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People & Stories
Joseon

Yun Wonhyeong

尹元衡Queen Mother's Kin

?~1565

Yun Won-hyeong (1503-1565) was a royal in-law and civil official of mid-Joseon, a younger brother of Queen Munjeong and a maternal uncle of King Myeongjong. As leader of the "Lesser Yun" faction, he clashed with the rival faction led by Yun Im, and after Myeongjong's accession he orchestrated the Eulsa Purge, eliminating his opponents and monopolizing power as a royal in-law. Together with his concubine Jeong Nan-jeong, he dominated state affairs for years, becoming a symbol of in-law politics in the Joseon dynasty.

Key achievements

  • Monopolized power as the consort clan during King Myeongjong's reign, led the Eulsa Literati Purge

Related works

  • Women of the Universe(2001)

Related places

Seoul