Sugyong Chang (Korean: 숙용 장씨; Hanja: 淑容 張氏; c. 1470 – 28 September 1506), of the Heungdeok Chang clan, personal name Chang Noksu, was a consort of Yeonsangun, the tyrannical 10th monarch of Joseon. She is remembered today as one of the greatest femmes fatales in Korean history and has often been likened to Jeong Nan-jeong and Huibin Jang. Following Yeonsangun's dethronement, she was publicly executed.
Contents
Biography
Early life and lineage
Lady Chang's father was Chang Hanp'il, the magistrate of Munui (문의) in Chungcheong Province, and her mother was a concubine from the cheonmin class.
Because of this status, she lived as a servant of Grand Prince Jean (제안대군), the son of King Yejong and Queen Ansun, and Yeonsangun's legal uncle. After having a son with another servant named Gano (가노), she learned singing and dancing, and became a courtesan. Despite not being particularly beautiful, she had a vibrant and youthful appearance, and possessed a natural talent for music.
As royal consort
Upon hearing her voice, Yeonsangun took Lady Chang into the palace, appointed her as a royal consort of the junior fourth rank (숙원; sugwon), sent gifts to her family, granted her slaves, fields and a residence, and bestowed an official position upon Grand Prince Jean's father-in-law, Kim Sumal (김수말). One year after entering the palace, she was elevated to the junior third rank (숙용; sugyong). In early 1506, Lady Chang's elder sister and her children were freed, becoming commoners. Based on the king's favor, her brother-in-law had alsoo previously received an official post.
Lady Chang seems to have treated Yeonsangun like a subordinate, but he favored her so much that all rulings and punishments were made under her influence. Although Lady Chang was living in the palace, private houses were demolished to build a new residence for her. In 1504, an official named Yi Byongchong (이병정) was imprisoned after supposedly insulting a servant from her residence, and was only able to avoid harm by giving a large portion of his family fortune to Lady Chang; even after the incident, he had to bribe her several more times. In 1505, Ok Chihwa (옥지화), a lower-ranking courtesan, was sentenced to beheading and had her head displayed after stepping on Lady Chang's skirt.
Death
During the Jungjong Restoration, Lady Chang was captured and then beheaded in front of the Military Arsenal (군기시), alongside Sugyong Jeon (숙용 전씨), Sugwon Kim (숙원 김씨) and others. The enraged crowd threw stones and roof tiles at her corpse.
Titles
During the reign of King Seongjong (r. 1470–1495):
Lady, of the Heungdeok Chang clan (흥덕 장씨; 興德張氏; from unknown date)
Chang Hanp'il's daughter (장한필의 딸)
Lady Chang (장씨; 張氏)
During the reign of Yeonsangun (r. 1495–1506):
Sugwon (숙원; 淑媛; from 3 January 1503), royal consort of the junior fourth rank
Sugyong (숙용; 淑容; from 21 January 1504), royal consort of the junior third rank
Family
Father: Chang Hanp'il (장한필; 1455–?)
Sibling(s)
Sister: Lady, of the Heungdeok Chang clan (흥덕 장씨), personal name Poksu (복수)
Husband: Gano (가노; 家奴)
Unnamed son
Consort of: Yeonsangun (연산군; 2 December 1476 – 30 November 1506)
Unnamed daughter (1502–?)
In popular culture
Portrayed by Kim Jin-ah in the 1988 film Diary of King Yeonsan.
Portrayed by Park Ji-young in the 1995 KBS2 TV series Jang Nok Soo.
Portrayed by Kang Sung-yeon in the 2005 film The King and the Clown.
Portrayed by Oh Soo-min in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I.
Portrayed by Jeon So-min in the 2011–2012 JTBC TV series Insu, the Queen Mother.
Portrayed by Cha Ji-yeon in the 2015 film The Treacherous.
Portrayed by Lee Hanee in the 2017 MBC TV series The Rebel.
Portrayed by Son Eun-seo in the 2017 KBS2 TV series Queen for Seven Days.
Inspired a fictional consort portrayed by Kang Han-na in the 2025 tvN TV series Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.