Queen Insun

For the Queen's husband's sister with the same name who died at 2–3 years old, see Princess Insun.

Queen Insun (Korean: 인순왕후 심씨; 27 June 1532 – 12 February 1575), of the Cheongsong Sim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and queen consort of Yi Hwan, King Myeongjong. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1545 until her husband's death in 1567, after which she was honoured as Queen Dowager Uiseong (의성왕대비). She served as regent of Korea during the minority of her adoptive son, king Yi Yeon, King Seonjo, from 1567 until 1568.

Queen Insun 인순왕후
Queen dowager of Joseon
Tenure	1567–1575
Predecessor	Queen Dowager Gongui
Successor	Queen Dowager Soseong
Queen regent of Joseon
Regency	1567–1568
Predecessor	Queen Munjeong
Successor	Queen Jeongsun
Queen consort of Joseon
Tenure	1545–1567
Predecessor	Queen Inseong
Successor	Queen Uiin
Born	27 June 1532 Hanseong, Joseon
Died	12 February 1575 (1575-02-13) (aged 42) Tongmyeong Hall, Changgyeonggung, Joseon
Burial	Kangreung, Hwarang-ro, Nowon District, Seoul
Spouse	Yi Hwan, King Myeongjong ​ ​ (m. 1542⁠–⁠1567)​
Issue	Crown Prince Sunhoe
Posthumous name 선렬의성인순왕후
House	Cheongsong Sim
Father	Sim Kang
Mother	Yi Hui-gyeong, Internal Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Yi clan

Biography

Early life

Lady Sim was born on 27 June 1532 to Sim Kang and Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan. She was the eldest within 10 siblings, including Sim Ui-gyeom. Through her mother, she was a 5th great-granddaughter of Queen Wongyeong and King Taejong; through her 4th great-grandfather, Grand Prince Hyoryeong. Her uncle was Yi Ryang.

Marriage

In April 1542, Lady Sim was arranged to marry Grand Prince Gyeongwon; the only son of King Jungjong and Queen Munjeong. Lady Sim was given the title of Princess Consort (부부인).

Queen

In 1545, when King Injong passed away, her husband was enthroned as the next king of joseon as there wasn't any heirs from Queen Inseong. The Princess Consort then became the next Queen Consort and had a son, Crown Prince Sunhoe, in 1551.

The Crown Prince died in 1563; leaving no heirs from King Myeongjong who also died in 1567. This left Prince Haseong (the future King Seonjo), a son of Grand Internal Prince Deokheung and Grand Internal Princess Consort Hadong, to become the next crowned prince.

Regency and later life

The Queen Consort became Queen Regent in 1567 upon on the prince's enthronement as king because he was young. In 1568, she stepped down as regent and became Queen Dowager. She was later given the title of Uiseong (의성; 懿聖) in 1569.

Her reign as Queen Dowager lasted 8 years as she died on 12 February 1575 within Changgyeonggung's Tongmyeong Hall. Nearby where her mother-in-law, Queen Munjeong, is buried, the Queen is buried with her husband in Kangreung.

Family

Parent

• Father − Sim Kang (심강, 沈鋼; 1514–1567)
• Mother − Yi Hui-gyeong, Internal Princess Consort Wansan of the Jeonju Yi clan (이희경 완산부부인 전주 이씨; 李希慶 完山府夫人 全州 李氏; 1511–1559)

Sibling

• Younger brother − Sim In-gyeom (심인겸; 沈仁謙; June 1533 – 17 November 1580)
• Younger brother − Sim Ui-gyeom (심의겸; 沈義謙; 1535–1587)
• Younger brother − Sim Ye-gyeom (심예겸; 沈禮謙; 1537–1598)
• Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨; 1538–1579)
• Younger brother − Sim Ji-gyeom (심지겸; 沈智謙; 1540–1568)
• Younger brother − Sim Shin-gyeom (심신겸; 沈信謙; 1542–1596)
• Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨; 1543–?); Ryu Hui-bal's first wife
• Younger brother − Sim Chung-gyeom (심충겸; 沈忠謙; 1545–1594)
• Younger brother − Sim Hyo-gyeom (심효겸; 沈孝謙; 20 September 1547 – 24 September 1600)
• Younger brother − Sim Je-gyeom (심제겸; 沈悌謙; 1550–1589)
• Younger sister − Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨; 1556–?)

Consort and Issue

• Husband - Myeongjong of Joseon (조선명종; 3 July 1534 – 3 August 1567)

1. Son - Yi Bu, Crown Prince Sunhoe (이부 순회세자; 1 July 1551 – 6 October 1563)
   1. Daughter-in-law - Crown Princess Gonghoe of the Musong Yun clan (공회빈 윤씨; 1550 – 14 April 1592)
2. Adoptive son - Seonjo of Joseon (조선선조; 26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608)
   1. Adoptive daughter-in-law - Queen Uiin of the Bannam Park clan (의인왕후 박씨; 5 May 1555 – 5 August 1600)
   2. Adoptive daughter-in-law - Queen Inmok of the Yeonan Kim clan (인목왕후 김씨; 15 December 1584 – 13 August 1632)
      1. Adoptive granddaughter - Princess Jeongmyeong (정명공주; 27 June 1603 – 8 September 1685)
      2. Unnamed adoptive granddaughter (1604); died prematurely
      3. Adoptive grandson - Yi Ui, Grand Prince Yeongchang (이의 영창대군; 12 April 1606 – 19 March 1614)

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Jang Hee-jin in the 2016 JTBC TV series Mirror of the Witch.

References

Sources

• 인순왕후 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.