Gwiin Jo (Injo)

Gwiin Jo 귀인 조씨
Royal Consort of the First Junior Rank
Tenure	1649 – 24 January 1652

Born	1619 Joseon
Died	24 January 1652(1652-01-24) (aged 32–33) Hanseong, Joseon
Spouse	Injo of Joseon
Issue	Princess Hyomyeong Prince Sungseon Prince Nakseon
House	Okcheon Jo [ko] (by birth) Yi (by marriage)
Father	Jo Gi
Mother	Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan

Korean name
Hangul	귀인 조씨
Hanja	貴人趙氏
Revised Romanization	Gwiin Jossi
McCune–Reischauer	Kwiin Chossi

Biography

Summarize

Perspective

Early life

She was initially arranged to become the maid of a lord's daughter, but instead became a palace woman. She used to serve Queen Inyeol's brother-in-law, and the Queen was the one who arranged for her to enter the palace.

Royal favorite

She caught King Injo's eye, and became his favourite consort overnight; her rank also changed rapidly, from the lowest sugwon to sowon, soyong, soui, and was finally declared a royal consort of the first junior rank, gwiin.^[3]

No one could beat her in terms of receiving the King’s affection; both Queen Jangnyeol and Sugui Jang failed to receive Injo’s love.

Her personality was described as that of a sensual but cunning woman, and those who were in her bad book would not be safe in front of the King. Because of this, people inside the palace were very afraid of her. It was rumored that Lady Jo disturbed the relationship between Injo and Queen Jangnyeol, with the intention to tear them apart.

Feud with the crown princess

Lady Jo harbored hatred towards the family of Crown Prince Sohyeon, particularly Crown Princess Minhoe. Since the day she reached the rank of soyong, she would badmouth them in front of Injo and it became a common thing for her to slander them with false accusations. Although there was no record of her involvement with Crown Prince Sohyeon's death, her slanders did not stop after the prince died. Because of that, Crown Princess Minhoe suspected her of poisoning her husband.^[4] The acupuncturist who treated Prince Sohyeon before his death was Yi Hyeong-ik, who was rumored to be in a relationship with Lady Jo's mother.

Lady Jo accused the Crown Princess of attempting to poison Injo, leading to the Crown Princess' execution.

Later life

After Injo's death, she was discovered to be involved in an attempt to put a curse on Queen Jangnyeol and on the Queen's niece. Kim Chajŏm was her accomplice and was executed. King Hyojong decided to spare the life of Princess Hyomyeong, his half-sister, since she was not involved in the incident. Lady Jo was sentenced to death by poisoning and her mother, who was also an accomplice, died before she could receive her punishment. There were officials suggesting for Lady Jo to be stripped of her position as a royal consort but out of respect for his father who treasured her, King Hyojong did not go through with the idea.^[5]

Remove ads

Family

Father: Jo Gi (조기; 1574–?)
Mother
- Biological: Han Ok, Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (한옥, 청주 한씨; 1578–1652); Jo Gi’s second wife
- Step: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨; 1575–?); daughter of Sim Heun (심흔; 沈忻; 1549–?)
Sibling(s)
- Elder half-brother: Jo Yang-pil (조양필; 趙良弼; 1600–?)
  - Sister-in-law: Lady Yi of the Seongju Yi clan (성주 이씨; 1600–?)
    - Adopted nephew: Jo Jeong-gu (조정구; 趙鼎耉; 1633–?); eldest son of Jo Hyeon-pil (조현필; 1608–?)
Husband: Yi Jong, King Injo of Joseon (조선 인조 이종; 7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649)
- Father-in-law: Grand Internal Prince Jeongwon (정원 대원군; 2 August 1580 – 29 December 1619)
- Mother-in-law: Queen Inheon of the Neungseong Gu clan (인헌왕후 능성 구씨; 17 April 1578 – 14 January 1626)
Issue
- Daughter: Princess Hyomyeong (효명옹주; 1637–1700)
  - Son-in-law: Kim Se-ryong, Prince Consort Nakseong (낙성위 김세룡; 1636–1651)
- Son: Yi Jing, Prince Sungseon (숭선군 이징; 17 October 1639 – 6 January 1690)
  - Daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Yeongpung of the Pyongsan Shin clan (영풍군부인 평산 신씨; 1639–1692)
    - Grandson: Yi Hang, Prince Dongpyeong (동평군 이항; 1660–1701)
    - Grandson: Yi Kang (동성정 이강; 1662–?)
    - Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1664–?)
    - Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1666–?)
    - Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1668–?)
    - Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1670–?)
- Son: Yi Suk, Prince Nakseon (낙석군 이숙; 9 December 1641 – 26 April 1695)
  - Daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Dongwon of the Gangneung Kim clan (동원군부인 강릉 김씨; 1643–1722)
    - Adoptive grandson: Yi Hwan, Prince Imyang (임양군 이환; 1654–1729); adopted in 1662