Sunmok Budaebuin

Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok (hangul: 순목 부대부인, hanja: 純穆 府大夫人, 3 February 1818 - 8 January 1898), known before as Grand Internal Princess Consort Yeoheung (hangul: 여흥 부대부인 , hanja: 驪興 府大夫人), was a Princess Consort of the Joseon Dynasty. She was the wife of Grand Internal Prince Heungseon and the biological mother of Emperor Gojong of Korea. She came from Yeoheung Min clan. 
When her son became Emperor, she was formally honored as Sunmok Daewonbi (순목대원비, 純穆大院妃) in 1907 and therefore that was called Queen Sunmokdaewon (순목대원왕비, 純穆大院王后) or Queen Sunmok (순목왕비, 純穆王后).
Biography.
Early life.
The future Princess Consort was born on 3 February 1818 (18th year reign of King Sunjo of Joseon) as the daughter of Min Chi-Gu and his wife, Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan. Min is the 5th great-granddaughter of Min Jin-Yeong (Queen Inhyeon’s younger half-brother). Her mother, Lady Yi was the aunt of Prince Gyeongwon, Yi Ha-Jeon (Grand Internal Prince Deokheung's descendant).
At 13 years old, Min married Prince Namyeon's 4th son, Yi Ha-Eung who later becomes "Grand Internal Prince Heungseon". With him, she had her first son, Prince Imperial Heungchin, on 22 August 1845. She later gave to the future King Gojong on 9 September 1852, and 2 daughters. Her mother-in-law, Princess Consort Min was the daughter of Min Gyeong-Hyeok, the 4th great-grandson of Min Jeong-Jung, the elder brother of Min Yu-Jung and uncle of Queen Inhyeon. After Princess Consort Min’s death, it is said that Prince Namyeon was supported with extreme sincerity from his daughter-in-law.
A New Reign.
In 1864, King Cheoljong died suddenly as the result of suspected foul play by the Andong Kim clan, an aristocratic and influential clan of the 19th century. Cheoljong was childless and had not appointed an heir. The Andong Kim clan had risen to power through intermarriage with the royal House of Yi. Queen Cheorin, Cheoljong's consort and a member of the Andong Kim clan, claimed the right to choose the next king, although traditionally the most senior Queen Dowager had the official authority to select the new king. Cheoljong's cousin, Grand Royal Queen Dowager Sinjeong, the widow of Heonjong of Joseon's father of the Pungyang Jo clan, who too had risen to prominence by intermarriage with the Yi family, currently held this title.
Queen Sinjeong saw an opportunity to advance the cause of the Pungyang Jo clan, the only true rival of the Andong Kim clan in Korean politics. As Cheoljong succumbed to his illness, the Grand Royal Dowager Queen was approached by Yi Ha-eung, a distant descendant of King Injo (r.1623–1649), whose father was made an adoptive son of Prince Eunsin, a nephew of King Yeongjo (r.1724–1776).
The branch that Yi Ha-eung's family belonged to was an obscure line of descendants of the Yi clan, which survived the often deadly political intrigue that frequently embroiled the Joseon court by forming no affiliation with any factions. Yi Ha-eung himself was ineligible for the throne due to a law that dictated that any possible heir had to be part of the generation after the most recent incumbent of the throne, but his second son Yi Myeongbok was a possible successor to the throne.
The Pungyang Jo clan saw that Yi Myeongbok was only 12 years old and would not be able to rule in his own name until he came of age, and that they could easily influence Yi Ha-eung, who would be acting as regent for his son. As soon as news of Cheoljong's death reached Yi Ha-eung through his intricate network of spies in the palace, he and the Pungyang Jo clan took the hereditary royal seal (considered necessary for a legitimate reign to take place and aristocratic recognition to be received), effectively giving Queen Sinjeong absolute power to select the successor to the throne. By the time Cheoljong's death became a known fact, the Andong Kim clan was powerless to act according to law because the seal already lay in the hands of Grand Royal Dowager Queen Shinjeong.
In the autumn of 1864, Yi Myeong-bok was crowned as King Gojong of Joseon, with her husband titled as Heungseon Daewongun (Korean: 대원군; Hanja: 大院君 "Grand Internal Prince"), and herself, Grand Internal Princess Consort Yeoheung.
Relation with Queen Min.
Prior to her husband’s regency and son’s reign as king, a relative of her clan, Min Chi-rok had died in 1858. The Princess Consort’s younger brother, Min Seung-ho, eventually became the adoptive son of Min Chi-rok in 1861 during King Cheoljong’s 12th year of reign. Thus becoming the adoptive older brother of Min Chi-rok’s only daughter, Min Ja-yeong.
When Gojong reached the age of 15, his father decided it was time for him to be married. The Grand Prince was diligent in his search for a queen who would serve his purposes: she must have no close relatives who would harbor political ambitions, yet come from a noble lineage so as to justify his choice to the court and the people. Candidates were rejected one by one, until she and her mother-in-law, Princess Consort Min, proposed a bride from their own clan, the Yeoheung Min. Min Ja-yeong came from the family line of Queen Inhyeon’s eldest brother, Min Jin-hu.
The two women described the girl persuasively: she was orphaned and possessed beautiful features, a healthy body, and an ordinary level of education. Her husband allowed the marriage between the 16 year old Lady Min and their 15 year old son where the marriage ceremony formally happened on 26 March 1866. Thus becoming Queen Min who would eventually participate in Royal politics.
Political Conflicts of the Imo Incident.
When Heungseon Daewongun and Yi Jun-yong try to get rid of Empress Myeongseong, they send a person to her to inform them of their plans to save the life of the Empress. At the time of Imo Incident and Donghak Peasants Movement, they sent a message to evacuate by informing her of some assassins' plans to enter.
In June 1882, Grand Internal Prince Heungseon was re-established power by the old-fashioned army who revolted during the time of Imogunran (임오군란). Heo-Uk (허욱), his assistant, dressed as a soldier and went to the palace during this time and played a role of pointing to Empress Myeongseong, but he couldn't find her. Before he and others approached Gyeongbok Palace, the Empress made her disguise, carried, leaving her palace and going down to Yeoju to hide. At this time, the Empress was able to escape the city by pretending to be a court lady and Hong Gye-Hoon's sister.
On 10 June, soldiers invaded the palace, but they ran outside and Yi Choi-Eung (이최응) (Heungseon daewongun’s brother), Min Gyeom-Ho (민겸호), and Kim Bo-Hyeon (김보현) were murdered. When the incurable soldier went up to the palace, then met Min Gyeom-Ho, pulled him and was thrown down the stairs also razed his body with gun knives.
At this time, Min hide her civil bill in the private school that she had been riding on, and a court official who saw this, told her incurable soldiers. Hearing this, the infectious disease tore the pavement of the school and throw it to the ground. At that time, martial arts star Hong Jae-Hui (홍재희) (later renamed Hong Gye-Hun) said, "That woman is my sister who is her upper palace, you must not be mistaken". Min belatedly noticed this fact and her husband took away her by violently resentful of her.
Religion.
It is said if she was a Catholicism believer, read the Ilgwamun (일과문, 日課文), and gave a thanksgiving's mass at Unhyeon Palace (운현궁, 雲峴宮). When Catholicism was allowed by the Treaty of Korean and France in 1887, she was baptized in October 1896.
Later life.
The Princess Consort later died on 8 January 1898 during her son’s 2nd year of reign as Emperor. Her husband later followed on 22 February 1898. Both are buried in Namyang, Gyeonggi Province. After her death, she posthumously honoured as Queen Sunmok (순목왕비, 純穆王后) or Queen Sunmokdaewon (순목대원왕후, 純穆大院王后). In 1907, her husband also honoured as Heungseon Heonui Daewonwang (흥선헌의대원왕, 興宣獻懿大院王).
Family.
Issue: