King Jeongjong of Joseon(1357~1419) was the second king of Joseon(or Chosun) Dynasty(1399~1400). He was the second son of the founder and also the first king of the dynasty, King Taejo of Joseon. Joseon or Chosun (Korean: ì¡°ì„ ; Hanja: 朝鮮; Revised: Joseon; McCune-Reischauer: Chosŏn; Chinese: CháoxiÇŽn; Japanese: Chōsen) is a name for Korea, as used in the following cases: As part of the name of several ancient kingdoms (including Gojoseon, Gija Joseon, and Wiman Joseon); During most of the Joseon... King Taejo of Joseon (original name Yi Seong-gye, 이성계(李成桂) was the founder and the first king of Koreas Joseon Dynasty. ...

Born in 1357 as Yi Bang-Gwa, he was prudent, generous, brave and able military officer. During the later days of falling Goryeo Dynasty, Jeongjong followed his father, Yi Seonggye, to various battlefronts and helped him to defeat enemies. As his father became king in 1392, he became prince.

King Taejo had two wives-the first one, who gave birth to 6 of the king's sons including Jeongjong, died before King Taejo was crowned. Taejo had second wife, who had 2 sons from him. The king favored his youngest son, whose mother was Taejo's second wife. Prime Minister Jeong Dojeon also backed him as the successor to the throne, causing much disappointment from other princes. In 1398, King Taejo's fifth son, Yi Bangwon, who later would be King Taejong of Joseon, led a coup along with many military officers and killed the queen, her two sons, Prime Minister Jeong, and many of his factions. Yi Bangwon first tried to show that he was not intended to take the throne, so he gave a push to his older brother Jeongjong(who was also the oldest then), to be a crown prince. King Taejo was upset and abdicated in disgust, and Jeongjong became king in the following year, 1399. The same year he moved the capital back to Kaekyung, the old Goryeo capital. Jeong Dojeon (1342-1398), also known by the pen name Sambong (三峰) was a medieval Korean scholar and politician. ... King Taejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. ...

In 1400, a conflict broke out between Yi Bangwon and his older brother, Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bangwon's force attacked and beat Bang-gan's army, and Bang-gan was sent into exile along with his family. General Park Po, who persuaded Bang gan to fight against Bangwon, was excuted. King Jeongjong, knowing the acting king of the kingdom was his younger brother Bangwon, appointed him as a crown prince, and abdicated few days later.

He was an able, wise administrator, even though his short reign was marked by bloodshed within the royal family. He banned all kinds of private troops, which was operated by many noblemen and officers, by the proposal of crown prince Bangwon. He dien in 1419, and buried near Kaesung.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Rulers of Korea