Yeongjo of Joseon

Yeongjo of Joseon was the 21st monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Sukjong, by his concubine Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choe clan. Before ascending to power, he was known as Prince Yeoning. His life was characterized by political infighting and resentment due to his biological mother’s low-born origins. In 1720, a few months after the accession of his older half-brother, Yi Yun (posthumously called King Gyeongjong), as the 20th King, Yeoning became the Crown Prince. This induced a large controversy between the political factions. Nevertheless, four years later, at the death of Gyeongjong, he ascended to the throne. Yeongjo’s reign lasted nearly 52 years and was marked by his persistent efforts to reform the taxation system and minimize and reconcile the factional fighting under his Tangpyeong policy ("Magnificent Harmony"). His reign was also marked by the highly controversial execution of his only son, Crown Prince Sado, in 1762. Yeongjo was a strong Confucianist, and Confucianism in the Joseon Dynasty reached its peak during his reign and the reign of his successor, Jeongjo. During the same period, Joseon experienced a vibrant economy fueled by the growth of trade, manufacturing and mining. Yeongjo died in 1776 and was buried in the Wonneung Tombs in Guri, Gyeonggi Province. He was succeeded by his grandson, King Jeongjo, who was the son of Crown Prince Sado.