Gwiin Jo (Injo)

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Gwiin Jo (Korean: 귀인 조씨; Hanja: 貴人 趙氏; 1619 – 24 January 1652)^[1] of the Okcheon Jo clan [ko], widely known as Soyong Jo, was a concubine of King Injo of Joseon. She is one of the best-known femme fatales in Korean history.^[2]

She was initially arranged to become the maid of a lord's daughter, but instead became a palace woman. She used to serve Queen Inryeol's brother-in-law, and the Queen was the one who arranged for her to enter the palace.

She caught King Injo's eye, and became his favourite consort overnight; her rank also changed rapidly, from the lowest Sugwon to Sowon, Soyong, Soui, and was finally declared as a royal consort of the first junior rank, Gwiin.^[3]

No one could beat her in terms of receiving the King’s affection; both Queen Jangryeol of the Yangju Jo clan and Sugui Jang failed to receive Injo’s love.

Her personality was described as that of a sensual but cunning woman, and those who were in her bad book would not be safe in front of the King. Because of this, people inside the palace were very afraid of her. It was rumored that Lady Jo disturbed the relationship between Injo and Queen Jangryeol, with the intention to tear them apart.

Lady Jo harbored hatred towards the family of Yi Wang, Crown Prince Sohyeon, particularly Crown Princess Minhoe. Since the day she reached the rank of Soyong, she would badmouth them in front of Injo and it became a common thing for her to slander them with false accusations. Although there was no record of her involvement with Crown Prince Sohyeon’s death, her slanders did not stop after the prince passed away. Because of that, Crown Princess Minhoe suspected Jo of poisoning her husband.^[4]

Lady Jo accused the Crown Princess of attempting to poison Injo, leading to the princess’ execution. The acupuncturist who treated Prince Sohyeon before his death was Yi Hyeong-ik, who was rumored to be in a relationship with Lady Jo's mother. There was even a record about this.

After Injo's death, she was discovered to be involved in an attempt to put a curse on Queen Jangryeol and on the Queen's niece. Kim Ja-jeom was her accomplice and was executed. King Hyojong decided to spare the life of Princess Hyomyeong, his half-sister, since she was not involved in the incident. Lady Jo was sentenced to death by poisoning and her mother, who was also an accomplice, died before she could receive her punishment. There were officials suggesting for Jo to be stripped of her position as a royal consort but out of respect for his father, who treasured her, King Hyojong did not go through with the idea.^[5]

She had a daughter and two sons with King Injo.

• Father: Jo Gi (조기; 1574–?)
• Mother
  • Biological: Han Ok, Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (한옥, 청주 한씨; 1578–1652); Jo Gi’s second wife
  • Step: Lady Sim of the Cheongsong Sim clan (청송 심씨; 1575–?); daughter of Sim Heun (심흔; 沈忻; 1549–?)
• Sibling(s)
  • Older half-brother: Jo Yang-pil (조양필; 趙良弼; 1600–?)
    • Sister-in-law: Lady Yi of the Seongju Yi clan (성주 이씨; 1600–?)
      • Adoptive Nephew: Jo Jeong-gu (조정구; 趙鼎耉; 1633–?); eldest son of Jo Hyeon-pil (조현필; 1608–?)
• Husband: Yi Jong, King Injo of Joseon (이종 조선 인조; 7 December 1595 – 17 June 1649)
  • Father-in-law: Grand Internal Prince Jeongwon (정원 대원군; 2 August 1580 – 29 December 1619)
  • Mother-in-law: Queen Inheon of the Neungseong Gu clan (인헌왕후 능성 구씨; 17 April 1578 – 14 January 1626)
• Issue
  • Daughter: Princess Hyomyeong (효명옹주; 1637–1700)
    • Son-in-law: Kim Se-ryong, Prince Consort Nakseong (김세룡 낙성위; 1636–1651)
  • Son: Yi Jing, Prince Sungseon (이징 숭선군; 17 October 1639 – 6 January 1690)
    • Daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Yeongpung of the Pyeongsan Shin clan (영풍군부인 평산 신씨; 1639–1692)
      • Grandson: Yi Hang, Prince Dongpyeong (동평군 항; 1660–1701)
      • Grandson: Yi Kang (동성정 강; 1662–?)
      • Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1664–?)
      • Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1666–?)
      • Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1668–?)
      • Granddaughter: Lady Yi (이씨; 1670–?)
  • Son: Yi Suk, Prince Nakseon (이숙 낙석군; 9 December 1641 – 26 April 1695)
    • Daughter-in-law: Princess Consort Dongwon of the Gangneung Kim clan (동원군부인 강릉 김씨; 1643–1722)
      • Adoptive grandson: Yi Hwan, Prince Imyang (임양군 이환; 1654–1729); adopted in 1662

• Portrayed by Seo Hyun-jin in the 2012 MBC TV series The King's Doctor.
• Portrayed by Kim Hyun-joo, Lee Chae-mi and Heo Jung-eun in the 2013 JTBC TV series Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers.^[6]
• Portrayed by Kim Min-seo in the 2015 MBC TV series Splendid Politics.
• Portrayed by Ahn Eun-jin in the 2022 film The Night Owl.