He tried to control the politics of the whole nation to advance and further national progress. King Jeongjo led the new renaissance of the Joseon Dynasty, but was initially stopped by continuing the policy of Yeongjo's Tangpyeong rule. But Jeongjo mistrusted the Naekeumwi, so he personally created Changyonegyeong. Before this time was the Naekeunwe, royal bodyguards of Joseon dynasties created by Taejong of Joseon in 1407. Before In 1782, Jeongjo selected by competitive examination some officers, who were then organized into the unit of Changyongyeong. In 1785 he erected Changyongyeong (장용영, 壯勇營), this is the King's royal bodyguards. Jeongjo tried to stop the wrong politics that concentrated the political power to single family by impeaching Hong Guk-young but it failed. Jeongjo executed Hong Sang-beom, Hong Kye-neung, other some member of Norons, and put to death Prince Eunjeon, Hong In-han, and Chung Hu-kyom. Jeongjo fought the rebels who were secretly in royal palace and personally arrested his assassins. In 1776, Hong Sang-beom, Hong Kye-neung and other some member of Noron unsuccessfully attempted to stage a military coup d'état and assasinate him. From then on, King Jeongjo experienced many turbulent periods, but overcame them with the aid of Hong Guk-yeong, Kim Chong-su. Thus, she became the Queen Dowager, the widow of Crown Prince Sado. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.ĭuring his accession, he also issued a royal decree that his mother, Lady Hyegyeong, be a Dowager Queen since his father, her husband, was supposed to be the King before him. He built Hwaseong Fortress to guard the tomb. He also moved the court to the city of Suwon to be closer to his father's grave. įrom the first day of the reign, Jeongjo spent much of his reign trying to clear his father's name. Just like his grandfather, Jeongjo used Tangpyeong method. During the drought, Jeongjo was nervous just like the people and did a rainmaking ritual for his people. During his second year of reign, a great drought came. Jeongjo tried to feel the same way with his people. The first thing that Jeongjo said to his officials was that he is the son of Jangjo who was executed by the former king. After his coronation, Jeongjo chose his spouse. However, King Yeongjo did not give him any military power.īefore Yeongjo died, he had his coronation in Gyeonghuigung on 10 March 1776. In 1775, one year before King Yeongjo's death, King Jeongjo was appointed regent for him. Another helper was Kim Jong-su(김종수, 金鍾秀), in spite of being a member of Noron. When he was the Crown Prince, King Jeongjo met Hong Guk-yeong (홍국영, 洪國榮), a controversial politician who first strongly supported Jeongjo's accession and toiled to improve the king's power, but ended up being expelled because of his desire for power. His grand uncle Hong In-han and Chung Hu-kyom, adopted son of Princess Hwawan, were amongst them. This was a major source of vexation for King Yeongjo for an extended period.Īfter 1762 to 1777, some members of Noron attempted to deport Jeongjo for his relation to Crown Prince Sado and open the path of succession for his half-brothers Prince Eunjeon, Prince Euneon and, Prince Eunshin. The Noron faction protested Yi San's legitimacy as the royal successor under the claim that Yi San was the 'Son of a prisoner' or 'Son of a psycho' and thus ineligible to succeed the throne. King Yeongjo made Yi San a part of Hyojang's family because he was concerned that Yi San, who was Sado's son and successor, would be opposed. Crown Prince Hyojang though, had died during his childhood. Crown Prince Hyojang was the elder half-brother of his father, Crown Prince Sado. On February 21, 1764, Yi San became the adoptive son of Crown Prince Hyojang and Princess Consort Hyosun by the order of King Yeongjo. So he refused to attend Crown Prince Sado's funeral. Eight years later Yi San asked to visit Sado's living quarter but his Grandfather King Yeongjo refused. Crown Prince Sado opposed the ruling party Noron party. In 1762, his father, Crown Prince Sado, was executed by King Yeongjo (Crown Prince Sado's father and Prince Yi San's grandfather) after long conflicts and Sado's years of mental illness. His mother Lady Hyegyeong's collection of memoirs serves as a significant source of historical information on the political happenings during the reigns of King Yeongjo (her father-in-law), King Jeongjo (her son), and King Sunjo (her grandson). His elder brother Crown Prince Uiso died in infancy. He was the son of Crown Prince Sado (who was put to death by his own father, King Yeongjo) and Lady Hyegyeong (who wrote an autobiography, The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong detailing her life as the ill-fated Crown Princess of Korea).