Tomb of King Gwanghaegun, Namyangju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.363

Category

유적지

Era

인조 21년(1643)

Designated year

1991

Location

남양주시, 경기도— 경기도 남양주시 진건읍 송능리 337-4

Coordinates

37.657898, 127.205270

The tomb was constructed for King Gwanghaegun and his wife, Queen Consort Lady Yu. He was the 15th king of the Joseon Dynasty (who reigned between 1608 and 1623). His mother was Gongbin Kim, a royal concubine of King Seonjo. Installed as Crown Prince instead of his eldest brother, Imhaegun, he ascended the throne in 1608. During his reign, he committed many crimes such as killing his eldest brother, Imhaegun, and his younger brother, Prince Yeongchang (whose mother, Queen Inmok, was not a royal concubine but a legitimate Queen who married King Seonjo after his former legitimate queen passed away). In addition, he detained Queen Inmok in Gyeonghuigung Palace. King Gwanghaegun was expelled, and Injo, another son of King Seonjo, ascended the throne as Injobanjeong. He was banished to Ganghwado Island and Jeju-do. He passed away in the 19th year of the reign of King Injo (1641). Initially, he was buried in Jeju-do; in the 21st year of the reign of King Injo (1643), however, his tomb was moved to the present site. Nonetheless, he made great contributions. For one, after the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, the nation was destroyed, and he tried to recover and stabilize the people and the nation during his reign (1608~1623). He released several publications, enacted the Uniform Land Tax Law, and consolidated national defense. His wife, Yu, became queen when he ascended the throne, but she accompanied him when he was exiled and passed away on Ganghwado Island in 1623. That year, her tomb was moved to Yangju where her husband, King Gwanghaegun, was buried. The tomb has two earth mounds for them, and there are some stone constructions around it.

Location