Princess Myeongan

Princess Myeongan (Korean: 명안공주; Hanja: 明安公主; 30 June 1665 – 25 June 1687), personal name Yi On-hui (이온희; 李溫姬), was a Korean princess as the third daughter of Hyeonjong of Joseon and Queen Myeongseong.¹²

Biography

On December 21, 1671 (12th year of her father's reign), Yi On-hui was honoured as Princess Myeongan (명안공주; 明安公主).

After the deaths of their two sisters in 1673, Princess Myeongan was the only surviving sister of the Crown Prince. It was said that their relationship was close as siblings.

In 1679 (5th year of Sukjong's reign), the 14-year-old Princess married the 11-year-old Oh Tae-ju (오태주), the third son of Oh Du-in (오두인; 1624–1689) from the Haeju Oh clan, who was a key figure of the Seoin faction. Her husband was honoured as Prince Consort Haechang (해창위; 海昌慰) and their formal wedding ceremony was held on December 18, 1680.³⁴

The drought being severe at that time, Song Si-yeol (송시열) and others filed an appeal requesting that the Princess's residence be built in a modest way to reduce the size and cost.

One year later, after the Princess's in-laws illegally occupied the mounds and fields in Deoksan, Chungcheong Province. A lawsuit broke out and the King ordered them to return the land.

Princess Myeongan died on June 25, 1687, five days from her birthday at the age of 21 years old, and is buried in Sasa-dong, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.⁵ It was reportedly said the King was saddened upon hearing her death.