Bokseon-gun

Bokseon-gun Yi Nam (福善君 李柟, September 23, 1647 (lunar August 25) – May 10, 1680 (lunar April 12)) was a royal of Joseon, the grandson of King Injo and the fifth son of Prince Inpyeong.

Life

Birth and entry into the palace

On August 25, 1647 (Injo 25), he was born as the fifth son of Prince Inpyeong, the third son of King Injo, and Lady Bokcheon Bubu Oh, the daughter of O Dan. Because the bond between Prince Inpyeong and King Hyojong was deep, Hyojong also favored the sons of Prince Inpyeong.

In 1658 (Hyojong 9), after his father Prince Inpyeong and mother Lady Bokcheon Bubu died in quick succession, Hyojong had the children of Prince Inpyeong, who had lost their parents at a young age, brought into the palace and raised within the royal court. He grew up in the palace together with his younger brother Prince Bokpyeong and two younger sisters. Because of this, he became very close to his cousin King Hyeonjong.

Together with his elder brother Prince Bokchang (福昌君) and his younger brother Prince Bokpyeong (福平君), he was called the "Three Bok" (三福) and wielded power as a member of the royal kin. However, Queen Myeongseong, the mother of King Sukjong, and her father Kim Wu-myeong were wary of the three Bok brothers. Moreover, because the Dongbok Oh clan, his maternal family, was politically aligned with the Namin, they opposed the Soin centered on Queen Myeongseong.

Compared with his elder brother Prince Bokchang and younger brother Prince Bokpyeong, he was upright in conduct and wise, and for this reason he came under the scrutiny of the Soin.

Death

In 1680 (Sukjong 6), during the Gyeongsin Purge, he was implicated together with and others in the , accused in a secret report of plotting to enthrone Bokseon-gun as king. He was exiled, and on April 12 he was .