Choe Hyo-won

In this Korean name, the family name is Choe.

Choe Hyo-won (Korean: 최효원; Hanja: 崔孝元; 20/23 February 1638 – 15 August 1672), of the Haeju Choe clan (해주 최씨; 海州 崔氏), was a Joseon military officer. He was the father of Royal Noble Consort Suk and the maternal grandfather of King Yeongjo of Joseon.^[1]

Korean name
Hangul	최효원
Hanja	崔孝元
Revised Romanization	Choe Hyowon
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Hyowŏn
Courtesy name
Hangul	의경
Hanja	義敬
Revised Romanization	Uigyeong
McCune–Reischauer	Ŭikyŏng

Biography

There is little detailed information known about his family lineage. The names of his great-grandfather Choe Eok-ji, grandfather Tongjeong Choe Mal-jeong, and father Choe Tae-il are mentioned. However, none of them are documented in the family records of the Haeju Choe clan. It remains uncertain whether they are descendants of Choe On (崔溫), the founder of the Haeju Choe clan, several generations down the line.^[1]

His father Choe Tae-il (최태일) held no official position, but posthumously, he was appointed to the positions of Sukjongdaebu (숭정대부; Grand Chancellor), Uijeongbu Jwachanseong (의정부좌찬성; State Councilor), concurrently positions of Panuigeumbusa (판의금부사; Inspector General of the Treasury), and was posthumously promoted again to the positions of Daegwangbo Sukrokdaebu (대광보국숭록대부; Grand Chancellor), Uijeongbu Uiejeong (의정부우의정; State Councilor), concurrently serving as Yeonggyeongyeon (영경연; Inspector General) and Chunchugwansa (춘추관사; Royal Secretariat). His mother, Lady Pyeonggang Jang (평강장씨), the daughter of Tongdeoknang Jang Ji-won (통덕랑 장지원), was posthumously recognized as Jeonggyeongbuin (정경부인). He was married to Hong Gye-nam's daughter, Lady Hong, from the Namyang Hong clan. They had two daughters and one son. Their second daughter eventually became the birth mother of Yi Geum, King Yeongjo. During his lifetime, Choe Hyo-won served as the General of the Vanguard (선략장군 (宣略將軍), acting Deputy Chief Officer of the Loyal Martial Guard.

He died on 15 August 1672, at the age of 35. After his death, his grandson, King Yeongjo, posthumously promoted him the position of Daewangbo (대광보국숭록대부; Grand Chancellor), Sukrokdaebu (숙록대부; State Councilor), concurrently holding the positions of Yeonguijeong (영의정; Chief State Councillor), Yeonggyeongyeon (영경연; Inspector General), and Hongmungwan (홍문관; Royal Secretariat) on February 18, 1734.^[2]

Tombs

His burial site is located at 85th spot in Jin Gwan-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul. In the vicinity of his tomb, there are burial sites for his grandson Choe Su-gang, father-in-law Hong Gye-nam, and the Hong Gye-ung family. The burial sites of his father, Choe Tae-il (崔泰逸), and grandfather, Choe Mal-jeong (崔末貞), are situated at 10-1 spot in Bulkwang-dong, Eunpyeong District. The epitaph was composed by the royal family member, Prince Seopyeonggun Lee Yo-ga.^[2]

Family

• Father: Choe Tae-il (최태일; 崔泰逸)
  • Grandfather: Choe Mal-jeong (최말정; 崔末貞)
    • Great-grandfather: Choe Eok-ji (최억지; 崔億之)
• Mother: Lady Jang of the Pyeonggang Jang clan (평강 장씨; 平康 張氏)
  • Grandfather: Jang Won (장원; 張遠)
• Wife
  • Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨; 南陽 洪氏; 17 October 1639 – 18 December 1673)
    • Father-in-law: Hong Gye-nam (홍계남; 洪季男; 1602–?)^[3]
    • Mother-in-law: Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan (강릉 김씨; 江陵 金氏)
• Children:
  • Daughter: Lady Choe of the Haeju Choe clan (부인 최씨; 海州 崔氏)
    • Son-in-law: Seo Jeon (서전)
      • Granddaughter: Lady Seo (서씨)
        • Grandson-in-law: Yi Hyeong-nyeon (이형년)
  • Daughter: Royal Noble Consort Suk (숙빈 최씨; 淑嬪 崔氏; 17 December 1670 – 9 April 1718)
    • Son-in-law: Yi Sun, King Sukjong of Joseon (조선 숙종 이순; 朝鮮 肅宗 李焞)
      • Grandson: Prince Yeongsu (영수군)^[4]
      • Grandson: Yi Geum, King Yeongjo of Joseon (조선 영조 이금; 朝鮮 英祖 李昑)
  • Son: Choe Hu (최후; 崔垕)
    • Daughter-in-law: Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan (순흥 안씨; 順興 安氏)^[5]
      • Grandson: Choe Su-gang (최수강; 崔壽崗; ? – 21 December 1749)
        • Granddaughter-in-law: Lady Kim (김씨)
          • Great-grandson: Choe Jin-hae (최진해; 崔鎭海)
          • Great-grandson: Choe Jin-hyeong (최진형; 崔鎭衡)
      • Granddaughter: Lady Choe of the Haeju Choe clan (부인 최씨; 海州 崔氏)
        • Grandson-in-law: Jo Tae-hang (조태항)
          • Unnamed great-grandson
          • Great-granddaughter: Lady Jo (조씨)
          • Great-granddaughter: Lady Jo (조씨)

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Lee Hee-do in the 1988 MBC TV series 500 Years of Joseon: Queen In Hyun.
• Portrayed by Kang Man-hee in the 2002–3 KBS2 TV series Royal Story: Jang Hui-bin.
• Portrayed by Chun Ho-jin in the 2010 MBC TV series Dong Yi.

References

1. Lee Eun-shik (2009). 우리가 몰랐던 한국사 [The Korean History That We Didn't Know] (in Korean). Taoreum. ISBN 9788996200871.
2. 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
3. Hong Gye-nam was a general in the middle of the Joseon period and served as a military commander during the Imjin War. He came from the Namyang Hong clan.
4. Died prematurely not long after his birth in 1693.
5. Daughter of Ahn Jun-yeong (안준영).