Queen Sohye (Korean: 소혜왕후; Hanja: 昭惠王后; 16 October 1437 – 21 May 1504), of the Cheongju Han clan, commonly known as Queen Insu, was the wife of Crown Prince Uigyeong (posthumously King Deokjong). Though her husband never became king during his lifetime, she was nevertheless elevated to the position of queen following the accession to the throne of her second son, King Seongjong, in 1470. She was then styled as Queen Dowager Insu from 1475 until King Seongjong's death, and as Grand Queen Dowager Insu during the reign of her tyrannical grandson, Yeonsangun.
Queen Insu is remembered for her proficiency in Chinese classics, Confucianism and Buddhism, as well as for her involvement in political affairs, which spanned from the accession of her father-in-law, Grand Prince Suyang, until her death during the reign of her grandson, Yeonsangun. In 1475, she wrote Naehun, widely regarded as the first book authored by a woman in Korea.
Contents
Biography
Early life and lineage
The future Queen Sohye was born during the reign of King Sejong, as the seventh child and youngest daughter among three sons and six daughters. Her father was Han Hwak, who would later become left state councilor, and her mother was a lady from the Namyang Hong clan. Her natal Cheongju Han clan was a powerful yangban family with a long tradition of providing high-ranking officials and royal consorts, and she was given an education in Confucian values and the Chinese classics.
On her paternal side, Lady Han was a niece of Consort Kanghuizhuangshuli and Madame Gongshen (공신부인; consort of the Xuande Emperor), as well as a fourth cousin once removed of Queen Jangsun, Queen Gonghye, Queen Ansun, and her husband's consort, Sugui Shin.
Her maternal uncle, Hong Won-yong (홍원용), married the eldest sister of Queen Jeonghui. Another maternal uncle, Hong I-yong (홍이용), married firstly the sister-in-law of Prince Onnyeong (온녕군), King Taejong's seventh son, and secondly the maternal aunt of Queen Jeonghyeon; his daughter by his first wife was Grand Princess Consort Gangnyeong (강녕부부인), the wife of King Sejong's ninth son, Grand Prince Pyeongwon (평원대군).
Marriage
In 1450, at the age of 13, Lady Han married 12-year-old Yi Chang (이장), the elder son of Grand Prince Suyang and his wife, Lady Yun.
After the Gyeyu Purge (계유정난) in 1453, Grand Prince Suyang was instated as chief state councilor and Han Hwak was granted the office of right state councilor. Han Myeong-hoe, the orchestrator of the coup, was Lady Han's distant relative. This formed the beginnings of Lady Han's network of political influence. In 1455, Grand Prince Suyang (posthumously King Sejo) forced his young nephew, King Danjong, to abdicate in his favor. Yi Chang was thus invested as crown prince and Lady Han became crown princess.
In early 1455, she had given birth to her first child, Yi Jeong, followed by Commandery Princess Taean in 1456, and Yi Hyeol in 1457. Lady Han was meticulous from a young age and extremely devoted in serving her parents-in-law, so she was often praised by King Sejo as filial; however, she was a strict mother to her two sons, scolding them at the slightest mistake.
Widowhood
One month after the birth of their younger son, Yi Chang suddenly passed away; he received the posthumous name Uigyeong (의경). His brother, Grand Prince Haeyang (posthumously King Yejong), became the new crown prince, and Lady Han was titled Crown Princess Jeong (정빈), which was later changed to Crown Princess Su (수빈) in order to avoid confusion with one of Queen Wongyeong's previous titles. Feeling pity for his daughter-in-law, King Sejo specially allowed her to continue living in the royal palace, but Lady Han declined. A large and magnificent residence was built for her, which in time became the present Deoksugung.
Despite leaving the palace, Lady Han persisted in her diligent care for her parents-in-law, particularly strengthening her relationship with Queen Yun (posthumously Queen Jeonghui), and remained highly favored by King Sejo for the remainder of his life. She married her second son to Han Myeong-hoe's legitimate youngest daughter, maintained close contact with powerful officials such as Shin Suk-ju, and helped her relatives and associates in their rise to high offices. Thanks to her efforts, when King Yejong died just 15 months after acceding to the throne, it was Lady Han's son, Yi Hyeol, who was chosen to become the new king (posthumously King Seongjong), instead of Yejong's own son.
As queen dowager
At this time, Lady Han's status was unclear since her husband had never been king and her son had been adopted under King Yejong's name, meaning it was Queen Dowager Inhye who was recognized as King Seongjong's mother. In a first step, Crown Prince Uigyeong was posthumously named king and Lady Han received the ambiguous title "Queen Insu" (인수왕비). The next year, several of her close relatives were designated as meritorious subjects. Because there was a need to determine the hierarchy between Lady Han and Queen Dowager Inhye, Shin Suk-ju argued that they should heed the rules of private households, which followed sibling order, rather than the rules of the royal family, meaning Lady Han was the superior. Her mother-in-law, Grand Queen Dowager Jaseong, also issued an edict declaring that Lady Han had been entrusted by King Sejo with the task of protecting Yejong, implying her seniority above both the late Yejong and Queen Dowager Inhye; as such, Lady Han's superior standing was established. In 1475, King Uigyeong was elevated to great king and received a temple name, while Lady Han was raised to queen dowager.
Later life and death
In any case, the regency was exerted by Grand Queen Dowager Jaseong and Lady Han's influence was constrained. It was only after Grand Queen Dowager Jaseong's death in 1483, when Lady Han became the most senior elder in the palace, that political power shifted into her hands. With the passing of King Seongjong and the accession of her grandson, Yi Yung (later known as Yeonsangun/Prince Yeonsan), she became grand queen dowager. However, once Yeonsangun discovered that his biological mother was the Deposed Queen Yun, brutal clashes ensued between them. Lady Han, who had already been critically ill for some months, passed away in 1504 following an altercation with Yeonsangun due to his plan to confer a posthumous name upon Deposed Queen Yun.
She died at the age of 66, having survived her husband by 46 years. She was buried alongside him within Gyeongneung (경릉), today part of the Seooreung Cluster in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Because his tomb was built according to the specifications for a crown prince, it is much simpler than that of Lady Han, who was grand queen dowager at the time of her death.
Legacy
Queen Insu authored the Naehun (Instructions for Women) in 1475. This books appears as a Confucian morality guidebook for women, describing appropriate behavior in accordance with Confucian ideals. It can also be read as a manifesto describing self-cultivation as the most appropriate behavior for a woman, endorsing the political activities of the author.
With the exception of a few poems, this book is the first known book written by a woman in Korea.
Titles
During the reign of King Sejong (r. 1418–1450):
Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; from 16 October 1437)
Han Hwak's daughter (한확의 딸)
Lady Han (한씨; 韓氏)
During the reign of King Munjong (r. 1450–1452):
Princess Consort (군부인; 郡夫人; from 1450)
During the reign of King Sejo (r. 1455–1468):
Crown Princess (왕세제빈; 王世弟嬪; from 16 September 1455)
Crown Princess Jeong (정빈; 貞嬪; from 1457)
Crown Princess Su (수빈; 粹嬪; from 27 August 1465)
During the reign of King Seongjong (r. 1470–1495):
Queen Insu (인수왕비; 仁粹王妃; from 3 March 1470)
Queen Dowager Insu (인수왕대비; 仁粹王大妃; from 11 April 1475)
During the reign of Yeonsangun (r. 1495–1506):
Grand Queen Dowager Insu (인수대왕대비; 仁粹大王大妃; from 29 January 1495)
Queen Sohye (소혜왕후; 昭惠王后; from 1504)
Family
Father: Han Hwak (한확), Internal Prince Seowon (서원부원군; 1400 – 19 October 1456)
Mother: Internal Princess Consort Namyang (남양부부인), of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨; 1404–1450)
Sibling(s)
Han Chi-in (한치인), Prince Seoseong (서성군; 1421–1477)
Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 1423–?)
Princess Consort Jeongseon (정선군부인), of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 1426–1480)
Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 1427–?)
Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 1431–?)
Lady, of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 1434–1481)
Han Chi-ui (한치의), Prince Cheongyang (청양군; 1440–1473)
Han Chi-rye (한치례), Prince Seoreung (서릉군; 1441–1499)
Husband: King Deokjong (덕종대왕; 12 October 1438 – 29 September 1457)
Father-in-law: King Sejo (세조대왕; 11 November 1417 – 2 October 1468)
Mother-in-law: Queen Jeonghui (정희왕후), of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨; 25 December 1418 – 15 May 1483)
Issue
Yi Jeong (이정), Grand Prince Wolsan (월산대군; 14 January 1455 – 31 January 1489)
Princess Myeongsuk (명숙공주; 1456 – 23 November 1482), personal name Gyeong-geun (경근)
In popular culture
Portrayed by Jeon Ok in the 1962 film Prince Yeonsan.
Portrayed by Hwang Jeong-sun in the 1972 TBC TV series Song of Parental Love.
Portrayed by Go Doo-shim in the 1984–1985 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow.
Portrayed by Jung Hye-sun in the 1987 film Prince Yeonsan.
Portrayed by Han Eun-jin in the 1988 film Diary of King Yeonsan.
Portrayed by Kim Young-ran in the 1994 KBS2 TV series Han Myung-hoi.
Portrayed by Ban Hyo-jung in the 1995 KBS2 TV series Jang Nok Soo.
Portrayed by Chae Shi-ra in 1998–2000 KBS1 TV series The King and the Queen.
Portrayed by Yun So-jeong in the 2005 film The King and the Clown.
Portrayed by Jeon In-hwa in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I.
Portrayed by Chae Shi-ra and Hahm Eun-jung in the 2011–2012 JTBC TV series Insu, the Queen Mother.
Portrayed by Moon Sook in the 2017 MBC TV series The Rebel.
Portrayed by Jang Yeong-nam in the 2017 film The King's Case Note.
Inspired a fictional queen dowager portrayed by Seo Yi-sook in the 2025 tvN TV series Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.