早年

英祖二十八年九月二十二日，生於昌慶宮景春殿。英祖三十五年，獲冊封為王世孫。英祖三十八年五月十三日，其父莊獻世子遭英祖餓死於米櫃。英祖四十年二月二十日，英祖命李祘承孝章世子之嗣，次年命其代理聽政。

即位

1776年（英祖五十二年）三月五日，英祖昇遐於慶熙宮集慶堂。三月十日，即位於西內慶熙宮之崇政門。

後世認為正祖是極為仁孝的君王，因為朝鮮的禮法制度，他沒有辦法尊母親惠慶宮洪氏為王大妃，但對其相當的孝順，為其屢上尊號。正祖在十一歲那年目睹了父親莊獻世子的慘死，即位後除了追尊宗法父親孝章世子為真宗外，對親生父親的追慕活動也無休無止，先是將垂恩墓升格為永祐園，祠堂垂恩廟升格為景慕宮，並為其屢次加上尊號。正祖十三年，決定將永祐園遷至風水吉地——京畿道水原郡華山腳下，仿照世祖的光陵加以擴建，並更名為顯隆園。正祖十八年在水原八達山麓開工建設水原華城和水原行宮。正祖計劃將華城修建為農、工、商兼備的城市，從南方拱衛漢城。

逝世

正祖二十四年（1800年）六月二十八日，正祖去世于昌慶宮迎春軒。在位二十四年，終年四十七歲。葬於楊州健陵。關于正祖之死，老論派散布的「毒殺」之說在嶺南的南人黨之間廣泛流傳，丁若鏞的《與猶堂全書》對此也有相同記載。 在正祖去世前18天，即六月十日，他告訴眾大臣，自己身上長出膿瘡，並開始塗藥去膿。之後病情逐漸惡化。六月十四日醫官開了夾紙膏與杏仁膏，並製作加減逍遙散。但正祖將膿包自行診斷為心裡的火氣病，並飲用了兩服白虎湯，之後全身開始出現滾熱的症狀。六月十六日正祖命令呈上四順清涼飲、金蓮茶與五顆牛黃，之後又服用了乳粉托里散和三仁田螺膏、貝母膏、香薷調中湯。六月二十五日服用了龍腦安神丸和牛黃清心丸，六月二十六日服用了瓊玉膏、八物湯，吃了五錢人參。六月二十八日服用了三錢人參，之後在昌慶宮永春軒接見左承旨金祖淳時病情突然惡化，以致說不出話來。此時貞純王后命人送去藿香正氣散，正祖服用後不久就在子時（晚上11時）停止了呼吸。正祖死後，貞純王后垂簾聽政，解散了正祖創設的壯勇營，大舉鎮壓天主教徒。

李祘的廟號原為正宗，諡號明道洪德顯謨文成武烈聖仁莊孝大王（清朝賜諡恭宣王）。高宗建立大韓帝國後，於1899年（光武三年）追尊太祖及繼統的四世先祖為皇帝，將其廟號改為正祖、諡號改為敬天明道洪德顯謨文成武烈聖仁莊孝宣皇帝。

朝政

朝鮮正祖時期，天主教開始傳入朝鮮，1777年（正祖元年）秋，權哲身、丁若銓等在京畿道走魚寺講學修習天主教義。1784年正祖八年初，朝鮮冬至使書狀官李承薰在北京接受天主教的洗禮，成為朝鮮第一個天主教徒。在回國之後開始從事秘密傳教工作，暗中攜帶大量天主教書籍及聖畫、聖像，並為李檗、權日身洗禮，到1784年秋已有數十人受洗。北京教區1790年派澳門人吳約翰抵達中朝邊境鳳凰城，未得朝鮮教徒迎接而折返。1793年，權哲身派燕行使譯官尹有一、池璜再次懇請派神父，北京教區派中國蘇州人周文謨赴朝，他在中朝邊境滯留10個月後，得尹有一、池璜等人的迎接化裝成朝鮮人，于1795年初潛入朝鮮境內傳教，後由於天主教的勢力在朝鮮不斷增大，加上禮儀之爭的延燒，朝鮮政府不斷進行打壓，而1801年更有「辛酉邪獄」的發生。

1785年春發生乙巳秋曹摘發事件。大臣紛紛上疏稱天主教為「邪教」政府進行打壓。1786年，李承薰複建教會，封權日身為主教，崔昌顯等人為神父，建立「假聖職制度」。1787發生丁未泮會事件。1791年發生辛亥邪獄又稱辛亥珍山事件。1795年天主教徒崔仁吉、尹有一、池璜被捕，被打死于捕盜廳。

朝鮮崇尚儒學，朝鮮正祖篤信程朱理學，認定天主教為「邪教」。他反覆強調「正學明則邪說息」，「予意則使吾道大明，正學丕闡，則如此邪說可以自起自滅」，天主教是陸王心學、佛教道教一類，無需厲行禁止，只要儒生熟讀儒家經典、不看雜書，便可迎刃而解。弘揚性理之學，加大管控中國進口書籍，嚴禁士人閱讀明清文集稗官小說，焚毀相關書籍。不斷有大臣上疏請求鎮壓天主教，正祖只在告發的情況下加以懲治，避免事態擴大化，左議政（後為領議政）南人蔡濟恭說「佛道中派別」「禁之之道亦難矣」，「必當自起而自滅，恐不足過費聖意矣」。對南人天主教徒庇護。

評論

朝鮮正祖被認為是朝鮮後期有作為的君主，在他在位期間，朝鮮開始出現復興。可惜在他去世後，貞純王后臨朝稱制，將他的改革幾乎廢除殆盡，朝鮮開始走向衰退。

家庭

王妃

後宮

子

女

後代

朝鮮正祖的男系後代，隨著他的曾孫朝鮮憲宗在1849年無嗣而薨就斷絕了。而的後代，由於是正祖的「外裔」而受到王室關注。淑善翁主僅有一子洪祐喆，兩個孫子洪承幹、洪承億。淑善翁主、駙馬洪顯周都是貞明公主夫婦的後代，使得洪承億一度出繼成為貞明公主的奉祀孫；但是洪承億的哥哥洪承幹在1845年夭折，沒有留下後代。因此二十年後，神貞王后下旨取消洪承億的養子身分，按兄終弟及原則回到本家。不過洪承億也沒有親生子女，隨著他在1882年過世，若不計從旁系過繼的後嗣，正祖的所有直系後代至此完全斷絕。

附註

影視

電視劇

電影

Biography

Early life

He was the son of Crown Prince Sado (who was put to death when Jeongjo was 11 by his father, King Yeongjo) and Lady Hyegyeong (who wrote an autobiography, The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong detailing her life as the ill-fated Crown Princess of Korea). His elder brother Crown Prince Uiso died in infancy. His mother Lady Hyegyeong's collection of memoirs serves as a significant source of historical information on the political happenings during the reigns of King Yeongjo (her father-in-law), King Jeongjo (her son), and King Sunjo (her grandson).

In 1762, his father, Crown Prince Sado, was executed (by imprisonment in a rice chest) by King Yeongjo (Crown Prince Sado's father and Prince Yi San's grandfather) after long conflicts and Sado's years of mental illness. Crown Prince Sado opposed the ruling Noron party. He started to hate the parties of Joseon. Eight years later Yi San asked to visit Sado's living quarter but his Grandfather King Yeongjo refused. So he refused to attend Crown Prince Sado's funeral. On 21 February 1764, Yi San became the adoptive son of Crown Prince Hyojang and Princess Consort Hyosun by the order of King Yeongjo. Crown Prince Hyojang was the elder half-brother of his father, Crown Prince Sado. Crown Prince Hyojang though, had died during his childhood. King Yeongjo made Yi San a part of Hyojang's family because he was concerned that Yi San, who was Sado's son and successor, would be opposed. The Noron faction protested Yi San's legitimacy as the royal successor under the claim that Yi San was the 'Son of a prisoner' or 'Son of a madman' and thus ineligible to succeed the throne. This was a major source of vexation for King Yeongjo for an extended period.

After 1762 to 1777, some members of Noron attempted to depose Jeongjo for his relation to Crown Prince Sado and open the path of succession for his half-brothers Prince Eunjeon, Prince Euneon and, Prince Eunshin. His grand uncle Hong In-han and Jeong Hu-gyeom, adopted son of Princess Hwawan, were amongst them.

When he was the Crown Prince, King Jeongjo met Hong Guk-yeong (홍국영, 洪國榮), a controversial politician who first strongly supported Jeongjo's accession and toiled to improve the king's power, but ended up being expelled because of his desire for power. Another helper was Kim Jong-su (김종수, 金鍾秀), despite being a member of Noron.

In 1775, one year before King Yeongjo's death, King Jeongjo was appointed regent. However, King Yeongjo did not give him any military power.

Reign

Before Yeongjo died, Jeongjo had his coronation in Gyeonghuigung on 10 March 1776. After his coronation, Jeongjo chose his spouse. The first thing that Jeongjo said to his officials was that he was the son of Jangjo (temple name of Crown Prince Sado) who was executed by the former king.

Jeongjo tried to empathize with his people. During his second year of reign, a great drought came. During the drought, Jeongjo was nervous just like the people and did a rainmaking ritual for his people. He also was deeply concerned about the continuing outbreaks of measles epidemics, and among other things supplied free public medicines in an attempt curb the death rates.

Concerned about political factions, Jeongjo continued his grandfather's policy of Tangpyeong (political harmony policy) in an attempt to balance political factions. By this, he tried to get rid of the parties which caused his father's death.

From the first day of the reign, Jeongjo spent much of his reign trying to clear his father's name. He also moved the court to the city of Suwon to be closer to his father's grave. He built Hwaseong Fortress to guard the tomb. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jeongjo was always threatened by some of his officials who were against his reign. He was able to overcome these challenges with the help of Hong Guk-yeong and others.

During his accession, he also issued a royal decree that his mother, Lady Hyegyeong, be a Dowager Queen since his father, her husband, was supposed to be the King before him. Thus, she became the Queen Dowager, the widow of Jangjo. From then on, King Jeongjo experienced many turbulent periods, but overcame them with the aid of Hong Guk-yeong, Kim Chong-su.

In 1776, Hong Sang-beom, Hong Kye-neung and other some member of Noron unsuccessfully attempted to stage a military coup d'état and assassinate him. Jeongjo fought the rebels who were secretly in royal palace and personally arrested his assassins. Jeongjo executed Hong Sang-beom, Hong Kye-neung, and another some member of Norons, and put to death Prince Eunjeon, Hong In-han, and Chung Hu-kyom.

Jeongjo tried to impeach Hong Guk-yeong in an attempt to stop the concentration of political power in single family but the impeachment failed.

In 1785 he established Changyongyeong (장용영, 壯勇營) as the King's royal bodyguards. Jeongjo had started selecting officers by competitive examination since 1782 to recruit them into the Changyongyeong unit, to replace the Naekeunwe (corps of Joseon Dynasty royal bodyguards created by Taejong of Joseon in 1407), which he no longer trusted.

Renaissance

King Jeongjo led the renaissance of Joseon, but was initially busy continuing the policy of Yeongjo's Tangpyeong ("Magnificent Harmony"; 蕩平, 탕평) policy of political reconciliation between the parties. He tried to control the politics of the whole nation to advance and further national progress.

He made various reforms throughout his reign, notably establishing Kyujanggak (규장각), a royal library. The primary purpose of Kyujanggak was to improve the cultural and political stance of Joseon and to recruit gifted officers to help run the nation. Jeongjo also spearheaded bold new social initiatives, including opening government positions to those who were previously barred because of their social status.

He cultivated knowledge of humanities and philosophy (Neo-Confucianism). He was known to be studious and well-read. Among the King's entourage, one that had a great influence and became both a great teacher and father figure for him was Kim Jong-su. Jeongjo also had the support of the many Silhak scholars who favored regal power over the parties, including scholars Jeong Yak-yong, Pak Ji-won, Pak Je-ga and Yu Deuk-gong. His reign also saw the further growth and development of Joseon's popular culture.

Jeongjo favored members of the Soron and Namin party over those of the powerful Noron faction, as a way to establish checks and balances and strengthen royal authority.

He was opposed to new fashions in the composition style of Korean writing and personally taught composition to some intellectuals and bureaucrats called Munchebanjong (문체반정 文體反正 – literary criticism/reform).

In 1791, Jeongjo got a report from Chae Je-gong that the people were having difficulty surviving by selling the fruit of their labor. Jeongjo then established the new law of Shinhae Tonggong (free trade law), which allowed anyone to sell their goods at the market. This abolished the previous law of Gumnanjeonguoun (금난전권), which reserved this right exclusively to members of merchant groups in the capital.

Death

In his final years, Jeongjo arranged for the marriage of his second son and successor Sunjo of Joseon to Lady Kim of the Andong clan, daughter of Kim Jo-sun, but did not live to see his son's marriage. In 1800, Jeongjo died suddenly under uncertain circumstances at the age of 47, without seeing much of his life's work come to fruition under his son, Sunjo. There are many books regarding the mystery behind his death, and speculation as to the cause of his death continues even today.

He is buried with his wife, Queen Hyoui, at the royal tomb of Geonneung (건릉, 健陵) in the city of Hwaseong.

On 7 December 1899, Jeongjo posthumously became Jeongjo Sanghwangjae.

Family

• Biological father: Yi Seon, King Jangjo of Joseon (조선 장조 이선) (13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762)

　• Grandfather: King Yeongjo of Joseon (조선 영조) (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776)

　• Biological grandmother: Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Yi clan (영빈 이씨) (15 August 1696 – 23 August 1764)

　• Adoptive grandmother: Queen Jeongseong of the Daegu Seo clan (정성왕후 서씨) (12 January 1693 – 3 April 1757)

• Adoptive father: Yi Haeng, King Jinjong of Joseon (조선 진종 이행) (4 April 1719 – 16 December 1728)

• Biological mother: Queen Heongyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan (헌경왕후 홍씨) (6 August 1735 – 13 January 1816)

　• Grandfather: Hong Bong-han (홍봉한) (1713 – 1778)

　• Grandmother: Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan (한산 이씨) (1713 – 1755)

• Adoptive mother: Queen Hyosun of the Pungyang Jo clan (효순왕후 조씨) (8 January 1716 – 30 December 1751)

Consorts and their respective issue(s):

• Queen Hyoui of the Cheongpung Kim clan (효의왕후 김씨) (5 January 1754 – 10 April 1821) – No issue.

• Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan (수빈 박씨) (1 June 1770 – 6 February 1823)

• #Crown Prince Yi Gong (왕세자 이공) (29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834), second son

• #Princess Sukseon (숙선옹주) (1 March 1793 – 7 June 1836), second daughter

• Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Changnyeong Seong clan (의빈 성씨) (6 August 1753 – 4 November 1786)

• #Miscarriage (8 December 1780)

• #Miscarriage (July 1781)

• #Yi Sun, Crown Prince Munhyo (문효세자 이순) (13 October 1782 – 6 June 1786), first son

• #First daughter (20 March – 12 May 1784)

• #Unborn child (4 November 1786)

• Royal Noble Consort Won of the Pungsan Hong clan (원빈 홍씨) (27 May 1766 – 7 May 1779) – No issue.

• Royal Noble Consort Hwa of the Namwon Yun clan (화빈 윤씨) (11 April 1765 – 14 January 1824) – No issue.

Ancestry

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Kim Yong-gun in the 1989 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon Dynasty: Pa Mun.

• Portrayed by Jung Jae-gon in the 2001 MBC TV series Hong Guk-yeong.

• Portrayed by Lee Seo-jin and Park Ji-bin in the 2007 MBC TV series Lee San, Wind of the Palace.

• Portrayed by Ahn Nae-sang in the 2007 KBS2 TV series Conspiracy in the Court.

• Portrayed by Kim Sang-joong and Park Gun-tae in the 2007 CGV TV series Eight Days, Assassination Attempts against King Jeongjo.

• Portrayed by Bae Soo-bin in the 2008 SBS TV series Painter of the Wind.

• Portrayed by Han Myeong-goo in the 2008 film Portrait of a Beauty.

• Portrayed by Jo Sung-ha in the 2010 KBS2 TV series Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

• Portrayed by Hong Jong-hyun in the 2011 SBS TV series Warrior Baek Dong-soo.

• Portrayed by Hyun Bin and Goo Seung-hyun in the 2014 film The Fatal Encounter.

• Portrayed by Lee Je-hoon, Kim Woo-suk, and Kim Dan-yool in the 2014 SBS TV series Secret Door.

• Portrayed by Go Woo-rim in the 2015 KBS2 Drama Special Crimson Moon.

• Portrayed by So Ji-sub and Lee Hyo-je in the 2015 film The Throne.

• Portrayed by Lee Jun-ho and Lee Joo-won in the 2021 MBC TV series The Red Sleeve.