Su-bin Bak

Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bak clan (Hangul: 수빈 박씨; 8 May 1770 – 26 December 1822) was a concubine of King Jeongjo.

Biography

The future Royal Noble Consort Su was born in 8th day of May 1770. Her personal name was Bak Ga-sun. She was the daughter of Bak Jun-won, Minister of Justice and Lady Won.^[1] Her family origin is Bannam.^[2]

On 12 February 1787, King Jeongjo made Lady Bak as his concubine, with the prefix of "Su" meaning (蘇) "upright". In 27th day of July 1790, Lady Bak gave birth to Prince Yi Gong (이공). In 1793, Lady Bak gave birth to Princess Sukseon. In 1800, Prince Gong was appointed as Heir Apparent with the title of Crown Prince Gong-bo (wangseja, 왕세자, 王世子).

Lady Bak was described as gentle, well-behaved and courteous. She was also usually taciturn and lived simply. As a result, she was greatly admired as "a benevolent wife (賢嬪)".^[3]

In 26th day of December 1822, Lady Bak died in Bo Gyeong Dang Hall of Changdeok Palace. She was buried in Hwigyeongwon. In 1855 (the 6th year of King Cheoljong), when the Illeung, the royal tomb of King Sunjo, was moved to another location, the Hwigyeongwon was moved to the Sungangwon. In the 14th year of King Cheoljong, it was moved again to the current place because the location of the Sungangwon was reportedly not good, according to the Feng Shui.^[3]

The ancestral tablet is enshrined in the Chilgung (the place where ancestral tablets of seven royal concubines are enshrined. All of them were birth mothers of kings of the Joseon Dynasty or those who received the posthumous title of king).^[3]

She received a posthumous title of Subi (綏妃) in the 5th year of the Gwangmu (1901).^[3]

Family

Issue

• King Sunjo
• Princess Sukseon (1793 - 1836)- who created kkakdugi alongside the wife of Hong Hyeon-ju

References