Queen Jeongseong

The future Queen Jeongseong was born on 12 January 1693 in Gahoebang (가회방, 嘉會坊). She was the second daughter and fourth child of Seo Jong-jae and Lady Jamseong of the Ubong Lee clan. In November 1703, at the age of ten, she married the eight-year-old Prince Yeoning. As the wife of a Prince, Lady Seo was given the title of Princess Consort Dalseong (달성군부인).

It was said that Prince Yeoning had commented on how pretty the young Princess was on their first night of marriage.

In 1724, Prince Yeoning's older brother, King Gyeongjong died. Prince Yeoning ascended the throne on 30 August of that year as King Yeongjo. Lady Seo, as Prince Yeoning's wife, became Queen Consort.

As queen, it was said that she held a generous character to her. Queen Jeongseong had also cherished and treated Crown Prince Hyojang, Royal Noble Consort Jeong of the Hamseong Lee clan’s son, and Crown Prince Sado, Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Lee clan’s son, as if they were her own sons.

Queen Jeongseong died at Changdeok Palace on 3 April 1757. Her death distressed her stepson, Crown Prince Sado, contributing to his declining mental condition.[1] Queen Jeongseong had no children.

• Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Seo Kyeong-woo (서경우, 徐景雨)
• Great-Grandfather
  • Seo Hyeong-ri (서형리, 徐亨履) (1596 - 1667)
• Great-Grandmother
  • Lady Seong of the Changnyeong Seong clan (증 정경부인 창녕 성씨, 贈 貞敬夫人 昌寧 成氏) (1596 - 1668)
• Grandfather
  • Seo Moon-do (서문도, 徐文道) (1628 - 1700)
• Grandmother
  • Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (증 정경부인 안동 김씨, 贈 貞敬夫人 安東 金氏) (1630 - 1709)
• Father
  • Seo Jong-jae (서종제, 徐宗悌) (1656 - 1719)
• Mother
  • Lady Jamseong of the Ubong Lee clan (잠성부부인 우봉 이씨, 岑城府夫人 牛峰 李氏) (1660 - 1738)
• Brothers
  • Older brother: Seo Myeong-baek (서명백, 徐命伯) (1678 - 1733)
    • Sister-in-law: Lady Lee of the Yeoju Lee clan (여주 이씨, 驪州 李氏) (1676 - 1733)
      • Nephew: Seo Deok-su (서덕수, 徐德修) (1694 - 1722)[2]
      • Nephew: Seo In-su (서인수, 徐仁修)
      • Nephew: Seo Shin-su (서신수, 徐信修)[3]
  • Older brother: Seo Myeong-hyu (서명휴, 徐命休)
    • Nephew: Seo No-su (서노수, 徐魯修)
• Sisters
  • Older sister: Lady Seo of the Daegu Seo clan
    • Brother-in-law: Lee Jong-gyeong (이중경, 李重慶)
  • Younger sister: Lady Seo of the Daegu Seo clan
    • Brother-in-law: Shin Jeong-jib (신정집, 申正集)
  • Younger sister: Lady Seo of the Daegu Seo clan
    • Brother-in-law: Im Geo (임거, 林蘧)

• 12 January 1693 - November 1903:

1. Lady Seo

2. Daughter of Seo Jong-jae

• November 1703 - 30 August 1724: Her Highness, Princess Consort Dalseong of Joseon (달성군부인, 達城府院君)
• 30 November 1724 - 3 April 1757: Her Majesty, the Queen Consort of Joseon
• Posthumous title: Queen Jeongseong of Joseon (정성왕후, 貞聖王后 徐氏)

(“세제빈” (Sejebin) was used as a title for the King’s brother’s wife when the King’s brother was appointed as heir, instead of “세자빈” (Sejabin) that was reserved for the Crown Princess)

• Portrayed by Kim Ae-kyung in the 1988 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong.
• Portrayed by Moon Ye-ji in the 1998 MBC TV series The King's Road.
• Portrayed by Jung Mo-rye in the 2010 MBC TV series Dong Yi.
• Portrayed by Park Shin-hye in the 2014 film The Royal Tailor.
• Portrayed by Park Myung-Shin in the 2015 historical drama film The Throne.
• Portrayed by Kim Sun Kyung in the 2017 MBC TV series The Emperor:Owner of the Mask.
• Portrayed by Choi Soo-im in the 2019 SBS TV series Haechi.