Min Chi-Rok

Korean name
Hangul	여성부원군
Hanja	驪城府院君
Revised Romanization	Yeoseong Buwongun
McCune–Reischauer	Yŏsŏng Buwonkun
Birth name
Hangul	민치록
Hanja	閔致祿
Revised Romanization	Min Chirok
McCune–Reischauer	Min Ch'irok

Min Chi-rok (Korean: 민치록; Hanja: 閔致祿; 17 January 1800 – 23 October 1858), formally honoured as Internal Prince Yeoseong (Korean: 여성부원군; Hanja: 驪城府院君). He also known as Duke Hyojeong (Korean: 효정공; Hanja: 孝貞公) or Duke Sungan (Korean: 순간공; Hanja: 純簡公), was a Korean political figure of the Joseon Dynasty. He was the father of Empress Myeongseong and the maternal grandfather of King Sunjong of Korea. After he died, his son-in-law, King Gojong of Korea, promoted him to Uijeongbu and Yeonguijeong.^[1]

Early life[edit]

Min Chi-rok was born into the aristocratic Yeoheung Min clan on 17 January 1800 (23th day, 12th month of the gimi year, in Lunar calendar) as the only son of Min Gi-hyeon, and his third wife, Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan. Min was a great-great-grandson of Min Jin-hu; Queen Inhyeon’s eldest brother. He was also the 16th great-grandson of Min Yu (민유, 閔愉) who was the granduncle of Queen Wongyeong.

Min studied under scholar Oh Hui-sang (오희상) when he was young, and eventually married his daughter, Lady Oh of the Haeju Oh clan, as his first wife. But she later died at the age of 36 in 1833 with no offspring. After mourning for 3 years, he married Yi Gyu-nyeon's daughter, Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan in 1836. They eventually had a son and two daughters, but they all died young.^[2] His wife then gave birth to a third daughter, Min Ja-yeong, on 17 November 1851 who would become the future Queen Consort to King Gojong. He died with an illness in 1858.

Legacy[edit]

After his death, his wife and daughter went to live with his relatives in the House of Gamgodang, the house that King Sukjong built for Queen Inhyeon’s father in 1687, until his daughter became Queen.

In 1861, a relative of his clan, Min Seung-ho, became his adoptive son to continue his family line. When Min Ja-yeong became Queen Consort in 1866, he was granted the royal title of “Min Chi-rok, Internal Prince Yeoseong”, and appointed as Yeonguijeong after his death. His wife was also posthumously honored as Internal Princess Consort Hanchang (한창부부인).^[3]^[4]^[5] His first wife was also granted the royal title of “Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong” (해령부부인) as she was also considered the mother of Queen Min.

Aftermath[edit]

On 30 November 1874, his wife and their adoptive son, Min Seung-ho, died from a bombing assassination.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Prior to his wife’s death, his daughter had started to involve herself in politics. She informally became known as Queen Min. Her political involvement eventually brought the Yeoheung Min clan more influence in politics and life threats from the Queen’s father-in-law, Heungseon Daewongun, who sought to get rid of her.

Queen Min was assassinated in her husband’s private living quarters on 8 October 1895. Her death brought rage from various western powers, as Queen Min brought their influence into Joseon Dynasty politics.

Family[edit]

Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
- Min Sa-yong (민사용, 閔思容) (1 May 1515 - 30 March 1579)^[9]
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
- Lady Yi of the Gwangju Yi clan (광주 이씨) (1518 - ?); daughter of Yi Wi (이위, 李緯; 1492 - ?), Min Sa-yong’s first wife
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
- Min Yeo-jun (민여준, 閔汝俊) (1539 - 1599)
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
- Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨, 全州李氏) (1543 - 1635); descendant of Grand Prince Hyoryeong
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
- Min Gi (Hangul: 민기, Hanja: 閔箕) (1568–18 January 1641)
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
- Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan(남양 홍씨, 南陽洪氏) (1571 - 1655); daughter of Hong Ik-hyeon (홍익현, 洪翼賢)
Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
- Min Gwang-hun (Hangul: 민광훈, Hanja: 閔光勳) (1595–1659), scholar during the reign of King Injong.
Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
- Lady Yi of the Yeonan Yi clan (본관: 연안 이씨) (1594 - 1653);^[10] daughter of Yi Gwang-jeong (이광정, 李光庭)
Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
- Min Yu-jung (민유중, 閔維重) (1630–1687).
Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
- Internal Princess Consort Eunseong of the Eunjin Song clan (은성부부인 은진 송씨, 恩城府夫人恩津宋氏) (1637 - 1672); Min Yu-jung's second wife, daughter of Song Jun-gil (송준길, 宋俊吉), Yeonguijeong during the reign of King Hyojong.
Great-Great-Grandfather
- Min Jin-hu (민진후, 閔鎭厚) (1659 – 1720), eldest brother of Queen Inhyeon (second consort of King Sukjong).
Great-Great-Grandmother
- Lady Yi of the Yeonan Yi clan (연안 이씨) (1664 - 1733); Min Jin-hu’s second wife, daughter of Yi Deok-ro (이덕로, 李德老)
Great-Grandfather
- Min Ik-su (민익수, 閔翼洙) (1690 – 1742)
Great-Grandmother
- Lady Nam of the Uiryeong Nam clan (증 정경부인 의령 남씨) (1690 - 16 October 1756); youngest daughter of Nam Jeong-jung (남정중, 南正重; 1653 - 1704)
Grandfather
- Min Baek-bun (민백분, 閔百奮) (1723 – ?)
Grandmother
- Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨) (1722 - 1760)^[11]; youngest daughter of Sim Jung-hyeon (심중현; 沈重賢), Min Baek-bun’s second wife
Father
- Min Gi-hyeon (민기현, 閔耆顯) (1751 – 1 August 1811); was appointed to Kaeseong Ministry
Mother
- Biological - Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨, 延日鄭氏) (1773 - 9 March 1838); Min Gi-hyeon’s third wife
- Step - Lady Jo the Haman Jo clan (함안 조씨, 咸安趙氏) (1748 - 4 April 1774); daughter of Jo Jung-cheom (조중첨; 1721-?), Min Gi-hyeon’s first wife
- Step - Lady Yi of the Seongju Yi clan (성주 이씨, 星州李氏) (1763 - 15 March 1792); youngest daughter of Yi Jae-won (이제원; 1716-1779), Min Gi-hyeon’s second wife
Wives and their respective issue(s):
- Internal Princess Consort Haeryeong of the Haeju Oh clan (해령부부인 해주 오씨, 海寧府夫人海州吳氏) (1798 - 15 March 1833)^[12]^[13]
- Internal Princess Consort Hanchang of the Hansan Yi clan (한창부부인 한산 이씨, 韓昌府夫人李氏) (1818 - 30 November 1874)^[14]
  - Adoptive son - Min Seung-ho (민승호, 閔升鎬) (1830 - 30 November 1874);^[15] son of Min Chi-gu (1795-1874)
    - Adoptive daughter-in-law - Lady Kim of the Gwangsan Kim clan (광산 김씨, 光山金氏) (1842 - 1867 23 April);^[16] Min Seung-ho's first wife
      - Unnamed adoptive grandson (1864 - 1874)
    - Adoptive daughter-in-law - Lady Kim of the Yeonan Kim clan (연안 김씨, 延安金氏) (1830 - 1859 11 February);^[17] Min Seung-ho’s second wife
    - Adoptive daughter-in-law - Lady Yi of the Deoksu Yi clan (덕수 이씨, 德水李氏) (1851 - 1919 1 July);^[18] Min Seung-ho’s third wife
      - Adoptive grandson - Min Yeong-ik (민영익, 閔泳翊) (1860-1914);^[19] eldest son of Min Tae-ho (1834-1884)
  - Unnamed son (1840 - 1847)
  - Unnamed daughter (1843 - 1849)
  - Unnamed daughter (1847 - 1852)
  - Daughter - Min Ja-yeong, Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (17 November 1851 - 8 October 1895) (민자영, 閔玆暎) (명성황후 민씨)
    - Son-in-law - Yi Myeong-bok, Emperor Gojong of Korea (8 September 1852 - 21 January 1919) (이명복 대한제국 고종황제)
      - Grandson - Prince Royal Yi Choi (원자 이최) (4 November 1871 - 8 November 1871)
      - Unnamed granddaughter (13 February 1873 - 28 September 1873)
      - Grandson - Yi Cheok, Emperor Sunjong of Korea (25 March 1874 - 24 April 1926) (이척 대한제국 순종황제)
        Granddaughter-in-law - Empress Sunmyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (20 November 1872 - 5 November 1904) (순명효황후 민씨)
        
        Granddaughter-in-law - Yun Jeung-sun, Empress Sunjeong of the Papyeong Yun clan (19 September 1894 - 3 February 1966) (윤증순, 尹曾順) (순정황후 윤씨)
      - Grandson - Grand Prince Yi Deol (대군 이덜) (5 April 1875 - 18 April 1875)
      - Grandson - Grand Prince Yi Bu (대군 이부) (18 February 1878 - 5 June 1878)

In popular culture[edit]

Portrayed by Lee Do-ryeon in 2001-2002 KBS2 TV series Empress Myeongseong

References[edit]

^ "조선왕조실록". National Institute of Korean History (in Korean).
^ "열성황후왕비세보(列聖皇后王妃世譜)". 디지털 장서각. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
^ 음서로 벼슬에 올라 장악원과 사도시의 첨정을 지냈으며, 딸이 왕비로 간택되면서 영의정에 추증되고 여성부원군(驪城府院君)에 추봉되었다
^ 한영우, 24쪽 ~ 27쪽에서
^ 지두환, 241쪽
^ Oh, Yeong-Seop (2007). 《한국 근현대사를 수놓은 인물들(1)》. p. 315.
^ Min Seung-ho, Min Seung-ho's son, and his adoptive mother, Gamgodang Hansan Yi, all died on the spot.
^ Bird Bishop, Isabella. Korea and Her Neighbours. Revell. p. 255. She (Queen Min) had cut many lives short, but in doing so she had not violated Korean tradition and custom, and some excuse for her has been offered in the fact that soon after the King's accession his father sent to the house of Her Majesty's brother an infernal machine in a shape of a beautiful box, which on being opened exploded, killing her mother, brother, and nephew, as well as some others. Since then he plotted against her own life, and the feud between them was usually at fever heat.
^ He was the 6th great-grandson of Queen Wongyeong’s granduncle (her grandfather’s older brother), Min Yu (민유, 閔愉).
^ Lady Yi is a maternal cousin of Heo Jeok; their grandmother, Lady Min, was the aunt of Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (a concubine of King Seonjo) and the granddaughter of Princess Gyeongsuk (a daughter of King Seongjeong)
^ She was the 5th great-granddaughter of Sim Eom (심엄, 沈㤿; 1563 - 1624), who was the nephew of Queen Insun, thru her younger brother, Sim In-gyeom (심인겸, 沈仁謙; 1533 - 1580). While her 5th great-grandmother was the older sister of Queen Inheon (who was also Queen Insun’s adoptive granddaughter-in-law).
^ Daughter of Oh Hui-sang (오희상, 吳熙常)
^ Lady Oh is the adoptive Great-Great-Granddaughter of Princess Myeongan; the younger sister of King Sukjong
^ Daughter of Yi Gyu-nyeon (이규년, 李圭年) and Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (안동 김씨, 安東金氏)
^ The younger brother of his relative, Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok
^ Daughter of Kim Jae-jeong (김재정, 金在廷)
^ Daughter of Kim Jeong-su (김정수, 金鼎秀)
^ Daughter of Yi Min-seong (이민성, 李敏星)
^ The older brother of his relative, Empress Sunmyeong

[1] "조선왕조실록". National Institute of Korean History (in Korean).

[2] "열성황후왕비세보(列聖皇后王妃世譜)". 디지털 장서각. Retrieved 2021-01-28.

[3] 음서로 벼슬에 올라 장악원과 사도시의 첨정을 지냈으며, 딸이 왕비로 간택되면서 영의정에 추증되고 여성부원군(驪城府院君)에 추봉되었다

[4] 한영우, 24쪽 ~ 27쪽에서

[5] 지두환, 241쪽

[6] Oh, Yeong-Seop (2007). 《한국 근현대사를 수놓은 인물들(1)》. p. 315.

[7] Min Seung-ho, Min Seung-ho's son, and his adoptive mother, Gamgodang Hansan Yi, all died on the spot.

[:7-8] Bird Bishop, Isabella. Korea and Her Neighbours. Revell. p. 255. She (Queen Min) had cut many lives short, but in doing so she had not violated Korean tradition and custom, and some excuse for her has been offered in the fact that soon after the King's accession his father sent to the house of Her Majesty's brother an infernal machine in a shape of a beautiful box, which on being opened exploded, killing her mother, brother, and nephew, as well as some others. Since then he plotted against her own life, and the feud between them was usually at fever heat.

[9] He was the 6th great-grandson of Queen Wongyeong’s granduncle (her grandfather’s older brother), Min Yu (민유, 閔愉).

[10] Lady Yi is a maternal cousin of Heo Jeok; their grandmother, Lady Min, was the aunt of Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (a concubine of King Seonjo) and the granddaughter of Princess Gyeongsuk (a daughter of King Seongjeong)

[11] She was the 5th great-granddaughter of Sim Eom (심엄, 沈㤿; 1563 - 1624), who was the nephew of Queen Insun, thru her younger brother, Sim In-gyeom (심인겸, 沈仁謙; 1533 - 1580). While her 5th great-grandmother was the older sister of Queen Inheon (who was also Queen Insun’s adoptive granddaughter-in-law).

[12] Daughter of Oh Hui-sang (오희상, 吳熙常)

[13] Lady Oh is the adoptive Great-Great-Granddaughter of Princess Myeongan; the younger sister of King Sukjong

[14] Daughter of Yi Gyu-nyeon (이규년, 李圭年) and Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (안동 김씨, 安東金氏)

[15] The younger brother of his relative, Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok

[16] Daughter of Kim Jae-jeong (김재정, 金在廷)

[17] Daughter of Kim Jeong-su (김정수, 金鼎秀)

[18] Daughter of Yi Min-seong (이민성, 李敏星)

[19] The older brother of his relative, Empress Sunmyeong

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Birth name
Korean name
Hangul	여성부원군
Hanja	驪城府院君
Revised Romanization	Yeoseong Buwongun
McCune–Reischauer	Yŏsŏng Buwonkun
Hangul	민치록
Hanja	閔致祿
Revised Romanization	Min Chirok
McCune–Reischauer	Min Ch'irok