Han Myeong-hoe

Korean politician (1415–1487)

한명회

Chief State CouncillorIn office
4 February 1469 – 27 September 1469Appointed byKing SejoPreceded byPark Won-hyeongSucceeded byHong Yun-seongIn office
26 November 1466 – 9 May 1467Appointed byKing YejongPreceded byGu Chi-gwanSucceeded byHwang Su-sinLeft State CouncillorIn office
30 May 1474 – 22 April 1476Appointed byKing SeongjongPreceded byChoe HangSucceeded byCho Seok-munIn office
11 October 1463 – 30 March 1464Appointed byKing SejoPreceded byGwon RamSucceeded byGu Chi-gwanRight State CouncillorIn office
17 June 1462 – 11 October 1463Appointed byKing SejoPreceded byGwon RamSucceeded byGu Chi-gwan Personal detailsBorn(1415-11-26)26 November 1415
Hanseong, JoseonDied28 November 1487(1487-11-28) (aged 72)
Apgujeong-ri, Eonju-myeon, Gwangju-mok, Gyeonggi Province, JoseonSpouseLady Min of the Yeoheung Min clanChildrenQueen Jangsun
Queen GonghyeParents

Han Gi (father)
Lady Yi of the Yeoju Yi clan (mother)

Korean nameHangul

한명회

Hanja

韓明澮

Revised RomanizationHan MyeonghoeMcCune–ReischauerHan MyŏnghoeArt name Hangul

압구정 or 압구 or 사우당

Hanja

狎鷗亭 or 狎鷗 or 四友堂

Revised RomanizationApgujeong or Apgu or SawoodangMcCune–ReischauerApkujŏng or Apku or SaudangCourtesy name Hangul

자준

Hanja

子濬

Revised RomanizationJajunMcCune–ReischauerChajunPosthumous name Hangul

충성

Hanja

忠成

Revised RomanizationChungseongMcCune–ReischauerCh'ungsŏng

Han Myeong-hoe (Korean: 한명회; Hanja: 韓明澮; 26 November 1415 – 28 November 1487) was a Korean politician and soldier during the Joseon period.

He was the most trusted tactician of Grand Prince Suyang during the 1453 coup and the subsequent events that resulted into Suyang becoming King Sejo. He was listed as a first rank meritorious subject in 1453 (정난공신; 靖難功臣)^[1] and in 1455 (좌익공신; 佐翼功臣).^[2]

In 1460, his third daughter, Han Naeng-yi, married Crown Prince Haeyang (the future King Yejong).

Between 1466 to 1467, Han Myeong-hoe became the Chief State Councillor of Joseon, and his youngest daughter, Han Song-yi, married Prince Jalsan (the future King Seongjong).

In 1468, Crown Prince Haeyang became Yejong, the 8th King of the Joseon Dynasty, and Han Myeong-hoe's daughter, Han Naeng-yi, was posthumously honoured Queen Jangsun and her father was reappointed Chief State Councillor.

In 1469, when Yejong died, Han Myeong-hoe was instrumental in the decision to recuse both Yejong's son as too young and Jalsan's older brother as too weak. As a result, Jalsan was chosen to become King Seongjong, the 9th King of the Joseon Dynasty, with Han Song-yi as Queen Consort (posthumously known as Queen Gonghye).

Family

Father
- Han Gi (한기; 韓起; 1393–1429)
Sibling(s)
- Younger sister - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1420–?)
- Younger brother - Han Myeong-jin (한명진; 韓明溍; 1426–1454)
Wife
- Internal Princess Consort Hwangryeo of the Yeoheung Min clan (황려부부인 여흥 민씨; 黃驪府夫人驪興閔氏; 1414–1479)
Children
- Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1438–?)
- Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1442–?)
- Daughter - Han Naeng-yi (한냉이), Queen Jangsun of the Cheongju Han clan (장순왕후 한씨; 3 March 1445 – 14 January 1462)
  - Son-in-law - Yi Hwang, King Yejong of Joseon (조선 예종; 23 January 1450 – 9 January 1470)
- Son - Han Bo, Prince Nangseong (낭성군 한보; 韓堡; 1447–1522)
- Daughter - Han Song-yi (한송이; 韓松伊), Queen Gonghye of the Cheongju Han clan (공혜왕후; 恭惠王后; 8 November 1456 – 30 April 1474)
  - Son-in-law - Yi Hyeok, King Seongjong of Joseon (조선 성종; 19 August 1457 – 19 January 1494)
- Son - Han Cheol (한철; 韓鐵; 1460–?)
- Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1465–?)
Concubines
- Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 1415–?)
  - Son - Han Bok (한복; 韓福; 1428–?)
  - Son - Han Rim (한림; 韓林; 1429–1506)
  - Son - Han Su (한수; 韓壽; 1431–?)
- Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨; 1420–?)
  - Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1449–?)
  - Son - Han Mok (한목; 韓睦; 1452–?)
  - Son - Han Seok (한석; 韓碩; 1454–?)
  - Son - Han Seo (한서; 韓恕; 1455–?)
  - Son - Han Woo (한우; 韓佑; 1457–?)
  - Son - Han On (한온; 韓瘟; 1459–?)
  - Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1461–?)
  - Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1463–?)
  - Daughter - Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨; 淸州韓氏; 1465–?)
- Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨; 1415–?)
- Lady Seong of the Changnyeong Seong clan (창녕 성씨; 1425–?); youngest daughter of Seong Su-ryang (성수량, 成守良; 1354–?)

Popular culture

Portrayed by Kim Jong-gyul in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I.
Portrayed by Lee Hee-do in the 2011 KBS2 TV series The Princess' Man.
Portrayed by Jo Hee-bong in the 2011 SBS TV series Deep Rooted Tree.
Portrayed by Son Byong-ho in the 2011–2012 JTBC TV series Insu, The Queen Mother.
Portrayed by Son Hyun-joo in the 2019 film Jesters: The Game Changers.