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Royal Consort Geun of the Goseong Yi clan (Korean: 근비 이씨; Hanja: 謹妃 李氏; 1365 – ?) was a Korean royal consort as the first wife of King U and the mother of his successor, King Chang. She was the fourth Goryeo queen who didn't receive a posthumous name like the other consorts following Lady Yun.

Biography

Early life

The future Royal Consort Geun was born in 1365 into the Goseong Yi clan in Goseong County as the daughter of Yi Rim (이림), who was a relative of Yi In-im (이인임), and Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan.

Marriage and palace life

In 1379, she became the consort of the 13-year-old U of Goryeo and given title as Consort Geun (근비; 謹妃), also lived in Hudeok Mansion (후덕부; 厚德府). Following this, Yi Rim was honoured as "Internal Prince Cheolseong" (철성부원군; 鐵城府院君) and his wife became "Lady of Byeonhan State" (변한국부인; 卞韓國夫人) alongside his mother became "Grand Lady of Samhan State" (삼한국대부인; 三韓國大夫人). Two felons were released from prison to mark the occasion. In September 1380, she gave birth to a prince (the future King Chang) and one felon was released to celebrate it.

After King U's deposal

In 1388, after ordering an attack on Liaodong in Ming territory, King U was forced to abdicate during a coup led by the general Yi Seong-gye. His only young son ascended the throne as King Chang with Yi Seong-gye as the regent, then Royal Consort Geun was promoted to Grand Royal Consort (왕대비). All of the former king's other consorts were forced to leave the palace and return to their natal homes.

Little more than a year later, both King U and King Chang were demoted to commoner status with the justification that U had not actually been the son of his royal father, and Wang Yo was enthroned as the new ruler–King Gongyang. In addition to her husband and son, Royal Consort Geun's father and brother were exiled, as well as two of her brothers-in-law, a nephew-in-law, and a nephew. Late in 1389, the two former kings were killed, and Royal Consort Geun's father was imprisoned in Cheongju.

Family

• Father: Yi Rim (이림, 李琳; 1330–1391)
• Mother: Grand Lady Byeon State of the Namyang Hong clan (변한국부인 남양 (당홍계) 홍씨, 卞韓國夫人 南陽 洪氏; 1329 – ?)
• Sibling(s)
  • Older sister: Lady Yi (이씨; 李氏)
  • Older brother: Yi Gwi-saeng (이귀생; 李貴生; 1352 – ?)
  • Older brother: Yi Mu-saeng (이무생; 李茂生; 1354 – ?)
  • Older sister: Lady Yi (이씨; 李氏; 1342 – ?)
  • Younger sister: Lady Yi (이씨; 李氏; 1367 – ?)
• Husband: Wang Woo, King U of Goryeo (고려 우왕; 25 July 1365 – 31 December 1389)
  • Son: King Chang of Goryeo (고려 창왕; 6 September 1380 – 31 December 1389)

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Jeon Sun-ae in the 1983 KBS1 TV series Foundation of the Kingdom.
• Portrayed by Kim Chang-sook in the 1983 MBC TV series The King of Chudong Palace.
• Portrayed by Seo Yi-an in the 2014 KBS TV series Jeong Do-jeon.

Notes

1. In the Korean calendar (lunisolar), the Queen was born on 12 December 1364

References

1. Goryeosa, vol. 134. Biographies: vol. 47. King U: Month 12, Year 7.
2. ^ Goryeosa, vol. 45. Important families: vol. 45. King Gongyang: Month 12, Coronation year.
3. Goryeosa, vol. 134. Biographies: vol. 47. King U: Month 4, Year 5.
4. Goryeosa, vol. 134. Biographies: vol. 47. King U: Month 8, Year 6.
5. 조 (2007).
6. Goryeosa, vol. 137. Biographies: vol. 50. King Chang: Month 6, Coronation year.
7. Goryeosa, vol. 45. Distinguished families: vol. 45. King Gongyang: Month 11, Coronation year.
8. Goryeosa, vol. 45. Distinguished families: vol. 45. King Gongyang: Month 5, Year 2.

Sources

• 조, 민 (2007). 고려말(高麗末)-조선초(朝鮮初) 국내정치지배세력(國內政治支配勢力)의 대중인식(對中認識) [Diplomatic Relations with China in the Late Goryeo and Early Joseon Periods]. The Journal of Northeast Asia Research (in Korean). 22 (2): 55–76.
• Jeong In-ji, ed. (1451). 고려사 [Goryeosa]. Retrieved 26 February 2021.

External links

• 근비 이씨 on Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean).
• 근비 이씨 on the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).

• Royal consorts of Goryeo
• 14th-century Korean women
• 14th-century Korean people
• Goseong Lee clan
• People from South Gyeongsang Province
• Mothers of Korean monarchs