Sejong the Great

"Sejong" redirects here. For the city, see Sejong City. For other uses, see Sejong (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Sejo of Joseon.

Sejong the Great 세종대왕 世宗大王
Posthumous portrait, 1973
King of Joseon
Reign	9 September 1418 – 30 March 1450
Enthronement	Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong
Predecessor	Taejong
Successor	Munjong
Regent	Crown Prince Yi Hyang (1439–1450)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure	8 July 1418 – 9 September 1418
Predecessor	Crown Prince Yi Je
Successor	Crown Prince Yi Hyang
Born	Yi To (1397-05-15)15 May 1397 Junsu-bang, Hanseong, Joseon
Died	30 March 1450(1450-03-30) (aged 52) Grand Prince Yeongeung's Mansion, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Yeongneung Mausoleum, Yeoju, South Korea
Spouse(s)	Queen Soheon ​ ​ (m. 1408; died 1446)​
Issue among others...	Munjong of Joseon Sejo of Joseon
Names Yi To (이도; 李祹) Era name and dates Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Yeongnak (Yongle) (영락; 永樂): 1418–1424 Honghui (Hongxi) (홍희; 洪熙): 1425 Seondeok (Xuande) (선덕; 宣德): 1426–1435 Jeongtong (Zhengtong) (정통; 正統): 1436–1449 Gyeongtae (Jingtai) (경태; 景泰): 1450 Posthumous name Joseon: Great King Jangheon with Cultured Sagacity, Martial Wisdom, Excellent Benevolence,and Brilliant Filial Piety (장헌영문예무인성명효대왕; 莊憲英文睿武仁聖明孝大王) Ming dynasty: Jangheon (장헌; 莊憲) Temple name Sejong (세종; 世宗)
Clan	Jeonju Yi
Dynasty	Yi
Father	Taejong of Joseon
Mother	Queen Wongyeong
Religion	Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism) → Korean Buddhism

Korean name
Hangul	세종
Hanja	世宗
Revised Romanization	Sejong
McCune–Reischauer	Sejong
Birth name
Hangul	이도
Hanja	李祹
Revised Romanization	I Do
McCune–Reischauer	I To
Childhood name
Hangul	막동
Hanja	莫同
Revised Romanization	Makdong
McCune–Reischauer	Maktong
Courtesy name
Hangul	원정
Hanja	元正
Revised Romanization	Wonjeong
McCune–Reischauer	Wŏnjŏng

Sejong (Korean: 세종; Hanja: 世宗; 15 May 1397 – 30 March 1450), personal name Yi To (이도; 李祹), commonly known as Sejong the Great (세종대왕; 世宗大王), was the fourth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He is regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history, and is remembered as the inventor of Hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language.

Initially titled Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군; 忠寧大君), he was the third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. In 1418, Sejong replaced his eldest brother, Yi Je, as crown prince; a few months later, Taejong voluntarily abdicated the throne in Sejong's favor. In the early years of Sejong's reign, King Emeritus Taejong retained vast powers, most notably absolute executive and military power, and continued to govern until his death in 1422.

Sejong reinforced Korean Confucian and Neo-Confucian policies, and enacted major legal amendments (공법; 貢法). He personally created and promulgated the Korean alphabet, encouraged advancements in science and technology, and introduced measures to stimulate economic growth. He launched military campaigns to the north and implemented a relocation policy (사민정책; 徙民政策), establishing settlements in the newly conquered areas. He also ordered the Occupation of Tsushima island.

From 1439, he became increasingly ill and his eldest son, Crown Prince Yi Hyang, acted as regent. Sejong died on March 1450.

Early life

Sejong was born Yi To (이도; 李祹) on 15 May 1397, in Junsubang, Hanseong (Seoul), Joseon to Yi Pang-wŏn and a lady of the influential Yeoheung Min clan (later Queen Wongyeong). While records of Yi's childhood are scarce, it is known that Yi was born outside Gyeongbokgung when his father, Yi Pang-wŏn, was not yet heir to the throne.

In 1408, Yi's father arranged his marriage to Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan, who would later become Queen Soheon. In 1412, Yi To was granted the title Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군; 忠寧大君). In 1414, he had his first son, who would later become Munjong.

Selection as heir to the throne

As Taejong's eldest son, Grand Prince Yangnyeong was to inherit the throne. However, Taejong, as well as court officials, increasingly deemed Yangnyeong unsuitable for the role due to his erratic and irresponsible behavior. In a series of escalating events involving Yangnyeong's affair with Eori, a concubine of Kwak Sŏn, Yangnyeong was ultimately deposed as crown prince.

In mid-1418, court officials petitioned Taejong to consider a new candidate for the throne. Following primogeniture, Taejong initially considered Yangnyeong's eldest son for the role. However, the officials objected and insisted that Taejong select a wise person as heir apparent. King Taejong asked the officials to propose an alternative. According to the Veritable Records, they gave an indirect response: "The father knows his sons best, as the king knows his subjects best." Taejong judged his second son, Grand Prince Hyoryeong, to have a disposition too soft for the role. He then proposed Chungnyeong, whom he felt was intelligent and sharp in matters of politics. The officials welcomed the decision and confirmed that Chungnyeong had been their preferred choice. On 8 July 1418, Chungnyeong was made crown prince of Joseon.

Reign

On 9 September 1418, Chungnyeong ascended the throne as King Sejong, following Taejong's abdication. However, Taejong retained military power and continued to make major political decisions as king emeritus (상왕; 上王) until his death. Sejong did not challenge Taejong's authority and deferred to his father during this period. Perpetually wary of royal authority falling in thrall to the queen's clan, Taejong had Sejong's father-in-law, Shim On, executed on charges of treason. Other members of the queen's family were exiled or made commoners, which left Queen Soheon politically isolated and unable to protest.

Despite inheriting significantly strengthened royal authority, Sejong did not suppress the press and promoted meritocracy through gwageo, the national civil service exam.

Religion

During the Goryeo period, monks wielded strong political and economic influence. However, in Joseon, Buddhism was considered a false philosophy and the monks were viewed as corrupted by power and money.

Likewise, Sejong continued Joseon's policies of "worshiping Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism" (Korean: 승유억불; Hanja: 崇儒抑佛). He banned monks from entering Hanseong and reduced the seven schools of Buddhism down to two, Seon and Gyo, drastically decreasing the power and wealth of the religious leaders. One of the key factors in this suppression was Sejong's reform of the land system. This policy resulted in temple lands being seized and redistributed for development and monks losing large amounts of economic influence. Furthermore, he performed government ceremonies according to Confucianism and encouraged people to behave according to the teachings of Confucius.

At the same time, Sejong sought to alleviate religious tensions between Confucianism and Buddhism. The Seokbosangjeol (석보상절; 釋譜詳節), a 24-volume Korean-language biography of Buddha translated from Chinese Buddhist texts, was commissioned and published in Sejong's reign by Grand Prince Suyang, in mourning for Queen Soheon, a devout Buddhist. Sejong advocated the project—despite fierce opposition from his courtiers—and condemned the hypocrisy of those who privately worship the Buddha yet publicly rebuke others for doing so.

上謂承政院曰 孟子言 '墨子以薄爲道, 而葬其親厚'。大抵臣子之道, 宜以直事上, 不可容其詐。 然世人在家, 奉佛事神, 靡所不至, 及對人, 反以神佛爲非, 予甚惡之。

The King spoke to the Seungjeongwon,
Mencius once said, 'Mozi regards austerity as a virtue and yet made a lavish burial for his parents.' Generally speaking, a subject's duty is to serve his superior with honesty and not to tolerate deceit. However, people all around the world worship the Buddha, serve spirits at their houses, and yet reproach others for worshiping the very ghosts and Buddha they themselves revere; I find this highly reprehensible.

— Year 28, Month 3, Day 26, Entry 6, The Veritable Records of King Sejong, volume 111

In 1427, Sejong issued a decree against the Huihui (Korean Muslim) community that had enjoyed special status and stipends since the Yuan dynasty's rule over Goryeo. The Huihui were forced to abandon their headgear, close down their "ceremonial hall" (a mosque in the city of Gaegyeong, in present-day Kaesong), and worship like everyone else. No further records of Muslims exist during the Joseon era.

Economy

In the early years of the Joseon dynasty, the economy operated on a barter system, with cloth, grain, and cotton being the most common forms of currency. In 1423, under King Sejong's administration, the government attempted to introduce a national currency modeled after the Tang dynasty's kaiyuan tongbao (開元通寶). The resulting Joseon tongbo (조선통보; 朝鮮通寶) was a bronze coin, backed by a silver standard, with 150 coins being equal to 600 grams of silver. However, production ceased in 1425 due to high manufacturing costs, as the exchange rate dropped below the coin's intrinsic value.

In 1445, Sejong consolidated the various sujoji records, previously managed by various government offices, and placed them under the administration of the Ministry of Taxation (Hojo) to improve transparency in Joseon's fiscal policies.

Military

King Sejong was an effective military planner and created various military regulations to strengthen the safety of his kingdom. During his reign great technological advancements were made in the manufacture of gunpowder and firearms. Hand cannons, known as Wangu (완구; 碗口), first built in 1407 and 1418, were improved upon, and the Sohwapo (소화포; 小火砲), Cheonjetanhwan (철제탄환), Hwapojeon (화포전; 火砲箭) and the Hwacho (화초; 火초) were invented during his reign.

None of these had yet reached a satisfactory level for Sejong. In the 26th year of his reign, he had the cannon foundry Hwapojujoso (화포주조소; 火砲鑄造所) built to produce a new standard cannon with outstanding performance, and in the following year, he undertook a complete overhaul of the cannon. The Chongtongdeungnok (총통등록; 銃筒謄錄) compiled and published in the 30th year his reign, was an illustrated book that described the casting methods, gunpowder usage, and specifications of the guns. The publication of this book is considered a remarkable achievement that marked a new era in the manufacture of artillery during the Joseon Dynasty.

In June 1419, under the advice and guidance of his father, Sejong ordered the third and last occupation of Tsushima, known as Daemado Jeongbeol (대마도 정벌) in Korean and Ōei Invasion in Japanese. The ultimate goal of this military expedition was to remove the nuisance of Japanese pirates who had been operating from to the island. During the invasion, 245 Japanese were executed or killed and another 110 were captured, while 180 Korean soldiers died. Around 150 kidnapped victims (146 Chinese and 8 Koreans) were also freed. A truce was made in July 1419 and the Joseon army returned to the Korean Peninsula, but no official documents were signed until 1443. In this agreement, known as the Treaty of Gyehae, the daimyo of Tsushima was obliged to pay tribute to the Joseon monarch, and in turn the Sō clan was allowed to serve as a diplomatic intermediary between Korea and Japan, as well as receive exclusive trade rights.

In 1433, Sejong sent Kim Jong-seo to the north to destroy the Jurchens. The military campaign captured several fortresses, pushed north, and expanded Korean territory, to the Songhua River.

Science, technology, and agriculture

A modern reconstruction and scaled down model of Jang Yeong-sil's self-striking water clock.

Sejong promoted the sciences. In 1420, Sejong created an institute within Gyeongbokgung known as the Hall of Worthies. The institute was responsible for conducting scientific research with the purpose of advancing the country's technology. The Hall of Worthies was designed to host Joseon's best and brightest thinkers, with the government offering grants and scholarships to encourage young scholars to attend.

In 1428, Sejong ordered the printing of one thousand copies of a "farmer's handbook". The following year, he published the Nongsa Jikseol (농사직설; 農事直說; lit. 'Straight Talk on Farming'), a compilation of various farming methods accommodative to Korea's climate and soil conditions. The book dealt with planting, harvesting, and soil treatment, and contained information about the different farming techniques that scientists gathered from different regions of Korea. These techniques were essential for maintaining the newly adopted intensive and continuous cultivation methods.

One of Sejong's close associates was inventor Jang Yeong-sil. Jang, who was originally a government-owned nobi from Dongnae, was appointed as a court technician by Sejong in 1423. Upon giving Jang a government position and funding for his inventions, officials protested, believing a person from the lower classes should not rise to power among nobles. Sejong instead believed he merited support because of his ability.

In 1442, Jang Yeong-sil made one of the world's first standardized rain gauges named cheugugi (측우기; 測雨器). This model has not survived, with the oldest existing Korean rain gauge being made in 1770, during the reign of King Yeongjo. According to the Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat (승정원일기; 承政院日記; Seungjeongwon Ilgi), Yeongjo wanted to revive the glorious times of Sejong the Great, and started reading chronicles from that era. When he came across the mention of a rain gauge, Yeongjo ordered a reproduction. Since there is a mark of the Qing dynasty ruler Qianlong (r. 1735–96), dated 1770, this Korean-designed rain gauge is sometimes misunderstood as having been imported from China.

In 1434, Jang Yeong-sil, tasked by King Sejong, invented the gabinja (갑인자; 甲寅字), a new type of printing press. This printing press was said to be twice as fast as the previous model and was composed of copper-zinc and lead-tin alloys.

Korean armillary sphere first made by the scientist Jang Yeong-sil during the reign of King Sejong

Sejong also wanted to reform the Korean calendar system, which was at the time based upon the longitude of the Chinese capital. He had his astronomers create a calendar with the Joseon capital of Hanseong as the primary meridian. This new system allowed Joseon astronomers to accurately predict the timing of solar and lunar eclipses.

In the realm of traditional Korean medicine, two important treatises were written during his reign. These were the Hyangyak Jipseongbang (향약집성방; 鄕藥集成方) and the Euibang Yuchwi (의방유취; 醫方類聚), which historian Kim Yong-sik says represents "the Koreans' efforts to develop their own system of medical knowledge, distinct from that of China".

Public welfare

In 1426, Sejong enacted a law that granted government serfs (노비; 奴婢; nobi) women 100 days of maternity leave after childbirth, which, in 1430, was lengthened by one month before childbirth. In 1434, he also granted the husbands 30 days of paternity leave.

In order to provide equality and fairness in taxation for the common people, Sejong issued a royal decree to administer a nationwide public opinion poll regarding a new tax system called Gongbeop in 1430. Over the course of five months, the poll surveyed 172,806 people, of which approximately 57% responded with approval for the proposed reform.

Joseon's economy depended on the agricultural output of the farmers, so Sejong allowed them to pay more or less tax according to the fluctuations of economic prosperity and hard times. Because of this, farmers could worry less about tax quotas and instead work at maintaining and selling their crops.

It is said that once, when the palace had a significant surplus of food, the king distributed it to poor peasants who needed it. Otherwise the state maintained a permanent grain dole, that existed since the days of Unified Silla.

Literature

Sejong composed the famous Yongbieocheonga ("Songs of Flying Dragons"; 1445), Seokbo Sangjeol ("Episodes from the Life of Buddha"; July 1447), Worin Cheongang Jigok ("Songs of the Moon Shining on a Thousand Rivers"; July 1447), and Dongguk Jeongun ("Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation"; September 1447).

Arts

One of Sejong's closest friends and mentors was the 15th century musician Bak Yeon. Together they composed over two hundred musical arrangements. Sejong's independent musical compositions include the Chongdaeop ('Great Achievements'), Potaepyeong ('Preservation of Peace'), Pongnaeui ('Phoenix'), and Yominrak ('A Joy to Share with the People'). Yominrak continues to be a standard piece played by modern traditional Korean orchestras, while Chongdaeop and Potaepyeong are played during the Jongmyo Jerye (memorials honoring the kings of Joseon).

In 1418, during Sejong's reign, scholars developed the Pyeongyeong (편경; 編磬), a lithophone modeled on the Chinese bianqing. The Pyeongyeong is a percussion instrument consisting of two rows of 8 pumice slabs hung on a decorative wooden frame with a 16-tone range and struck with an ox horn mallet. It was manufactured using pumice mined from the Gyeonggi Province and was primarily used for ceremonies.

Sejong's contribution to the arts continued long after his death; he had always wanted to use Korean music rather than Chinese music for ancestral rituals, but conservative court officials stopped his efforts. However, when Sejong's son, King Sejo, rose to the throne, he modified the ritual music composed by his father and created the 'Jongmyo court music', which was used for royal ancestral rituals and is now inscribed as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Hertiage.

Hangul

See also: Hunminjeongeum and Hangul

Hunminjeongeum

King Sejong profoundly affected Korea's history with the creation and introduction of hangul, the native phonetic writing system for the Korean language. Although it is widely assumed that he ordered the Hall of Worthies to invent the script, contemporaneous records such as the Veritable Records of King Sejong and Jeong In-ji's preface to the Hunminjeongeum Haerye emphasize that Sejong invented it himself.

Before the creation of the new alphabet, the people of Joseon primarily used Classical Chinese to write, alongside a few writing systems like idu, hyangchal, gugyeol, and gakpil—which used Chinese characters to approximate sounds of the Korean language—that had been in use since hundreds of years before hangul. However, due to the fundamental differences between the Korean and Chinese languages, and the large number of Chinese characters required, lower-class people of Joseon lacked the privilege of education and were illiterate. To promote literacy, King Sejong created hangul (which initially had 28 letters, four of which are no longer in use).

Hangul was completed in 1443 and published in 1446 along with a 33-page manual titled Hunminjeongeum, explaining what the letters are as well as the philosophical theories and motives behind them.

King Sejong faced backlash from the noble class as many disapproved of the idea of a common writing system, with some openly opposing its creation. Many within the nobility believed that giving the peasants the ability to read and write would allow them to find and abuse loopholes within the law. Others felt that hangul would threaten their families' positions in court by creating a larger pool of civil servants. The Joseon elite continued to use the Chinese hanja long after Sejong's death. Hangul was often treated with contempt by those in power and received criticism in the form of nicknames, including eonmun ("vulgar script"), amkeul ("women's script"), and ahaekkeul ("children's script"). It was commonly used for areas like casual writing, prose and bookkeeping, especially by the urban middle class like administrators and bureaucrats. It notably gained popularity among women and fiction writers, with former usually often not having been able to get access to hanja education.

In 1504, the study and publication of hangul was banned by Yeonsangun. Its spread and preservation can be largely attributed to three main factors: books published for women, its use by Buddhist monks, and the introduction of Christianity in Korea in 1602. Hangul was brought into the mainstream culture in the 16th century, due to a renaissance in literature and poetry. It continued to gain popularity well into the 17th century, and gained wider use after a period of nationalism in the 19th century. In 1849, it was adopted as Korea's national writing system, and saw its first use in official government documents. After the Treaty of 1910, hangul was outlawed again until the liberation of Korea in 1945.

Health issues and death

The tomb of Sejong the Great

Sejong suffered from eye diseases and deteriorating vision and likely had health issues linked to excessive meat consumption all throughout his life. Sejong's love for meat is clear from a comment by King Emeritus Taejong. When Sejong stopped eating fish and meat to mourn after the death of Jeongjong—Sejong's uncle and Taejong's older brother—Taejong remarked that Sejong had always found it hard to eat without meat since he was a child. Sejong also started having musculoskeletal pain at the age of 22. One day he was supposed to organize a farewell party for the emissaries to the Ming dynasty but was in too much pain to do so. Sejong said: "My waist and back are stiff and immobile, so it is hard to bend or straighten." There is speculation that he had diabetes, but there is inadequate evidence for a modern medical diagnosis. There is also an account of Sejong's having a disease that roughly translates to palsy (풍증; 風症) and essential tremor (수전증; 手顫症), but terminology of the 15th century Korean traditional medicine does not translate well.

Sejong died on 8 April 1450, on the Gregorian calendar, at the residence of Grand Prince Young-eung at the age of 52. He was buried at Yeongneung (영릉; 英陵), in the same mound as his wife, Queen Soheon, who died four years earlier. The tomb is located in Yeoju, South Korea.

His successor was his first son, Yi Hyang (posthumously King Munjong). Sejong was concerned that sickly Munjong would die early and leave his vulnerable young son to reign, so he asked scholars from the Hall of Worthies to look after his young grandson, Danjong. As predicted, Munjong died two years after his ascension, and the political stability enjoyed in the past decades disintegrated when Danjong became the sixth king of Joseon at the age of twelve. Eventually, Sejong's second son, Grand Prince Suyang (later known as King Sejo), usurped the throne in 1455. When six court officials were implicated in a plot to restore his nephew, Sejo abolished the Hall of Worthies and executed Danjong along with several ministers who served during Sejong's reign.

Reception and legacy

King Sejong the Great, as depicted on the Bank of Korea's 10,000 won banknote (Series VI).

Sejong the Great is considered one of the most influential monarchs in Korean history, with the creation of Hangul considered his greatest legacy. Sejong is widely renowned in modern-day South Korea. In a 2024 survey by Gallup Korea, Sejong was nominated as the second most respected figure by South Koreans, only to be surpassed by Yi Sun-sin. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture evaluates the reign of Sejong "the most shining period of the history of our [the Korean] people." Sejong's creation of the Korean alphabet is celebrated every 9 October as Hangul Day, a national holiday.

Multiple places in South Korea, including Sejong Street (Sejongno; 세종로, 世宗路), Sejong–Pocheon Expressway, and Sejong Special Autonomous City, South Korea's de facto administrative capital, are named after him. Various institutes such as King Sejong Station, the King Sejong Institute, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Sejong Science High School, and Sejong University also bear his name. A 9.5-meter-high (31 ft) bronze statue of King Sejong, unveiled in 2009 in celebration of the 563rd anniversary of the invention of the Korean alphabet, now sits on a concrete pedestal on the boulevard of Gwanghwamun Square and directly in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The pedestal contains one of the several entrances to the 3,200 m² underground museum exhibit entitled "The Story of King Sejong". In 2007, the South Korean Chief of Naval Operations officially announced the naming of its Sejong the Great-class destroyers, further explaining that Sejong's name was chosen as he was the most beloved figure among South Koreans.

Statue of Sejong in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul city centre

A portrait of Sejong is featured on the 10,000 won banknote of the South Korean won, along with various scientific tools invented under his reign. Sejong was first portrayed in the 1000-hwan bill as part of the 15 August 1960 currency reform, replacing the portrait of former president Syngman Rhee. Sejong was also featured on the 500-hwan bill the following year. Both bills were decommissioned in 1962. Sejong's portrait returned with the introduction of the 10,000-won bill, when his portrait and Geunjeongjeon replaced Seokguram and Bulguksa as features of the bill, in 1973.

In North Korea, Sejong is not as widely commemorated compared to the South. Vol. 16 of the Great Korean Encyclopedia asserts that "feudalist pressure and extortion" was strengthened during Sejong's reign, and that all of Sejong's policies were directed for the "benefit of the feudalist ruling class". Contrastingly, in a column from its 15 December 2001 issue, North Korean news outlet Tongil Sinbo reported that Sejong the Great greatly contributed to Korean science during his reign of 30 years. Hangul Day is also celebrated in North Korea, albeit on a different date.

Family

Ancestry

Ancestors of Sejong the Great

8. Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (조선 환조 이자춘) 4. King Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조) 9. Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨) 2. King Taejong of Joseon (조선 태종) 10. Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon (안천부원군 한경) 5. Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨) 11. Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨) 1. Sejong of Joseon 12. Min Byeon (민변) 6. Min Je, Internal Prince Yeoheung and Duke Mundo (여흥부원군 문도공 민제) 3. Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (원경왕후 민씨) 14. Song Seon (송선) 7. Lady Song of the Yeosan Song clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 여산 송씨)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

Sejong and his primary consort Soheon had ten children together: the most for any queen consort of the Joseon period. Historian Lee Han argues it is unclear if their relationship had genuine love; while they had numerous children together, and there is evidence of the two caring for and treating each other respectfully, Taejong had the queen's father executed, and Sejong dutifully consented to this.

• Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (소헌왕후 심씨; 28 September 1395 – 24 March 1446)
  • Princess Jeongso (정소공주; 1412 – 25 February 1424), first daughter
  • Crown Prince Yi Hyang (왕세자 이향; 3 October 1414 – 14 May 1452), first son
  • Princess Jeongui (정의공주; 12 July 1415 – 11 February 1477), second daughter
  • Yi Yu, Grand Prince Suyang (수양대군 이유; 29 September 1417 – 8 September 1468), second son
  • Yi Yong, Grand Prince Anpyeong (안평대군 이용; 19 September 1418 – 18 October 1453), third son
  • Yi Gu, Grand Prince Imyeong (임영대군 이구; 6 January 1420 – 21 January 1469), fourth son
  • Yi Yeo, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong (광평대군 이여; 2 May 1425 – 7 December 1444), fifth son
  • Yi Yu, Grand Prince Geumseong (금성대군 이유; 28 March 1426 – 21 October 1457), seventh son
  • Yi Im, Grand Prince Pyeongwon (평원대군 이임; 18 November 1427 – 16 January 1445), ninth son
  • Yi Yeom, Grand Prince Yeongeung (영응대군 이염; 15 April 1434 – 2 February 1467), fifteenth son
• Royal Noble Consort Shin of the Cheongju Gim clan (신빈 김씨; 1406 – 4 September 1464)
  • Fourth daughter (? – 1426)
  • Yi Jeung, Prince Gyeyang (계양군 이증; 12 August 1427 – 16 August 1464), eighth son
  • Yi Gong, Prince Uichang (의창군 이공; 1428 – 27 February 1460), tenth son
  • Fifth daughter (? – 1429)
  • Yi Chim, Prince Milseong (밀성군 이침; 1430 – 1 January 1479), twelfth son
  • Yi Yeon, Prince Ikhyeon (익현군 이연; 1431 – 4 May 1463), fourteenth son
  • Yi Jang, Prince Yeonghae (영해군 이장; 20 March 1435 – 5 May 1477), seventeenth son
  • Yi Geo, Prince Damyang (담양군 이거; 8 January 1439 – 10 March 1450), eighteenth son
• Royal Noble Consort Hye of the Cheongju Yang clan (혜빈 양씨; ? – 9 November 1455)
  • Yi Eo, Prince Hannam (한남군 이어; 8 September 1429 – 29 May 1459), eleventh son
  • Yi Hyeon, Prince Suchun (수춘군 이현; 13 July 1431 – 5 June 1455), thirteenth son
  • Yi Jeon, Prince Yeongpung (영풍군 이전; 17 August 1434 – 20 June 1456), sixteenth son
• Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jinju Gang clan (영빈 강씨; ? – 20 January 1483)
  • Yi Yeong, Prince Hwaui (화의군 이영; 5 September 1425 – after 1489), sixth son.
• Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Miryang Park clan (귀인 박씨)
• Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Jeonju Choe clan (귀인 최씨)
• Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Jo clan (숙의 조씨)
• Royal Consort So-yong of the Hong clan (숙용 홍씨; ? – 4 February 1452)
• Royal Consort Sug-won of the Yi clan (숙원 이씨)
  • Princess Jeongan (정안옹주; 1441 – 16 October 1461), seventh daughter
• Court Lady Song (상침 송씨; 1396 – 21 August 1463)
  • Princess Jeonghyeon (정현옹주; 1425 – 6 November 1480), third daughter
• Court Lady Cha (사기 차씨; ? – 1444)
  • Sixth daughter (1430–1431)
• Unknown
  • Yi Dang (이당; 1442 – ?), nineteenth son

In popular culture

Television series and films

His life was depicted in the KBS historical drama The Great King, Sejong in 2008.

Television series

Year	Portrayed by	Title
1983	Han In-soo	500 Years of Joseon Dynasty: Tree with Deep Roots
1998–2000	Song Jae-ho	The King and the Queen
2008	Lee Hyun-woo	The Great King, Sejong
	Kim Sang-kyung
2011	Kang San	Deep Rooted Tree
	Song Joong-ki
	Han Suk-kyu
	Jeon Moo-song	Insu, the Queen Mother
2015	Yoon Doo-joon	Splash Splash Love
2016	Nam Da-reum	Six Flying Dragons
	Kim Sang-kyung	Jang Yeong-sil
2021	Jang Dong-yoon	Joseon Exorcist
2022	Kim Min-gi	The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won

Films

Year	Portrayed by	Title
2008	Ahn Sung-ki	The Divine Weapon
2012	Ju Ji-hoon	I Am the King
2019	Song Kang-ho	The King's Letters
	Han Suk-kyu	Forbidden Dream

Video games

• Sejong is the leader of the Korean civilization in Sid Meier's Civilization VI's Leader Pass DLC, Sid Meier's Civilization V, and Civilization Revolution 2.
• Sejong is the starting ruler of Korea in Europa Universalis IV.

See also

• Sejong the Great-class destroyer
• UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize

References

Historical sources

Veritable Records

Main article: Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty

• Office of Annals (Taejong) [실록청; 實錄廳] (1431) [1418]. 세자 이제를 폐하고 충녕 대군으로서 왕세자를 삼다 [Yangnyeong Is Deposed And Chungnyeong Becomes Heir Apparent]. 조선왕조실록: 태종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Taejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Office of Annals (Sejong) [실록청; 實錄廳] (1454) [1418]. 총서 [General Preface]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1419]. 이원이 막 돌아온 수군을 돌려 다시 대마도 치는 것이 득책이 아님을 고하다 [Yi Won advises that it is not advantageous to send the recently returned navy back to attack Tsushima again]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon 과천: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1419]. 박실이 대마도에서 패군할 때의 상황을 알고 있는 중국인을 보내는 데 대한 의논 [Discussion on sending a Chinese person who knows the situation when Park Sil's army was defeated at Tsushima]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon 과천: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1420]. 죄인에게 아부한 이발 등을 파직할 것을 상왕에게 여쭈다 [Sejong Asks King Emeritus Whether To Impeach Yi Bal et al. For Currying Favor With Criminal]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1435]. 진양 대군 이유에게 대신 전별연을 행하게 하다 [King Has Yi Yu Organize Farewell Party]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1439]. 강무를 세자에게 위임하도록 하는 논의를 하다 [Discussing the delegation of the royal hunt to the Crown Prince]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1441]. 임금이 안질로 인해 공사업무 축소를 승정원에 전지하다 [King Instructs Royal Secretariat To Reduce Work Due To Eye Disease]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1446]. 통사 정복에게 화자 친상의 자문을 주어 요동에 보내다 [King Seeks Consult From Liaodong]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1446]. 중궁을 위해 불경을 만드는 것을 허락하려 한다고 승정원에 이르니 반대하다 [The King asks permission from the Royal Secretariat to publish Buddhist texts for the queen but is rejected.]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong]. Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1450]. 임금과 동궁이 몸이 불편하여 조서를 맞이하는 방법에 대해 대신들과 의논하다 [Sejong And Officials Discuss Welcoming Emissary From Ming China As Sejong and Crown Prince Are Both Sick]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1450]. 임금이 영응 대군 집 동별궁에서 훙하다 [King Dies at Young-eung's Residence]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1454) [1450]. 지중추원사 이선 등을 북경에 보내 부고를 고하고 시호를 청하다 [Yi Seon et al. Go To Beijing And Request Temple Name]. 조선왕조실록: 세종실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejong] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Office of Annals (Sejo) 실록청; 實錄廳 (1471) [1453]. 세조가 이용과 결탁하여 반역하고자 했던 김종서·황보인·이양·조극관 등을 효수하다 [Sejo Hangs Kim Jong-seo et al.]. 조선왕조실록: 세조실록; 世祖莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejo] (in Korean). Gwacheon 과천: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• ——— (1471) [1456]. 집현전을 파하고 경연을 정지하며, 소장하던 책을 예문관으로 옮기게 하다 [Sejo Abolishes Hall Of Worthies And Daily Lessons, Moves Books To Yemungwan]. 조선왕조실록: 세조실록; 世宗莊憲大王實錄 [Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty: Annals of King Sejo] (in Korean). Gwacheon [과천]: National Institute of Korean History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

Modern secondary sources

Korean-language sources

• Cho Nam-uk [조남욱] (2011). 세종대왕의 유불화해의식에 관한 연구 [A Study on King Sejong's Amicable Consciousness of Confucianism and Buddhism]. Journal of Ethics [윤리연구; 倫理硏究] (in Korean). 1 (80): 1–30. doi:10.15801/je.1.80.201103.1 – via KCI.
• Choi Seunghee [최승희] (n.d.). 세종 [Sejong]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture [한국민족문화대백과사전; 韓國民族文化大百科事典] (in Korean). Korea. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
• ——— (n.d.). 문종 (文宗) [Munjong]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture [한국민족문화대백과사전; 韓國民族文化大百科事典] (in Korean). Korea. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
• Hong Yi-Seop [홍이섭] (2011) [1971]. 세종대왕 [Sejong the Great] (in Korean) (9th ed.). Seoul [서울]: Sejong the Great Memorial Society [세종대왕기념사업회]. ISBN 978-89-8275-660-3.
• Park Cheonsik [박천식] (n.d.). 소헌왕후 (昭憲王后) [Queen Soheon]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture [한국민족문화대백과사전; 韓國民族文化大百科事典] (in Korean). Korea. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
• Yi Han [이한] (2007). 나는 조선이다 [I Am Joseon] (in Korean). Seoul [서울]: Cheong-A Publishing Company [청아출판사]. ISBN 978-89-368-2112-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

English-language sources

• Coulmas, Florian (2000). "The Korean Alphabet: Its History and Structure (review)". Korean Studies. 24 (1): 198–201. doi:10.1353/ks.2000.0002. ISSN 1529-1529.
• Borwn, Lucien; Yeon, Jaehoon (eds.). "Linguistic Emblems of South Korean Society". The Handbook of Korean Linguistics (PDF).
• Chin W., Kim, ed. (2000). "The Legacy of King Sejong the Great". Literacy and Writing Systems in Asia (PDF). Studies in Linguistic Sciences. Vol. 30. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ISSN 0049-2388.
• Kang, Jae-eun (2006). The Land of Scholars: Two Thousand Years of Korean Confucianism. Paramus, New Jersey: Homa & Sekey Books. ISBN 978-1-931907-37-8.
• Kim, Chun-gil (2005). The History of Korea. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing.
• Kim, Yung Sik (1998). "Problems and Possibilities in the Study of the History of Korean Science". Osiris. 13: 48–79. doi:10.1086/649280. ISSN 0369-7827. JSTOR 301878.
• Kim-Renaud, Young-Key (1997). King Sejong the Great: The Light of Fifteenth Century Korea. Washington, D.C.: International Circle of Korean Linguistics. ISBN 1-882177-01-0.
• ——— (2000). "Sejong's theory of literacy and writing". Studies in the Linguistic Sciences. 30 (1): 13–46.
• ——— (2021) [1997]. The Korean Alphabet: Its History and Structure. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-4527-8.
• Lee, Peter H.; De Bary, William (2000). Sources of Korean Tradition: From Early Times through the Sixteenth Century. New York: Columbia University Press.
• Paek, Okkyoung; Cho, Jihyung; Ham, Dongju; Jung, Byungjoon; Lee, Hyunsook; Sohn, Jungsook (2011). Understanding Korean History. Seoul: Korean Cultural Research Institute of Ewha Woman's University: Jimoondang. ISBN 978-89-6297-024-1.
• Rutt, Richard (1982). James Scarth Gale and his History of the Korean People. Seoul Computer Press.
• Song, Ho-jung; Jeon, Deog-jae; Lim, Ki-hwan; Kim, In-ho; Lee, Kang-hahn; Choi, E-don; Chung, Yeon-sik; Suh, Young-hee; Chun, Woo-yong; Hahn, Monica; Chung, Chang-hyun (2019). A History of Korea. Understanding Korea. Vol. 10. Translated by Kane, Daniel; An, Jong-Chol; Seide, Keith. Republic of Korea: Academy of Korean Studies. ISBN 979-11-5866-604-0.