Born: 10 August 1491, Korea
Died: 16 March 1515
Country most active: Korea
Also known as: Yun Myeong-hye, 윤명혜
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Queen Janggyeong was born as Yun Myeong-hye (윤명혜). She belonged to the Papyeong Yun clan. She held the position of the second queen consort and was the spouse of Yi Yeok, King Jungjong, the 11th ruler of the Joseon dynasty. Her tenure as the queen consort of Joseon spanned from 1507 until her passing in 1515.
Through her father, she was a third cousin of Queen Munjeong and Yun Won-hyeong, as well as a great-grandniece of Queen Jeonghui. Additionally, her father’s sister married a first cousin once removed of Queen Jeongsun, making her aunt a daughter-in-law to Im Sa-hong. She was also a sister-in-law to Yi Hang, Prince Ahnyang, who was the son of King Seongjong and Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Chogye Jeong clan. Furthermore, she was a grandaunt to Queen Inheon and a great-grandaunt to King Injo.
In 1506 (during King Jungjong’s first year of reign), Lady Yun entered the palace as a concubine for the King, receiving the title suk-ui (숙의, 淑儀), junior 2nd rank concubine of the King. After Queen Dangyeong was deposed, Yun Suk-ui was chosen from the other concubines and became the Queen Consort of Joseon.
On June 13, 1511, the Queen gave birth to Princess Hyohye, the eldest daughter of King Jungjong. Later, on March 10, 1515, she gave birth to a son, Yi Ho, the future King Injong. Tragically, the Queen passed away six days later at the age of 24 in Gyeongbok Palace due to postpartum sickness. She was laid to rest in Huireung, within the city of Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and posthumously honored with the title Queen Janggyeong 숙신명혜선소의숙장경왕후.