Prince Yeonsan (Yeonsangun) the Worst Ruler in Korean History [History of Korea]

#korea #kdrama #koreanhistory #koreanculture #joseon #history #historyofkorea (episode 25)

Yeonsangun 연산군, Prince Yeonsan (1476-1506, r.1494-1506, born Yi Yung 이융), was the 10th King of Joseon and is remembered as the worst ruler of the Joseon Dynasty; a tyrant. He is the only ruler to never receive a temple name, a posthumous title accorded to monarchs for the purpose of ancestral worship.

I will discuss the era in which Yeonsangun lived from the death of King Sejong the Great. I will briefly talk about the reigns of King Munjong 조선 문종, King Danjong 조선 단종 and his execution by King Sejo 조선 세조, the second son of King Sejong. Sejo’s reign was a prelude to what Yeonsangun’s reign would be. He famously executed six ministers: sayukshin 사육신. His son King Yejong 조선 예종 succeeded him. He was followed by King Seongjong 조선 성종, King Sejo’s grandson.

Yeonsangun succeeded his father King Seongjong. His mother was Lady Yun (Queen Jeheon) 제헌왕후 who was executed by poison for striking her husband, King Seongjong and enraging the Queen mother, Grand Queen Insu 소혜왕후. He didn’t know about her until later in his life. This is possibly what started Prince Yeonsan’s descent into madness as soon as he learned about what happened to his real mother. Yeonsangun famously executed his opposition, transformed a university and a temple into his personal brothel gathering young women from all over the kingdom there. He also destroyed a big part of the capital to turn it into hunting grounds. The populace criticized him with posters written in Hangul making the King furious. He banned the use of Hangul. His purging of officials became known as the first and second literati purges (무오사화, 갑자사화). Yeonsangun also executed an eunuch Kim Cheo-seon 김처선 who asked him to repent his ways. He famously used him as target practice and cut his limbs as well as executed his family and extended family. Prince Yeonsan also famously asked his ministers to wear a sign saying: "A mouth is a door that brings in disaster; a tongue is a sword that cuts off a head. A body will be in peace as long as its mouth is closed and its tongue is deep within.”

Yeonsangun may have been the worst tyrant in Korean history but his behaviour is just the amplification of what his ancestors were accustomed to, except King Sejong.

*Other figures and topics explored in this video: Hwangbo In 황보인, Queen Jeonghui 정희왕후, Nam I 남이 장군, Princess Yi Gu-ji 이구지, Sarimpa 사림파, Hungupa 훈구파, Kim Il-son 김일손, Sunggyungwan 성균관, Wongaksa Temple 원각사, Office of Censors 사간원, Hongmoongwan 홍문관, Jang Nok-su 장녹수

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🎬 Recommended viewings:

King and the Clown (2005) 왕의 남자 Starring: Kam Woo-sung, Lee Joon-gi, Jung Jin-young. It’s the story of street clowns whom Yeonsangun invites to his court as royal jesters.

The Treacherous (2015) 간신 Starring: Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Kang-woo, Lim Ji-yeon.

Yeonsangun (1961)    • 연산군(장한사모편)(1961) / Prince Yeonsan ( Y...   Directed by Shin Sang-ok
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Music credit:

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Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

The Voyage by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: http://audionautix.com/