Joseon's 27 Kings in Numbers
The Joseon dynasty ruled Korea for 518 years, from 1392 to 1910, under 27 kings. Here is each of them through one number.
Reign lengths
Data table
| # | King | Born | Reign | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taejo (태조) | 1335 | 1392–1398 | 1408 |
| 2 | Jeongjong (정종) | 1357 | 1398–1400 | 1419 |
| 3 | Taejong (태종) | 1367 | 1400–1418 | 1422 |
| 4 | Sejong (세종) | 1397 | 1418–1450 | 1450 |
| 5 | Munjong (문종) | 1414 | 1450–1452 | 1452 |
| 6 | Danjong (단종) | 1441 | 1452–1455 | 1457 |
| 7 | Sejo (세조) | 1417 | 1455–1468 | 1468 |
| 8 | Yejong (예종) | 1450 | 1468–1469 | 1469 |
| 9 | Seongjong (성종) | 1457 | 1469–1494 | 1494 |
| 10 | Yeonsangun (연산군) | 1476 | 1494–1506 | 1506 |
| 11 | Jungjong (중종) | 1488 | 1506–1544 | 1544 |
| 12 | Injong (인종) | 1515 | 1544–1545 | 1545 |
| 13 | Myeongjong (명종) | 1534 | 1545–1567 | 1567 |
| 14 | Seonjo (선조) | 1552 | 1567–1608 | 1608 |
| 15 | Gwanghaegun (광해군) | 1575 | 1608–1623 | 1641 |
| 16 | Injo (인조) | 1595 | 1623–1649 | 1649 |
| 17 | Hyojong (효종) | 1619 | 1649–1659 | 1659 |
| 18 | Hyeonjong (현종) | 1641 | 1659–1674 | 1674 |
| 19 | Sukjong (숙종) | 1661 | 1674–1720 | 1720 |
| 20 | Gyeongjong (경종) | 1688 | 1720–1724 | 1724 |
| 21 | Yeongjo (영조) | 1694 | 1724–1776 | 1776 |
| 22 | Jeongjo (정조) | 1752 | 1776–1800 | 1800 |
| 23 | Sunjo (순조) | 1790 | 1800–1834 | 1834 |
| 24 | Heonjong (헌종) | 1827 | 1834–1849 | 1849 |
| 25 | Cheoljong (철종) | 1831 | 1849–1863 | 1864 |
| 26 | Gojong (고종) | 1852 | 1863–1907 | 1919 |
| 27 | Sunjong (순종) | 1874 | 1907–1910 | 1926 |
27 kings, 27 numbers
A general of the Goryeo kingdom, he took power and founded a new dynasty, later moving the capital to Hanyang, today's Seoul.
Placed on the throne after a power struggle among the princes, he stepped down for his younger brother after about two years.
He reorganized the country into eight provinces, a division whose outline survives in today's provincial map.
He created the Korean alphabet, announced as Hunminjeongeum with 28 letters. Four have since fallen out of use.
He waited nearly three decades as heir, then died about two years after taking the throne.
Crowned as a child, he was forced to give up the throne to his uncle and died in exile at about 16.
He seized the throne from his nephew. Six officials who plotted to restore Danjong were executed and are remembered as the Sayuksin.
He died about fourteen months after becoming king.
The Gyeongguk Daejeon, the dynasty's foundational legal code, was completed and put into force during his reign.
Two bloody purges of scholar-officials marked his rule. He was deposed, which is why he is known as a prince (gun) rather than by a king's temple name.
Officials who overthrew Yeonsangun put him on the throne, the first time a Joseon king was replaced this way.
The shortest reign of any Joseon king.
Crowned as a boy, he ruled for years in the shadow of his mother, Queen Munjeong.
Japan invaded in 1592, starting the Imjin War, which lasted until 1598.
Deposed in a coup, he lived in exile for the rest of his life and died on Jeju Island.
After the Qing invasion of 1636–37, he surrendered at Samjeondo, bowing three times and touching his head to the ground nine times.
Taken to Shenyang as a prince after the surrender, he later planned a northern campaign against the Qing.
Born in Shenyang while his father was held hostage, he is the only Joseon king born outside Korea.
He repeatedly swapped the ruling faction in purges known as hwanguk, keeping rival factions off balance.
In poor health, he died about four years into his reign.
The longest reign in the dynasty's history.
The fortress in Suwon, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was completed in under three years.
His reign opened roughly six decades in which the queens' families held real power, known as sedo politics.
The youngest king in Joseon history.
A distant royal relative living as a farmer on Ganghwa Island, he was suddenly made king.
He declared Korea an empire and himself emperor, before Japan forced him to abdicate in 1907.
Japan annexed Korea, ending 518 years of Joseon rule.