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Gwiin Jo (Injo)

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Not to be confused with Royal Consort Gwiin Jo (Cheoljong).
In this Korean name, the family name is Jo, and Gwi-in is a title for consort, not a personal name.
Gwi-in Jo
귀인 조씨
Royal Noble Consort of the First Junior Rank
Tenure1649 – 24 January 1652
Born?
Kingdom of Joseon
Died24 January 1652
Hanseong, Kingdom of Joseon
SpouseYi Jong, King Injo of Joseon
IssuePrincess Hyomyeong
Prince Sungseon
Prince Nakseon
HouseOkcheon Jo clan (by birth)
House of Jeonju Yi (by marriage)
FatherJo Gi
MotherLady Hanok
ReligionKorean Buddhism
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGwiin Jossi
McCune–ReischauerKwiin Chossi

Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Okcheon Jo clan (Hangul: 귀인 옥천 조씨, Hanja: 貴人 沃川 趙氏; d. 24 January 1652), widely known as Lady Jo So-yong, was a concubine of King Injo of Joseon. She is one of the best-known femme fatale in Korean history.

Biography

She was initially arranged to become the maid of a lord's daughter, but instead became a palace woman. She used to serve Queen Inryeol'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 Suk-won to So-won, So-yong, So-ui, and was finally declared as a royal consort of the first junior rank, Gwi-in.

No one could beat her in terms of receiving the King’s affection; both Queen Jangryeol of the Yangju Jo clan and Lady Jang Suk-ui 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 Jangryeol, with the intention to tear them apart.

Feud with the Crown Princess

Another well-known fact about her was the hate she harbored towards the Yi Wang, Crown Prince Sohyeon's family, particularly Crown Princess Minhoe. Since the day she reached the rank of So-yong, 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 passed away. Because of that, Crown Princess Minhoe suspected Lady Jo of poisoning her husband.

Jo So-yong accused the Crown Princess of attempting to poison Injo, leading to the princess’ execution. The acupuncturist who treated Prince Sohyeon before his death was Lee Hyung-ik, who was rumored to be in a relationship with Lady Jo's mother. There was even a record about this.

Later life

After Injo's death, she was discovered to be involved in an attempt to put a curse on Queen Jangryeol and on the Queen's niece. Kim Ja-jeom 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.

She had a daughter and two sons with King Injo of Joseon.

Family

  • Father: Jo Gi (1574 – ?) (조기)
  • Mother: Lady Hanok (? – 1652) (한옥)
  • Husband: Yi Jong, King Injo of Joseon (7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649) (이종 조선 인조)
  • Daughter: Princess Hyomyeong (1637 – 1700) (효명옹주)
    • Son-in-law: Kim Se-ryong, Prince Consort Nakseong (? – 1651) (김세룡 낙성위)
  • Son: Yi Jing, Prince Sungseon (17 October 1639 – 6 January 1690) (이징 숭선군)
    • Daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Yeongpung of the Pyeongsan Shin clan (1639 – 1692) (영풍군부인 평산 신씨)
  • Son: Yi Suk, Prince Nakseon (9 December 1641 – 26 April 1695) (이숙 낙석군)
    • Daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Dongwon of the Gangneung Kim clan (동원군부인 강릉 김씨)

Titles

References

  1. ^ As the sixth illegitimate son of King Seonjo, he was titled Prince Jeongwon (or Jeongwongun). In 1623, he was posthusmously elevated to Daewongun, as the birth father of King Injo. After considerable opposition, he was posthusmously honoured as King Wonjong, in 1632.
  2. ^ Daughter of Gu Sa-maeng (구사맹).
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