Consort Suk of the Choe clan

Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Choe clan (Hangul: 숙빈최씨, Hanja: 淑嬪崔氏) (1670 - 1718) was a concubine of King Sukjong of Joseon. She is best remembered as the birth mother of King Yeongjo of Joseon.

Biography

The future Royal Noble Consort Suk was born in 1670, on the sixth day of the eleventh lunar month in the eleventh year of the reign of King Hyeonjong. She was the younger daughter of Choe Hyo-won (최효원, 崔孝元, 1638–1672) and Lady Hong of Namyang (1639–1673). Her paternal grandfather was named Choe Tae-il (최태일, 崔泰逸), and her paternal great-grandfather was named Choe Mal-jeong (최말정, 崔末貞).

Her mother, Lady Hong, was the daughter of Hong Gye-nam (홍계남, 洪繼南). She had one younger brother, Choe Hu (최후, 崔垕), who married Lady An of Sunheung, and one older sister, who married Seo Jeon (서전, 徐專).

There are few records of her life before she became Sukjong's concubine. She was originally a water maid in the palace, serving Queen Inhyeon. One night, she was praying in her chamber for Inhyeon's wellbeing when Sukjong, who was crossing outside after a trip outside of the palace, heard her and, moved by her kindness (Sukjong was having his regrets at that time).

In 1693, in the fourth lunar month of the nineteenth year of King Sukjong's reign, she became Sukjong's concubine with the rank of suk-won. In 1694, during the twentieth year of Sukjong's reign, she was elevated to the rank of suk-ui (Royal Noble Consort of the 2nd grade) after giving birth to a son, Prince Yeoning (later King Yeongjo of Joseon).

In 1695, she was again elevated to the rank of gwi-in. In 1699, she was again promoted to the rank of "bin" (Royal Noble Consort), with the adjective "suk" ("pure"). She died in 1718, on the ninth day of the third lunar month in the forty-fourth year of Sukjong's reign.

She was given the posthumous title "Lady Hwagyeong, Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Choe clan" (화경숙빈최씨 和瓊淑嬪崔氏).

Family

Ancestors

• Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Choe Eok-ji (Hangul: 최억지, Hanja: 崔億之)
• Great-Grandfather
  • Choe Mal-jeong (Hangul: 최말정, Hanja: 崔末貞)
• Paternal Grandfather
  • Choe Tae- il (Hangul: 최태일, Hanja: 崔泰逸)
• Paternal Grandmother
  • Lady Jang of the Pyeonggang Jang clan (Hangul: 평강장씨, Hanja: 平康張氏)
• Maternal Grandfather
  • Hong Gye-nam (Hangul: 홍계남, Hanja: 洪繼南)
• Maternal Grandmother
  • Lady Kim (Hangul: 김씨, Hanja: 金氏)
• Father
  • Choe Hyo-won (Hangul: 최효원, Hanja: 崔孝元) (1638–1672)
• Mother
  • Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (Hangul: 남양홍씨, Hanja: 南陽洪氏)

Issue

Royal Noble Consort Suk bore King Sukjong three sons:

• Prince Yeongsu (1693), died young.
• Prince Yeoning (1694–1776), later became King Yeongjo.
• unnamed son (1698), died young.