He was the grandson of Sunjo. His father was Crown Prince Hyomyeong (posthumously named Ikjong), who died at the age of 21 before becoming king and his mother was Queen Sinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan. Heonjong was born three-years before Hyomyeong"s death.
Although King Heonjong ascended to the throne, he had no political control over Joseon. When Heonjong reached adulthood, Queen Sunwon refused to give up control. King Heonjong died after reigning for 15 years in 1849 at the age of 21.
He was buried at the Gyeongneung tomb within the Donggureung Tomb Cluster in Seoul, where several kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty was buried.
As King Heonjong died without an heir, the throne passed to a distant descendant of King Yeongjo, King Cheoljong. As was customary with the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the chronicle of Heonjong"s reign was compiled after his death, in 1851.
The compilation of the 16-volume chronicle was supervised by Jo In-yeong. Father: Prince Munjo, then Crown Prince Hyomyeong (효명 세자, 1809–1830).
Posthumous name: "Ikjong" (익종).
Mother: Queen Sinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan (신정왕후 조씨, 1808–1890), daughter of Jo Manitoba-yeong (조만영, 1776–1846) and Lady Seong. Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):
Queen Hyohyeon of the Andong Kim clan (효현왕후 김씨), daughter of Kim Jo-geun (김조근), posthumously known as "Hyohyeon, The Seong Empress" (효현성황후)
Number issue
Queen Myeongheon of the Hong clan (명헌왕후 홍씨)A Daughter, who died at childbirth
Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the Kim clan (경빈 김씨)
Number issue
Kim Suk-ui (숙의 김씨)
A Daughter, who died at childbirth" />
King Heonjong Jangsuk Chegeon Gyegeuk Jungjeong Gwangdae Jiseong Gwangdeok Hongun Janghwa Gyungmun Wimu Myeongin Cheolhyo the Great of of Korea
헌종장숙체건계극중정광대지성광덕홍운장화경문위무명인철효대왕
獻宗莊肅體健繼極中正光大至聖廣德弘運章化經文緯武明仁哲孝大王.
