| Sunjo of Joseon | |
| Succession: | King of Joseon |
| Reign: | August 1800 – 13 December 1834 |
| Reign-Type: | Reign |
| Predecessor: | Jeongjo |
| Regent: | Crown Prince Yi Yeong (1827–1830) |
| Successor: | Heonjong |
| Spouse-Type: | Spouse(s) |
| Issue: | |
| Issue-Link: |
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| Issue-Pipe: | among others... |
| Full Name: | Yi Gong (이공; 李玜) |
| Dynasty: | Yi |
| Posthumous Name: |
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| Temple Name: | Sunjong (순종; 純宗) → Sunjo (순조; 純祖)[1] |
| House: | Jeonju Yi |
| House-Type: | Clan |
| Father: | Jeongjo of Joseon |
| Mother: | Royal Noble Consort Su |
| Birth Date: | 29 July 1790 |
| Birth Place: | Jibokheon Hall, Changgyeong Palace, Hanseong, Joseon |
| Death Place: | Hoesangjeon Hall, Gyeonghui Palace, Hanseong, Joseon |
| Place Of Burial: | Inneung Mausoleum, Heoninneung Cluster, Seoul, South Korea |
| Hangul: | 순종, later 순조 |
| Hanja: | , later |
| Rr: | Sunjong, later Sunjo |
| Mr: | Sunjong, later Sunjo |
| Hangulborn: | 이공 |
| Rrborn: | I Gong |
| Mrborn: | Yi Kong |
Sunjo (; 29 July 1790 – 13 December 1834), personal name Yi Gong, was the 23rd monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of King Jeongjo by his concubine, Royal Noble Consort Su of the Bannam Park clan.
He was born with the title of His Royal Highness Prince Yi Gong on 29 July 1790 (18 June 1790 in lunar calendar). Upon the death of his father, King Jeongjo, Yi Gong ascended to the throne at age 10 on 4 July 1800, lunar calendar.
In 1802, aged 13, King Sunjo married Lady Kim, known posthumously as Queen Sunwon, daughter of Kim Jo-sun, who was a leader of the Andong Kim clan.
Since he ascended the throne at a young age, Queen Dowager Jeongsun, the second queen of King Yeongjo, ruled as queen regent, which allowed her to wield power over state affairs. Queen Jeongsun's influence was to such extent that during Sunjo's reign, the status of Lady Hyegyeong, the mother of Jeongjo and the grandmother of Sunjo, became a point of contention. During Jeonjo's reign, Lady Hyegyeong was treated with respect and as the mother of King Jeongjo despite the fact that Lady Hyegyeong was married to Crown Prince Sado who had been forced to commit suicide during the reign of Yeongjo, which had greatly affected Hyegyeong's status due to the controversy surrounding Sado's suicide. Following Sunjo's ascension, her status was lowered and despite Sunjo's efforts to reverse this later in his reign, they were unsuccessful.[2] Despite King Sunjo's efforts to reform politics, the fundamental principles of government deteriorated. The state examination became disordered and corruption in the government personnel administration prevailed. This resulted in disorder in society and various riots broke out among the people, including the revolt by Hong Gyeong-nae in 1811–1812.[3] The Ogajaktongbeop (五家作統法), a census registration system to group five houses as one unit, was carried out in this period, and oppression against Roman Catholicism began in earnest.[4] In 1811 the last diplomatic envoys were sent by Korea to Japan. Based on records of that trip, a reconstruction of the diplomatic vessel has been made for the National Maritime Museum of Korea.
King Sunjo died after reigning for 35 years in 1834 at the age of 44. He was first buried next to Jangneung, Paju, the tomb of King Injo and Queen Inryeol but later moved to Illeung, Seoul as the Feng Shui at the old site was deemed to be unfavourable.[5]
Consort(s) and their respective issue