Introduction
Queen Sunwon (순원왕후 김씨, 8 June 1789 – 21 September 1857) also known as Queen Dowager Myeonggyeong (명경왕대비) was a Queen consort of Korea as the spouse of Sunjo of Joseon. She served as regent of Korea from 1834–1841 and from 1849–1852.
Biography
She was a daughter of Kim Jo-sun (김조순, 1765–1832) of the Andong Kim clan. Her mother was a lady from the Sim clan (심씨).
In 1802, she married King Sunjo of Joseon as his first and only queen consort. Her husband died in 1834, and she became regent for her eight-year-old grandson, King Heonjong. Political power in the kingdom remained in the hands of her family, the Andong Kim clan. In 1840, power passed to the family of the monarch's mother, the Pungyang Jo clan, following the Catholic persecution of 1839. At the death of her grandson in 1849, she again became regent.
Queen Sunwon died at Changdeok Palace on 21 September 1857.
She was posthumously honored as "Empress Sunwonsuk" (순원숙황후).
Issue
Queen Sunwon bore King Sunjo of Joseon five children, including his eldest (and only surviving) son:
- Crown Prince Hyomyeong (효명세자, 1809–1830)
- Princess Myeongon (명온공주, 1810–1832)
- Princess Bokon (복온공주, 1818–1828)
- An unknown Prince (1820–?)
- Princess Deokon (덕온공주, 1828–1844)