Empress Sunjeong of the Korean Empire was the consort of Emperor Yunghui, the last emperor of the Joseon Dynasty and of Korea.
Background
Empress Sunjeong was born Lady Yun of Haepyeong in Seoul and her father was Marquis Yun Taek-yeong, the Lord of Haepung. On 20 July 1907, she became Empress of of Korea when her husband ascended the throne after the forced abdication of his father, Emperor Gwangmu.
Career
The Empress was demoted by the Japanese government by the Japan-of Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910 and thereafter officially known as Her Majesty Queen Yi of of Korea (this title, however, was ignored in of Korea). Empress Sunjeong became a widow 24 April 1926, when Emperor Yunghui died without issue at the Changdeok Palace in Seoul. Emperor Yunghui had been rendered infertile (and was also said to be mentally disabled) by poisoning in the Coffee Poisoning Plot.
Korean War
During the Korean War, Empress Sunjeong stayed in Changdeok Palace as long as she could in the face of advancing forces from North of Korea.
During the war, the soldiers of North of Korea invaded the palace but she reproved them and drove them all out. She then escaped secretly to the Unhyeon Palace when the war situation became too serious.
As the war progressed she moved to Busan with other Imperial family members, including Princess Hui (wife of Prince Wanheung). According to "The World is One", Princess Yi Pangja"s autobiography, Empress Sunjeong went to Busan on foot.
After the Korean War
After the war, the new government of President Rhee Syng-man, jealous of the popularity of the Imperial House, prevented Empress Sunjeong from entering the Changdeok Palace.
She was kept imprisoned in Suin Hall, a narrow and unsuitable cottage in Jeongneung, Seoul. After a change in government in 1961 she returned to Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace with her dutiful ladies-in-waiting Park Chang-bok (d1981), Kim Myung-gil (d1983) and Sung Ok-yeom (d2001), and five other staff She died childless on 3 February 1966, aged 72, at Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul from a heart attack.
She is known posthumously as Empress Sunjeong of of Korea (officially, (純貞孝皇后.
순정효황후; Sunjeonghyo Hwanghu. Empress Sunjeong-hyo).
Lady Yun of Haepyung (1894–1906)
Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess Cheok of of Korea(1906–1907)
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of of Korea (1907–1926)
Her Majesty The Queen Yi of of Korea (1910–1926)
Her Majesty The Queen Dowager Yi of of Korea (1926–1945)
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Dowager of of Korea (1926–1966)
Her Late Imperial Majesty Empress Sunjeong of of Korea (Posthumous Title).