List of Joseon royal consorts

The Joseon dynasty (also transcribed as Chosŏn or Chosun, Korean: 대조선국; 大朝鮮國, lit. 'Great Chosun Country') was a Korean dynastic kingdom that lasted for approximately five centuries.[1] Joseon King accepted Chinese suzerainty and acknowledged the Chinese emperor as their nominal overlord[2] until Gabo Reform. Primary consort of Joseon ruler bore the title wangbi (왕비, 王妃),[lower-alpha 1] translated as queen consort in English, with the style of "Her Royal Highness" (mama; 마마, 媽媽). The title used in the court language was junggungjeon (중궁전, 中宮殿) or jungjeon (중전, 中殿), literal translation "Center Palace". Wanghu (왕후, 王后), originally was title for queen consort during pra-Joseon era, became a queen consort's posthumous title.

The title wangdaebi (왕대비, 王大妃)[lower-alpha 2] was given to the widow of a king. Daebi (대비, 大妃),[lower-alpha 3] originally was the short form of wangdaebi, became separated lesser rank title during the reign of King Cheoljong and King Gojong. Both of these titles translated as queen dowager in English. Senior queen dowager was titled daewangdaebi (대왕대비, 大王大妃),[lower-alpha 4] translated as grand queen dowager.

After Second Gabo Reform in December 1894, which proclaimed the severance of the subordinate relationship with China, consort's royal titles also changed. Queen consort's title changed from wangbi to wanghu and queen dowager's title from wangdaebi to wangtaehu (왕태후, 王太后).[lower-alpha 5]

In October 1897, King Gojong proclaimed Korea as an empire and he assumed the title of emperor (hwangje; 황제, 皇帝) in order to assert Korea's independence. Automatically, emperor's primary consort held the title empress consort (hwanghu; 황후, 皇后)[lower-alpha 6] and monarch's widow held the title empress dowager (hwangtaehu; 황태후, 皇太后). From all primary consort of Joseon's ruler, only Empress Sunjeong who was empress consort during her lifetime. Empress Myeongseong died in 1895, two years before Korean Empire proclaimed.

• List of monarchs of Korea