生平

顯宗二年八月十五日，王妃金氏在慶德宮會祥殿生下元子李焞。八年（1667年）李焞被冊封為王世子，十二年（1671年）與大臣金萬基之女行嘉禮。十五年（1674年）八月十八日，顯宗昇遐於昌德宮齋廬；世子李焞則在八月二十三日卽位於仁政門，尊母親為王大妃，封世子嬪金氏為王妃。肅宗在位初期，由南人黨延續孝宗朝的執政，掌握大權並加大操控軍權，引來肅宗的不安。1682年肅宗改革軍制，新設精銳的禁衛營並由自己的寵臣掌控，大大強化了首都漢城的防禦力；改革同時縮小了南人黨控制的五軍營數量，確保國王對軍隊的主導。後來在1680年，對南人徹底失去信任的肅宗，利用「三福之變」（王族造反案）將朝中的南人黨幾乎流放或賜死，並扶植了西人黨的上台執政。

肅宗六年（1680年）王妃金氏罹患了天花而過世，他在隔年冊立兩班大臣閔維重之女為王妃（仁顯王后）。後來因為他非常寵愛後宮張禧嬪，再加上美貌的張氏生下他期盼已久的子嗣，同時張氏也不斷向他進不利王妃閔氏的讒言，於是在肅宗十五年（1689年）下旨廢無子的王妃閔氏為庶人，同年冊立張氏為王妃（即己巳換局），並把張氏的兒子立為世子。這樣的行動引來朝中大臣的攻訐非難，西人黨為主的大臣認為肅宗不該如此對待優雅高貴的閔氏，在兩班貴族眼中，張禧嬪心機權謀，而且是非兩班的「中人」（兩班的私生子後代）出身，其父曾是譯官和商人，富裕但身分低階。而主威獨運的肅宗則在同年（1689年）把西人黨換掉，改成支持張禧嬪的南人黨掌權。

六年後（1695年），幡然悔悟（或者說迫於西人黨帶起的輿論壓力）的肅宗又將閔氏復位，並把張氏降為禧嬪，連帶又造成南人黨下台，西人黨主政。肅宗二十七年（1701年）王妃閔氏薨逝，此時肅宗發現心有不甘的張氏曾詛咒閔氏短命，甚至以巫蠱加害閔氏，意圖重返王妃之位，因此下旨賜死張氏，並且下達了往後的君主「不得以嬪御登后妃」的旨意。張禧嬪的興起和賜死，說明當時中人階層的人數與經濟地位逐漸升高，足以形成壓力，要求得到社會認同和（政治）地位提升；但是新儒學派的兩班貴族基於自身權益和儒家身分思想，出手幹預王位繼承人，以確保私生子、有錢的商人家族、軍官與中層官員不能踰矩。

肅宗二十八年再冊立大臣金柱臣之女為王妃。三十八年（1712年），清國與朝鮮間之邊境的界碑（長白山定界碑）設置。

肅宗四十六年六月八日，於慶德宮隆福殿升遐，享年60歲，廟號肅宗（숙종），諡號「顯義光倫睿聖英烈裕謨永運洪仁峻德配天合道啟休篤慶正中協極神毅大勳章文憲武敬明元孝大王」（清朝賜諡僖順王），葬於高陽明陵。

家庭

王妃

嬪御

子女

評價

一些西方學者把肅宗比擬為英國雄才大略的亨利八世，兩者都有治國才幹，但同樣因為妻妾的問題而引發政治分裂。

相關影視作品及飾演者

電影

電視劇

附註

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Biography

King Sukjong was born on October 7, 1661 to King Hyeonjong and Queen Myeongseong at Gyeonghui Palace. His given name was Yi Sun. He became the Crown Prince Myeongbo in 1667 at age 6, and in 1674, at age 13, he became the 19th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty.

King Sukjong was a brilliant politician, but his reign was marked by some of the most intense factional fights in the Joseon dynasty. Sukjong frequently replaced faction in power with another one to strengthen the royal authority. With each change of government, which was called hwanguk, literally turn of the state, the losing faction was completely driven out of politics with executions and exiles. Nevertheless, the chaotic changes of government did not affect the general populace significantly, and his reign is considered one of more prosperous times.

Factional Fightings

In the early years of Sukjong's reign, the Southern faction and Western faction clashed over the Royal Funeral Dispute, a seemingly minor issue regarding the mourning period for Queen Insun. The Southern faction claimed that the mourning period should last one year while the Western faction argued for a nine-month mourning period. A one-year mourning period meant that Hyojong of Joseon was considered the eldest son while 9-month period would suggest that Hyojong was considered not the eldest son, following the rules that governed the yangban class. In other words, the Western faction viewed the royal family as the first of the yangban class rather than a separate class for which different rules applied. The two factions were also in conflict over the issue of fighting the Qing Dynasty, which was considered barbaric country (as opposed to Ming Dynasty) that threatened Joseon's national security. The Southern faction, led by Heo Jeok and Yun Hyu, supported war against Qing while Western factions wanted to focus first on improving domestic conditions.

Sukjong at first sided with the Southern faction, but in 1680, Heo Jeok was accused of treason by Western faction, which led to the execution of Heo Jeok and Yun Hyu and purging of the Southern faction. This incident is called Gyeongsin hwanguk (경신환국). Now in power, the Western faction split into the Noron (Old Learning) faction, led by Song Siyeol, and the Soron (New Learning) faction, led by Yun Jeung. After nine years in power, the Noron collapsed when Sukjong deposed Queen Inhyeon, who was supported by the Western faction, and named Consort Hui of Jang clan (also called Consort Jang or Jang Hui-bin) as the new queen. She is widely thought to be one of the most beautiful women in Joseon Dynasty, and her beauty was mentioned in the Annals. The Western faction angered Sukjong when it opposed the naming of Consort Jang's son as crown prince. The Southern faction, who supported Consort Jang and her son, regained power and drove out Western faction, executing Song Siyeol in revenge. This is called Gisa hwanguk (기사환국).

Five years later in 1694, the Southern faction was planning another purge of the Western faction, accusing them of conspiracy to reinstate the deposed Queen Inhyeon, when Sukjong began to regret deposing Queen Inhyeon and favor Consort Suk of Choe clan (Consort Choe), an ally of Queen Inhyeon and the Noron faction. Angry with the Southern faction's attempt to purge Westerners, Sukjong abruptly turned around to purge Southerners and brought the Western faction back in power. The Southern faction would never recover from this blow, also called Gapsul hwanguk (갑술환국). Sukjong demoted "Queen Jang" to Consort "Jang Hui-bin" and reinstated "Queen Inhyeon". Consort Jang was eventually executed (with poison) for cursing Queen Inhyeon to her death. The Soron faction supported Crown Prince Hwiso (Yi-Yun), Consort Jang's son, while the Noron faction supported Consort Choe's son, Prince Yeonying (Yi-Geum), later to become Yeongjo of Joseon. Late "Queen Inhyeon" and newly installed "Queen Inwon" were childless.

In 1718, Sukjong allowed the crown prince, soon to be Gyeongjong of Joseon, to rule the country as regent. Sukjong died in 1720 supposedly after telling Yi Yi-myoung to name Yeoning-geum as Gyeongjong's heir, but in absence of a historiographer or recorder. This will would lead to yet another purge which led to the execution of four Noron leaders in 1721, followed by another purge with the executions of eight Noron people in 1722.

Sukjong made tax system reform (大同法), promoted the use of coinage (Korean mun) and allowed the middle class and children of concubines to advance to higher governmental positions in provinces.

In 1712, Sukjong's government worked with the Qing Dynasty in China to define the national borders between the two countries at the Yalu and Tumen Rivers. The Japanese government recognized Ulleung Island as Joseon's territory in 1696 (Korean Government insists that Liancourt Rocks was also recognized. But Japanese Government insists that Liancourt Rocks was not recognized as Joseon's territory).

Sukjong's reign also saw agricultural development of far provinces and increased cultural activities including publications. He died after reigning for 46 years in 1720 at age 60. He was buried in Myeongreung (명릉) in Gyeonggi province, Goyang City inside Western Five Royal Graves (西五陵 서오릉 seooreung).

Family

• Father: King Hyeonjong of Joseon (14 March 1641 – 17 September 1674) (조선 현종)

　• Grandfather: King Hyojong of Joseon (3 July 1619 – 23 June 1659) (조선 효종)

　• Grandmother: Queen Inseon of the Deoksu Jang clan (9 February 1619 – 19 March 1674) (인선왕후 장씨)

• Mother: Queen Myeongseong of the Cheongpung Kim clan (13 June 1642 – 21 January 1684) (명성왕후 김씨)

　• Grandfather: Kim U-myeong (1619 – 1675) (김우명)

　• Grandmother: Lady Song of the Eunjin Song clan (1621 – 1660) (은진 송씨)

• Consorts and their Respective Issue:

• Queen Ingyeong of the Gwangsan Kim clan (25 October 1661 – 16 December 1680) (인경왕후 김씨)

• # Unnamed daughter (27 April 1677 – 13 March 1678)

• # Unnamed daughter (23 October 1679 – 1679)

• Queen Inhyeon of the Yeoheung Min clan (15 May 1667 – 16 September 1701) (인현왕후 민씨) – No issue.

• Queen Inwon of the Gyeongju Kim clan (3 November 1687 – 13 May 1757) (인원왕후 김씨) – No issue.

• Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clan (Queen Bu-ok - May 1688 - 1694 - deposed) (3 November 1659 – 9 November 1701) (희빈 장씨)

• # Yi Yun, Crown Prince Hwiso (20 November 1688 – 11 October 1724) (이윤)

• # Prince Seongsu (1690 – 1690) (성수) – disputed

• Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choe clan (17 December 1670 – 9 April 1718) (숙빈 최씨)

• # Prince Yeongsu (1693 – 1693) (영수군)

• # Yi Geum, Prince Yeoning (31 October 1694 – 22 April 1776) (이금 연잉군)

• # Unnamed son (1698–1698)

• # Unnamed daughter (1707 – ?) – disputed

• Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Miryang Park clan (? – 1703) (명빈 박씨)

• # Yi Hwon, Prince Yeollyeong (13 June 1699 – 2 October 1719) (이훤 연령군)

• Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Andong Kim clan (1669 – 1735) (영빈 김씨) – No issue.

• Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Gyeongju Kim clan (1690 – 1735) (귀인 김씨) – No issue.

• Royal Consort So-ui of the Gangreung Yu clan (? – 1707) (소의 유씨) – No issue.

Ancestry

His full posthumous name

• King Sukjong Hyeoneui Gwangyun Yeseong Yeongryeol Yumo Yeongun Hongin Jundeok Baecheon Habdo Gyehyu Dokgyung Jeongjung Hyeopgeuk Sineui Daehun Jangmun Heonmu Gyungmyung Wonhyo the Great of Korea

•

• 肅宗顯義光倫睿聖英烈裕謨永運洪仁峻德配天合道啓休篤慶正中恊極神毅大勳章文憲武敬明元孝大王

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Kim Jin-kyu in the 1961 film Jang Hui-bin.

• Portrayed by Shin Seong-il in the 1968 film Femme Fatale, Jang Hee-bin.

• Portrayed by Park Geun-hyung in the 1971 MBC TV series Jang Hui-bin.

• Portrayed by Park Geun-hyung in the 1981 MBC TV series Women of History: Jang Hui-bin.

• Portrayed by Kang Seok-woo in the 1988 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Queen Inhyeon.

• Portrayed by Im Ho in the 1995 SBS TV series Jang Hui-bin.

• Portrayed by Jun Kwang-ryul in the 2002 KBS TV series Jang Hui-bin.

• Portrayed by Ji Jin-hee in the 2010 MBC TV series Dong Yi.

• Portrayed by Seo Woo-jin in the 2012 tvN TV series Queen and I.

• Portrayed by Kang Han-byeol in the 2012 MBC TV series The King's Doctor.

• Portrayed by Yoo Ah-in and Chae Sang-woo in the 2013 SBS TV series Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love.

• Portrayed by Choi Min-soo in the 2016 SBS TV series Jackpot.

• Portrayed by Kim Kap-soo in the 2019 SBS TV series Haechi.