| Won-bin Hong 원빈 홍씨 | |
| Succession: | Royal Noble Consort of the First Senior Rank |
| Reign: | June 1778 – 27 May 1779 |
| Reign-Type: | Tenure |
| Father: | Hong Nak-chun |
| Mother: | Lady Yi of the Ubong Yi clan |
| Religion: | Korean Buddhism |
| Spouse: | Jeongjo of Joseon |
| Issue: | Yi Dam, Prince Sanggye (Adopted) |
| Birth Date: | 27 May 1766 |
| Birth Place: | Seogangbang, Hanseong, Joseon |
| Death Date: | 7 May 1779 (aged 12) |
| Death Place: | Changdeok Palace, Hanseong, Joseon |
| Burial Place: | Wonbinmyo Tomb, Seosamneung Cluster, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea[1] [2] |
| Posthumous Name: |
|
| House: | Pungsan Hong clan (by birth) House of Jeonju Yi (by marriage) |
| Consort: | yes |
| Hangul: | 원빈홍씨 |
| Rr: | Wonbin Hongssi |
| Mr: | Wonp'in Hongssh'i |
| Korean name | |
Royal Noble Consort Won of the Pungsan Hong clan (; 27 May 1766 – 7 May 1779) was a concubine of King Jeongjo of Joseon.
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, alternatively known as Lady Sukchang . 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.[3]
Jeongjo himself composed a eulogy for her. She was then posthumously honoured as Insuk and Lady Hyohwi .[4] Her tomb was first located on the present grounds of Korea University, Inmyeongwon, but was later moved to Seosamreung, Wondang-dong, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. In the present, the former site of Inmyeongwon remains on the grounds of Korea University, so it is called 'Aegungun'
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.[5]
Currently, the Central Research Institute for Korean Studies reports that the handwritten book “Eojeinsukwonbinhaengjang”. It is said that it is unusual for the king to write a concubine's coat of arms or eulogy. According to the “Eojeinsukwonbinhaengjang”, 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”, 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.