Han Myŏnghoe

In this Korean name, the family name is Han.

Han Myŏnghoe (Korean: 한명회; Hanja: 韓明澮; 26 November 1415 – 28 November 1487) was a Korean politician and soldier during the Joseon period.

Han Myŏnghoe 한명회
Chief State Councillor
In office February 4, 1469 – September 27, 1469
Appointed by	King Sejo
Preceded by	Pak Wŏnhyŏng
Succeeded by	Hong Yunsŏng
In office November 26, 1466 – May 9, 1467
Appointed by	King Yejong
Preceded by	Ku Ch'igwan
Succeeded by	Hwang Susin
Left State Councillor
In office May 30, 1474 – April 22, 1476
Appointed by	King Seongjong
Preceded by	Ch'oe Hang
Succeeded by	Cho Sŏngmun
In office October 11, 1463 – March 30, 1464
Appointed by	King Sejo
Preceded by	Kwŏn Ram
Succeeded by	Ku Ch'igwan
Right State Councillor
In office June 17, 1462 – October 11, 1463
Appointed by	King Sejo
Preceded by	Kwŏn Ram
Succeeded by	Ku Ch'igwan
Personal details
Born	(1415-11-26)November 26, 1415 Hansŏng, Joseon
Died	November 28, 1487(1487-11-28) (aged 72) Apgujeong-ri, Eonju-myeon, Gwangju-mok, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon
Spouse	Lady Min of the Yeoheung Min clan
Children	Queen Jangsun Queen Gonghye
Parents	Han Ki (father) Lady Yi of the Yeoju Yi clan (mother)
Korean name
Hangul	한명회
Hanja	韓明澮
RR	Han Myeonghoe
MR	Han Myŏnghoe
Art name
Hangul	압구정, 압구, 사우당
Hanja	狎鷗亭, 狎鷗, 四友堂
RR	Apgujeong, Apgu, Saudang
MR	Apkujŏng, Apku, Saudang
Courtesy name
Hangul	자준
Hanja	子濬
RR	Jajun
MR	Chajun
Posthumous name
Hangul	충성
Hanja	忠成
RR	Chungseong
MR	Ch'ungsŏng

He was the most trusted tactician of Grand Prince Suyang during the 1453 coup and the subsequent events that resulted into Suyang becoming King Sejo. He was listed as a first rank meritorious subject in 1453 (정난공신; 靖難功臣)^[1] and in 1455 (좌익공신; 佐翼功臣).^[2]

In 1460, his third daughter, Han Naengi, married Crown Prince Haeyang (the future King Yejong).

Between 1466 and 1467, Han Myŏnghoe became the Chief State Councillor of Joseon, and his youngest daughter, Han Songi, married Prince Chalsan (the future King Seongjong).

In 1468, Crown Prince Haeyang became Yejong, the 8th King of the Joseon Dynasty, and Han Myŏnghoe's daughter, Han Naengi, was posthumously honoured Queen Jangsun and her father was reappointed Chief State Councillor.

In 1469, when Yejong died, Han Myŏnghoe was instrumental in the decision to recuse both Yejong's son as too young and Jalsan's older brother as too weak. As a result, Jalsan was chosen to become King Seongjong, the 9th King of the Joseon Dynasty, with Han Songi as Queen Consort (posthumously known as Queen Gonghye).

Han Myŏnghoe's signature

Family

• Father
  • Han Ki (한기; 韓起; 1393–1429)
• Mother
  • Lady Yi of the Yeoju Yi clan (정경부인 여주 이씨; 驪州 李氏; 1394–?)
• Sibling(s)
  • Younger sister - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1420–?)
  • Younger brother - Han Myŏngjin (한명진; 韓明溍; 1426–1454)
• Wife
  • Internal Princess Consort Hwangryŏ of the Yeoheung Min clan (황려부부인 여흥 민씨; 黃驪府夫人 驪興 閔氏; 1414–1479)
• Children
  • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1438–?)
  • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1442–?)
  • Daughter - Han Naengi (한냉이), Queen Jangsun of the Cheongju Han clan (장순왕후 한씨; 3 March 1445 – 14 January 1462)
    • Son-in-law - Yi Hwang, King Yejong of Joseon (조선 예종; 23 January 1450 – 9 January 1470)
  • Son - Han Po, Prince Nangsŏng (낭성군 한보; 韓堡; 1447–1522)
  • Daughter - Han Songi (한송이; 韓松伊), Queen Gonghye of the Cheongju Han clan (공혜왕후; 恭惠王后; 8 November 1456 – 30 April 1474)
    • Son-in-law - Yi Hyeok, King Seongjong of Joseon (조선 성종; 19 August 1457 – 19 January 1494)
  • Son - Han Ch'ŏl (한철; 韓鐵; 1460–?)
  • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1465–?)
• Concubines and their issue
  • Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (연일 정씨; 1415–?)^[a]
    • Son - Han Pok (한복; 韓福; 1428–?)
    • Son - Han Rim (한림; 韓林; 1429–1506)
    • Son - Han Su (한수; 韓壽; 1431–?)
  • Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨; 1420–?)
    • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1449–?)
    • Son - Han Mok (한목; 韓睦; 1452–?)
    • Son - Han Sŏk (한석; 韓碩; 1454–?)
    • Son - Han Sŏ (한서; 韓恕; 1455–?)
    • Son - Han U (한우; 韓佑; 1457–?)
    • Son - Han On (한온; 韓瘟; 1459–?)
    • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1461–?)
    • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1463–?)
    • Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州 韓氏; 1465–?)
  • Lady Chŏng of the Yeonil Chŏng clan (연일 정씨; 1415–?)^[b]
  • Lady Sŏng of the Changnyeong Sŏng clan (창녕 성씨; 1425–?); youngest daughter of Sŏng Suryang (성수량, 成守良; 1354–?)

Popular culture

• Portrayed by Kim Jong-gyul in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I.
• Portrayed by Lee Hee-do in the 2011 KBS2 TV series The Princess' Man.
• Portrayed by Jo Hee-bong in the 2011 SBS TV series Deep Rooted Tree.
• Portrayed by Son Byong-ho in the 2011–2012 JTBC TV series Insu, The Queen Mother.
• Portrayed by Son Hyun-joo in the 2019 film Jesters: The Game Changers.

See also

• Sin Sukchu
• Han Hwak
• Kwŏn Ram
• Chŏng Inji

Notes

1. She was the illegitimate granddaughter of Chŏng Mong-ju through his illegitimate son, Chŏng Chonghwa (정종화), and was the half-cousin to Han Myŏnghoe's other concubine, Lady Chŏng
2. She was the illegitimate granddaughter of Chŏng Mong-ju through his first son, Chŏng Chongsŏng (정종성; 鄭宗誠; 1374–1442)