongseong be executed without exception. At that time, Myeongjong ordered the execution of only Prince Gyerim. The historian who recorded this incident in the Veritable Records criticized the excess of the Yi Gi faction, which, having branded the Yun Im faction as traitors, urged that even Prince Bongseong be killed to prove it, calling it an extreme measure.27 Nevertheless, memorials calling for Prince Bongseong's death continued afterward, but Myeongjong did not approve them at all.2829
Meanwhile, Yi Hwang, who was then serving in the Office of Special Advisers, was testified by his disciple to have submitted a chaja (memorial) calling for Prince Bongseong's execution.30
Death and Evaluation
Meanwhile, on 16 intercalary 9th day of the lunar calendar in 1547 (2nd year of Myeongjong), Chief State CouncilorYun In-gyeong and others from the Six Ministries again urged that Prince Bongseong be killed. In the end, Myeongjong could not withstand this pressure and ordered Prince Bongseong to take his own life. At this time, Prince Bongseong was 20 years old. It is said that when he received the order, Prince Bongseong bathed and immediately took his own life.31
Prince Bongseong's title was restored only on 15 October 1567 (1st year of Seonjo's reign) of the lunar calendar, after Seonjo's accession.32 Then, 150-some years later, on 18 intercalary 5th day of the lunar calendar in 1732 (8th year of Yeongjo), the posthumous name Uimin (懿愍) was conferred on him by Yeongjo.
The Veritable Records entry from the day the order for Prince Bongseong's suicide was issued describes him as follows: "Because he was wise and the most virtuous among Jungjong's sons, he met the most tragic calamity in the Eulsa year. Moreover, although the rebels set up Prince Bongseong, he himself had done nothing and knew nothing. As a close royal relative, Prince Bongseong should have been protected even when everyone urged his execution, but at this time he was ordered to take his own life, so in truth he was killed. Under the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, it would have been written, 'Prince Wan (岏) of Gong was killed.'"31
Prince Bongseong married the daughter of Jeong Yu-in, a Junior Secretary. However, because he died young at the age of 20, he left no heirs, and his widow, Lady Jeong, took in Prince Munseong as an adopted son to succeed him.234 Prince Munseong was the great-grandson of Gyeongmyeong-gun, son of Seongjong, and was formally adopted in 1576 (9th year of Seonjo).1
Prince Munseong had two sons, and their descendants spread to form today's Bongseong branch of the royal clan.2
The family relations were compiled based on the records of the Seonwonrok.35