Yejong of Joseon was the 8th king of the Joseon DynastyKorea. He succeeded his father, King Sejo in 1468 at 18 years of age, but was too physically ill to govern, and died a year later. One of the most prominent incidents during Yejong's reign was the trial and death of General Nam I. Nam-I was famous for having suppressed Yi Si-ae rebellion along with General Gang-Sun and others. At age 28, he was appointed to Minister of War. However, when Yejong became king, a minister named Yu Jagwang who was jealous of Nam I accused him of treason when he found out that Yejong himself was not fond of Nam I. Yu also involved the Minister Gang Sun and initiated a trial witnessed by the King himself. They were found guilty and executed while Yu Ja-gwang was promoted to a high office and given a title of prince. After this incident, there were many cases of Yu accusing ministers who were apparently more prestigious than himself.
Biography
He was born in 1450 as the second son of Sejo of Joseon. His formal name was Prince Haeyang, but he was promoted to crown prince at the age of 8, after the sudden death of his elder brother, Crown Prince Uigyeong. In 1468, when he was 19, his father Sejo turned over the throne, but since he was not yet 20 years old and had been physically weak since his childhood, Queen Jeonghee, who was Yejong's mother, came to rule the nation instead. According to records of this era, political decisions were taken by the Queen and three subjects nominated by King Sejo. Although his total residency was just 14 months, several incidents had occurred. In 1468, the treason of Nam I greatly influenced Joseon politics. Just before his death in 1469, Joseon started to prohibit all trade with Japan. During his residency, he granted common farmers the right to cultivate fields which originally belonged to the military. He died when he was only 20 years old. His tomb is located in Goyang, Gyeonggido of South Korea with several other Kings' and Queens' cemeteries. After his death, the throne was not turned over to Yejong's son; instead, his nephew and the second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong, Prince Cheolsan became his heir and later known as the King Seongjong of Joseon.
Both Yejong's son, Grand Prince Inseong and Grand Prince Jean, died without issue. As of Gojong of Joseon's reign in 1874, Yi Ong, known as Prince Seoseong and a great-great-grandson of Sejong the Great, was posthumously appointed as heir to Grand Prince Inseong; similarly, :ko:이파|Yi Pa, a 3-great-grandson of Jeongjong of Joseon, was granted the title Prince Nakpung and became the heir to Grand Prince Jean by the same year.
