Royal Noble Consort Uibin Seong

Korean name
Hangul	의빈 성씨
Hanja	宜嬪成氏
Revised Romanization	Uibin Seongssi
McCune–Reischauer	Ŭipin Sŏngssi
Birth name
Hangul	성덕임
Hanja	成德任
Revised Romanization	Seong Deokim
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏng Tŏgim

Ui-bin Seong
의빈 성씨
Ui-bin Seong; 의빈 성씨
Royal Noble Consort of the First Senior Rank
Tenure	1782 – 4 November 1786
Born	6 August 1753; Changnyeong-eup, Changnyeong County, Gyeongnam Province, Joseon
Died	4 November 1786 (aged 33); Junghuidang Hall, Changdeokgung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Uibinmyo Tomb, Seosamneung Cluster, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon
Spouse	Jeongjo of Joseon (m.1780–1786)
Issue	Yi Sun, Crown Prince Munhyo; Unnamed Daughter
Clan	Changnyeong Seong clan (by birth); Jeonju Yi clan (by marriage)
Dynasty	House of Yi (by marriage)
Father	Seong Yun-woo
Mother	Lady Im of the Buan Im clan
Religion	Korean Buddhism

Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Changnyeong Seong clan (Korean: 의빈 성씨; Hanja: 宜嬪成氏; 6 August 1753 – 4 November 1786) was the beloved consort of King Jeongjo of Joseon and the mother of Crown Prince Munhyo.

Biography

Early life

The future Royal Consort was born on August 6, 1753 (July 8, 1753 in Korean lunar calendar), during the 29th year of King Yeongjo's reign, into the Changnyeong Seong clan. Her name was Seong Deok-im (성덕임; 成德任).

She was the youngest daughter and child of Seong Yun-woo (성윤우; 成胤祐), and his second wife, Lady Im of the Buan Im clan (부안 임씨; 扶安林氏). Lady Seong had six siblings: 4 older brothers, one older sister, and a younger half-brother.

Seong Yun-woo's first wife was Lady Ma of the Jangheung Ma clan (장흥 마씨; 長興馬氏). After her death, he married Lady Im, the daughter of Im Jong-ju (임종주; 林宗胄), a minor government official. She died in 1756, three years after giving birth to the future Seong Ui-bin. Seong Yun-woo's third wife was Lady Ji of the Danyang Ji clan (단양 지씨; 丹陽池氏).

Their family was quite poor, and at the time of Lady Seong's birth, her father worked as a steward for Hong Bong-han, the maternal grandfather of King Jeongjo.^[1] He later became a military officer, but resigned in 1761, due to embezzlement accusations. Her father died in 1769 at the age of 60.

Life in the palace

In 1762, at the age of ten, she entered the royal palace as a gungnyeo. Because of her father's relationship with the Pungsan Hong clan, Lady Seong became a personal maid of King Jeongjo's mother, Crown Princess Hye.

In 1773, she alongside Princess Cheongyeon and Princess Cheongseon, transcribed the classic novel Gwakjangyangmunrok (comprising 10 volumes, 10 books) to Korean.^[1]^[2]

Some time before 1782, she received Jeongjo's grace and was promoted to Sangui, a court lady of the fifth senior rank. It is recorded that she was pregnant two times between 1780 and 1782, but both pregnancies ended in miscarriage.

On October 13, 1782, Lady Seong gave birth to her first child, Yi Sun (이순). That same day, she became a Royal Consort, after being elevated to the third senior rank of So-yong. Almost three months later, in late December 1782, her son was given the title of Prince Royal (원자; 元子).

The following year, Seong So-yong was promoted to the first senior rank of Bin and Jeongjo personally chose the prefix "Ui" (Hanja: 宜; meaning "appropriate/fitting") for her.^[1]

On March 20, 1784, Lady Seong gave birth to an unnamed daughter who died a year after birth.

On July 2, 1784, Yi Sun was invested as Crown Prince, but he died during an epidemic on June 6, 1786.

Death

Four months after the death of her son, Seong Ui-bin died of a disease during the last month of her fifth pregnancy (September 14, 1786 in Korean lunar calendar).^[3] The unborn child died with her. King Jeongjo wrote her an epitaph, where he described his grief and declared his love for her. It was said that Lady Seong was the only woman he loved amongst his wives. Her mortuary was set up at Anhyeon Palace, which was uncommon.

Originally, she was buried about 100 steps from her son, Crown Prince Munhyo. The graves were called Hyochangmyo (효창묘; 孝昌墓), but during the 7th year of King Gojong's reign, the status of the tombs was raised to Hyochangwon (효창원; 孝昌園).^[a]

King Jeongjo planted 26.000 trees in the graveyard, which is known today as "Hyochang Park" and is situated in Yongsan District, Seoul.

In 1944, during the Japanese occupation, the tombs were relocated to the Seosamneung Cluster in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.^[4] Crown Prince Munhyo was buried next to his uncle, Crown Prince Uiso, while Seong Ui-bin was buried 2 km away, in the concubines' cemetery. Her tomb is known as Uibinmyo (의빈묘; 宜嬪墓).

Lady Seong's memorial tablet was enshrined in Uibingung (의빈궁; 宜嬪宮), at the Chilgung (also known as "The Palace of Seven Royal Concubines"; Historical Site No. 149). In 1908, the 2nd year of Emperor Yunghui's reign, Uibingung was closed. However, the name was preserved and the annual rituals continued to be held.

Family

Father: Seong Yun-woo (성윤우; 成胤祐; 1709–1769)
Mother:
- Biological - Lady Im of the Buan Im clan (부안 임씨; 扶安林氏; 1722–1756)
- Step - Lady Ma of the Jangheung Ma clan (장흥 마씨; 長興馬氏; 1715–?); Seong Yun-woo's first wife
- Step - Lady Ji of the Danyang Ji clan (단양 지씨; 丹陽池氏) (1725–?); Seong Yun-woo's third wife

Sibling(s)

Older brother: Seong Dam (성담; 成湛; 1741–1783)
Older brother: Seong Hyeob (성협; 成浹; 1742–1810)
Older brother: Seong Wan (성완; 成浣; 1743–1806)
Older brother: Seong Suk (성숙; 成淑) (1746–?)
Older sister: Lady Seong of the Changnyeong Seong clan (창녕 성씨; 昌寧成氏) (1750–?)
Younger half-brother: Seong Heub (성흡; 成洽; 1762–?)

Husband

Yi San, King Jeongjo of Joseon (조선 정조 이산; 朝鮮正祖李祘; 28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800)
- Father-in-law: King Jangjo of Joseon (조선 장조; 朝鮮莊祖; 13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762)
- Mother-in-law: Queen Heongyeong of the Pungsan Hong clan (헌경왕후 홍씨; 獻敬王后洪氏; 6 August 1735 – 13 January 1816)

Issue(s)

Miscarriage (8 December 1780)^[b]
Miscarriage (July 1781)^[c]
Yi Sun, Crown Prince Munhyo (문효세자 이순, 文孝世子李㬀; 13 October 1782 – 6 June 1786), first son
First daughter (20 March 1784 – 12 May 1785)^[d]
Unborn child (4 November 1786)^[e]

In popular culture

Portrayed by Lee Han-na and Han Ji-min in the 2007 MBC TV series Lee San, Wind of the Palace.
Portrayed by Lee Seol-ah and Lee Se-young in the 2021 MBC TV series The Red Sleeve.

Notes

^ The royal tombs were classified in two types: neung (for Kings and Queens or those who were posthumously granted the titles) and won (for Crown Princes and their wives). The myo-type of tombs were for other royal relatives, as well as concubines.
^ According to the lunar calendar.
^ According to the lunar calendar.
^ According to the lunar calendar.
^ Died in utero as a result of her mother's death during the last month of her pregnancy.