Royal Noble Consort Wonbin Hong

Lady Hong was born into the Pungsan Hong clan, on May 27, 1766. She was the second child and only daughter of Hong Nak-chun and his wife, Lady Yi of the Ubong Yi clan. Through her father, Lady Hong is an 11th-degree great-niece of Lady Hyegyeong (mother of King Jeongjo), as well as the 5th great-granddaughter of Hong Joo-won and Princess Jeongmyeong.

Lady Hong was chosen as a concubine to Jeongjo of Joseon when she was 12 years old, in June 1778. She entered the palace as Royal Noble Consort Won (원빈, 元嬪), alternatively known as Lady Sukchang (숙창궁, 淑昌宮).[3] As a royal consort, it was said that she was treated like a formal consort in Chinese court, receiving morning greetings from the ministers and the physicians, and had posthumous titles conferred to her upon her death. Her older brother, Hong Guk-yeong, was a chief royal secretary who hoped to enhance his power through her marriage with Jeongjo.

However, she soon experienced a phantom pregnancy. Fearing a scandal, she attempted to cover it up, but failed. Out of grief, she died on May 7, 1779.[4]

Jeongjo himself composed a eulogy for her. She was then posthumously honoured as Insuk (인숙; 仁淑) and Lady Hyohwi (효휘궁; 孝徽宮).[5] Her tomb was first located on the present grounds of Korea University, Inmyeongwon (인명원; 仁明園), but was later moved to Seosamreung (서삼릉), Wondang-dong, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. In the present, the former site of Inmyeongwon remains on the grounds of Korea University, so it is called 'Aegungun'[6]

After her death, her older brother, Hong Guk-yeong was enraged over the fact that she died unforgiven by Queen Hyoui and her remark that he would have no influence over the next heir. He was ultimately exiled for trying to poison Queen Hyoui out of anger over his sister's death and to prevent his bargain from being exposed, for Queen Hyoui discovered it and threatened to tell King Jeongjo. He aborted the attempt after discovering that the King was taking her place at the food ceremony and tearfully confessed.[7]

Currently, the Central Research Institute for Korean Studies reports that the handwritten book “Eojeinsukwonbinhaengjang”(어제인숙원빈행장, 御製仁淑元嬪行狀). It is said that it is unusual for the king to write a concubine's coat of arms or eulogy. According to the “Eojeinsukwonbinhaengjang” (어제인숙원빈행장), Lady Hyegyeong showed special affection to Consort Won. This is the direct opposite of the story that Lady Hyegyeong herself wrote in Hanjungnok (한중록, 閑中錄/恨中錄), written after King Jeongjo’s death. In the Annals of Sunjo, there is a section emphasizing that there is an allegation that she and Won-Bin shared a close relationship in supporting one another, but it is said to be not true. The classic novel “The Diary of Lady Sukchang” (숙창궁입궐일기), which seems to have been written by a person from the family line of Hong Guk-yeong, depicts Won-Bin's entrance into the palace, but Lady Hyegyeong gives the impression that she was on the supportive side of Queen Hyoui.