Jang Nok-su

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Consort Jang Nok-su (Korean: 장녹수, died 1506^[1]) was the consort of Yeonsangun of Joseon. She is often compared with Jang Hui-bin and Jeong Nan-jeong, two other women of the Joseon Dynasty. After the overthrow of Yeonsangun, she was executed by the new ruler, Jungjong of Joseon.

Biography[]

Her father was Jang Han-pil a county magistrate who lived in the western part of Chungcheong Province and her mother was a concubine from the cheonmin class. Because of this, Jang Nok-su lived as a servant of the Grand Prince Jean, son of Yejong of Joseon and Queen Ansun. After having a son with Gano (가노, 家奴), another servant of Grand Prince Jean, she learned to sing and dance and became a kisaeng. She was only of ordinary beauty, but had a vibrant and youthful appearance, and possessed an extraordinary talent for singing and music.

One day, Yeonsangun heard her voice and appointed Jang Nok-su his concubine, sending lots of gifts and wealth to her family. Concubine Jang seemed to treat Yeonsangun as a baby, but he so favored her that all rulings and punishments were made under her influence. In 1503 Jang Nok-su became Royal Consort when she was elevated to the rank of Suk-yong. Based on the king's favor, her brother-in-law Kim Hyo-Son (husband of her sister) was given an official post.

Although Jang Nok-su lived in the palace, she destroyed her house to rebuild a new and a bigger house. In 1506, a group of officials plotted against the despotic ruler of Yeonsangun. King Yeonsangun was dethroned and sent into exile. The last moments of Jang Nok-su's life were miserable. She was beheaded publicly and many people threw rocks at her dead body.

Family[]

• Father: Jang Han-pil (장한필, 張漢弼)
  • Sister: Jang Bok-su (장복수, 張福壽)
    • Brother-in-law: Kim Hyo-son (김효손)
• Unnamed mother
• Husband: King Yeonsangun of Joseon (23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506) (조선 연산군)
  • Daughter: Princess Yi Yeong-Su (이영수) (1502 - ?)
    • Son-in-law: Kwon Han (권한, 權鷴)

In popular culture[]

• Portrayed by Kim Jin-ah in the 1988 film Diary of King Yeonsan.
• Portrayed by Kang Sung-yeon in the 2005 film The King and the Clown.
• Portrayed by Oh Soo-min in the 2007-2008 SBS TV series The King and I.
• Portrayed by Jeon So-min in the 2011-2012 JTBC TV series Insu, The Queen Mother.
• Portrayed by Lee Hanee in the 2017 MBC TV series The Rebel.^[2]
• Portrayed by Son Eun-seo in the 2017 KBS2 TV series Queen for Seven Days.^[3]

References[]

• 장녹수 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.