Hoemyo

Hoemyo (懷墓) is the tomb of Deposed Queen Yun, the second consort of King Seongjong, the ninth King of Joseon. For a time, when Lady Yun was restored as Queen Jehon, the tomb's name was also changed to Hoereung (懷陵).

Overview

Lady Yun was the consort of Seongjong and the mother of Yeonsangun. She was sentenced to death on the 16th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar in 1482 (the 13th year of Seongjong's reign), and this is her tomb. It is located within the grounds of Seosamneung in Wonsin-dong, Deogyang District, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Originally she was buried in Jangdan County, Gyeonggi Province, but Yeonsangun moved the tomb to Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun District, Seoul. Later, on October 25, 1969, it was relocated to its present site¹.

It is largely built in the style of the early Joseon period, and like other royal tombs, its stone figures include both civil and military statues².

During the reign of Seongjong of Joseon, Lady Yun, who had been queen, was reduced to commoner status, and her tomb was named Hoemyo. However, when Yeonsangun, then crown prince, ascended the throne, he bestowed on Lady Yun the posthumous title Queen Jehon (齊憲王后), and the tomb was elevated to "Hoereung (懷陵)." However, when the Jungjong coup occurred and Jungjong of Joseon ascended the throne, the posthumous title of Queen Jehon was revoked as part of the effort to erase the deeds carried out by the deposed king Yeonsangun, and the tomb was demoted back to Hoemyo.