Queen Sunwon

Who was Queen Sunwon?

Queen Sunwon was a Queen consort of Korea as the spouse of Sunjo of Joseon. She served as regent of Korea from 1834–1841 and from 1849–1852.

She was a daughter of Kim Jo-sun of the Andong Kim clan. Her mother was Lady Sim.

In 1802, she married King Sunjo of Joseon as his first and only queen consort. Her husband died in 1834, and she became regent for her eight-year-old grandson, King Heonjong. Political power in the kingdom remained in the hands of her family, the Andong Kim clan. In 1840, power passed to the family of the monarch's mother, the Pungyang Jo clan, following the Catholic persecution of 1839. At the death of her grandson in 1849, she again became regent.

Queen Sunwon died at Changdeok Palace on 4 August 1857.

She was posthumously honored as "Empress Sunwonsuk".