King Jeongjo

정조 (조선 정조)

["Twenty-Second King of Joseon", "Enlightened Reformer", "Builder of Suwon Hwaseong"]

Born Oct 28, 1752

Changgyeonggung (Hanseong/Seoul), Joseon Kingdom

Passed Away Aug 18, 1800 Changgyeonggung (Hanseong/Seoul), Joseon Kingdom

Lifespan 47 years old

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Notice / Correction

"A ruler must be like the moon in the night sky, casting light equally upon every pool of water, showing favor to neither the grand lake nor the humble puddle."

Archival Overview

Twenty-second King of the Joseon Dynasty (1776–1800), enlightened Confucian monarch who established the Gyujanggak royal research library, constructed the UNESCO fortress of Suwon Hwaseong, and patronized the Silhak (Practical Learning) intellectual renaissance.

Biographical Record

King Jeongjo (1752–1800) witnessed the tragic death of his father Crown Prince Sado, who had been starved to death inside a rice chest by order of his grandfather King Yeongjo. Ascending the throne in 1776, his first proclamation was: 'I am the son of Crown Prince Sado', yet he pursued political reconciliation through his 'Tangpyeong' policy of factional harmony.

Jeongjo founded the Gyujanggak (Royal Library), promoting illegitimate sons of concubines who had previously been barred from high civil service office. Partnering with Silhak philosopher Jeong Yak-yong, Jeongjo constructed the magnificent Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon using modern cranes and pulleys, creating an autonomous commercial city and modernizing Korean governance.

Key Life Milestones

1776

Establishment of the Gyujanggak Royal Library

Created the premier academic research institute in Seoul, promoting merit over aristocratic faction.

1796

Completion of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

Constructed the revolutionary fortress city using scientific engineering designed by Jeong Yak-yong.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Geonneung Royal Tomb
Hwaseong (Gyeonggi-do), South Korea

                         GPS: 37.2083, 126.9833                    

View on Memory Atlas

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