Empress Sunjeonghyo
Her Imperial Majesty Empress Sunjeong of Korea (20 August 1894 - 3 February 1966) was the consort of Emperor Yunghui , the last emperor of the Joseon Dynasty and Korea.
She was born Lady Yun of Haepyeong in Seoul and her father is Marquis Yun Taek-yeong, the Lord of Haepung. She married Crown Prince Cheok after his first wife (known posthumously as Empress Sunmyeong) died. On 20 July 1907, she became Empress of Korea when her husband assended the throne after the forced abdication of his father, Emperor Gwangmu. The Empress was demoted by the Japanese government by the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910 and thereafter known as Her Majesty Queen Yi of Korea (ignored in Korea).
Empress Sunjeong became a widow 24 April 1926, when Emperor Yunghui died without issue at Changdeok Palace, Seoul.
During the Korean War Empress Sunjeong stayed in Changdeok Palace as long as she could in the face of advancing forces from North Korea. During the war, the soldiers of North Korea invaded the palace but she reproved them and drove then all out. She then escaped secretly to the Unhyeon Palace when the war situation became too serious. As the war progressed she moved to Busan with other Imperial family members including Princess Hui(wife of Prince Wanheung).
After the Korean War
After the war, the new government of President Rhee Syng-man, jealous of the popularity of the Imperial House, prevented Empress Sunjeong from entering the Changdeok Palace. She therefore lived in Suin Hall, a narrow and unsuitable cottage in Jeongneung, Seoul. On 1961, she returned to Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace with Park Chang-bok (d.1981), Kim Myung-gil (d.1983) and Sung Ok-yeom (d.2001), her dutiful ladies-in-wating and 5 other staff after a change in government.
Empress Sunjeong became a Buddhist in her later years. She died childless on 3 February 1966, aged 72, at Nakseon Hall, Changduk Palace, Seoul from heart attack. She was given a state funeral and a private Buddhistic funeral. She was buried beside her husband, Emperor Yunghui at the Yureung.
She known posthoumously as Empress Sunjeong of Korea (officially, Empress Sunjeong-hyo).
Titles from birth
- Lady Yun of Haepyung (1894-1906)
- Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess Cheok (1906-1907)
- Her Imperial Majesty the Empress (1907-1926)
- Her Majesty the Queen Yi (1910-1926)
- Her Majesty the Queen Dowager Yi (1926-1945)
- Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager (1926-1966)