Cheoljong of Joseon

Uncommon card · No. 154402

Cheoljong (Korean: 철종; Hanja: 哲宗; 25 July 1831 – 16 January 1864), personal name Yi Won-beom, later changed to Yi Byeon, was the 25th monarch of Joseon. A great-great-grandson of King Yeongjo, he was adopted by Queen Sunwon and acceded to the throne upon the death of his nominal nephew, the childless King Heonjong. Following the establishment of the Korean Empire, he was honored as Emperor Jang. Cheoljong grew up in poverty; even after becoming king, he had little political influence, and the power to govern was held mainly by the Andong Kim clan, the paternal family of Queen Sunwon. The Andong Kim clan's monopoly caused nationwide corruption, resulting in a series of peasant revolts. As Cheoljong's sons all died in infancy, he was also succeeded by a distant relative.

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