Myeongjong of Goryeo

Myeongjong (8 November 1131 – 3 December 1202), personal name Wang Ho, was the 19th king of Korea's Goryeo dynasty. He was the third son of King Injong. His reign marked the beginning of the century-long military rule of Korea known as the Goryeo military regime.

Myeongjong 명종 明宗
King of Goryeo
Reign	1170–1197
Coronation	1170
Predecessor	Uijong of Goryeo
Successor	Sinjong of Goryeo
Regent	Yi Ŭi-bang (1170–1174) Chŏng Chung-bu (1174–1179) Kyŏng Tae-sŭng (1179–1183) Yi Ŭi-min (1183–1196) Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn (1196–1197)
Born	Wang Hŭn 8 November 1131 Yeondeok Palace?, Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Died	3 December 1202 (aged 71) Disputed between: Changrak Palace or Yanghwa Palace, Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Burial	Jireung (지릉; 智陵)
Spouse	Queen Uijeong ​ (before 1152)​
Concubine	Lady Myeongchun Lady Sunju
Issue	Sons: Gangjong of Goryeo Wang Sŏn-sa Wang Hong-gi Wang Hong-chu Wang Hong-gyu Wang Hong-gyun Wang Hong-gak Wang Hong-i Daughters: Princess Yeonhui Princess Suan A daughter
Posthumous name Great King Hwangmyeong Gwanghyo 황명광효대왕 (皇明光孝大王) Temple name Myeongjong (명종; 明宗)
House	Wang
Dynasty	Goryeo
Father	Injong of Goryeo
Mother	Queen Gongye

Korean name
Hangul	명종
Hanja	明宗
Revised Romanization	Myeongjong
McCune–Reischauer	Myŏngjong
Birth name
Hangul	왕흔, later 왕호
Hanja	王昕, later 王晧
Revised Romanization	Wang Heun, later Wang Ho
McCune–Reischauer	Wang Hŭn, later Wang Ho
Courtesy name
Hangul	지단
Hanja	之旦
Revised Romanization	Jidan
McCune–Reischauer	Chidan
Posthumous name
Hangul	광효대왕
Hanja	光孝大王
Revised Romanization	Gwanghyo Daewang
McCune–Reischauer	Kwanghyo Taewang

Although it was intended that King Injong's second son should succeed his father, he was assassinated because Chŏng Chung-bu feared that he might become a threat to him in the future. Myeongjong was a weak puppet king, and was merely on the throne to show the general populace they still had a king, as the true rulers were the military leaders who had launched a coup d'état against Myeongjong's older brother and had established a military government.^[1][2] Despite this, Myeongjong did attempt to play off the military leaders against each other to both secure his own survival but also in an attempt to regain royal authority.^[3] His reign saw constant bloodshed as well as the deaths of the military rulers Chŏng Chung-bu, Yi Ŭi-bang, Kyŏng Tae-sŭng, and Yi Ŭi-min.

After twenty-seven years on the throne, he was sent into exile by the military ruler of the time, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn. King Injong's fifth son, King Sinjong, was placed on the throne.

Family

• Father: Injong of Goryeo
  • Grandfather: Yejong of Goryeo
  • Grandmother: Queen Sundeok of the Gyeongwon Yi clan
• Mother: Queen Gongye of the Jangheung Im clan
  • Grandfather: Im Won-hu
  • Grandmother: Grand Lady, of Jinhan State of the Bupyeong Yi clan (진한국대부인 부평 이씨)
• Consort and their Respective issue(s):

1. Queen Uijeong of the Gangneung Kim clan, half second cousin once removed.
   1. Crown Prince Wang Yeong, 1st son
   2. Princess Yeonhui, 1st daughter
   3. Princess Suan, 2nd daughter
2. Concubine Myeongchun (명춘; d. 1180) – No issue.
3. Concubine Sunju (순주; d. 1179) – No issue.
4. Unknown
   1. Wang Seon-sa (왕선사), 2nd son
   2. Wang Hong-gi (왕홍기), 3rd son
   3. Wang Hong-chu (왕홍추), 4th son
   4. Wang Hong-gyu (왕홍규), 5th son
   5. Wang Hong-gyun (왕홍균), 6th son
   6. Wang Hong-gak (왕홍각), 7th son
   7. Wang Hong-yi (왕홍이), 8th son

Popular culture

• Portrayed by Kim Byung-se in the 2003–2004 KBS TV series Age of Warriors.