Politics13 March 1623(Lunar)

Injo Restoration

The Westerner faction deposed Gwanghaegun and enthroned Prince Neungyang as King Injo; the new pro-Ming stance soured relations with the Later Jin.

Donggwoldo, 1820s painting of Changdeokgung, the palace stormed in the coup
Donggwoldo, 1820s painting of Changdeokgung, the palace stormed in the coup

Unknown author · Public domain · Source

Gwanghaegun governed with the Northerner faction and steered a neutral course between the Ming and the Later Jin. But killing his half-brother Prince Yeongchang and confining Queen Dowager Inmok in the western palace, along with a diplomacy that seemed to betray the Ming, gave the Westerners their justification for a coup.

On the night of the 13th day of the 3rd month, 1623, Westerners such as Kim Ryu, Yi Gwi and Choe Myeong-gil, with Prince Neungyang and troops under Yi Gwal and others, passed through Changuimun Gate and entered Changdeokgung. Neungyang took the throne by the queen dowager’s order; Gwanghaegun was exiled to Ganghwa and later to Jeju, and Northerner leaders such as Yi I-cheom and Jeong In-hong were executed.

The Westerners now led the government, sharing some posts with the Southerners. The new pro-Ming, anti-Jurchen policy invited the 1627 invasion, and Yi Gwal, unhappy with his reward, rebelled the following year (1624).

The map in 1623

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States and rulers at the time
Joseon — Injo
Places
Changdeokgung

People

  • Injo1595 – 1649

    leader · Sixteenth king of Joseon, enthroned by coup; endured two Manchu invasions and surrendered at Samjeondo

  • Gwanghaegun1575 – 1641

    related figure · Fifteenth king of Joseon who began the Daedong law and balanced Ming and the Later Jin; deposed in 1623

  • Choe Myeong-gil1586 – 1647

    participant · Westerner who helped stage the Injo Restoration and led the case for making peace with Qing in the Second Manchu Invasion; also versed in Yangming learning

Before and after

Related works

  • TV episode: Naked Korean History Episode 32: Why Was Gwanghaegun, a Hero of the Imjin War, Deposed?TV episode · 2022 · Kye Seung-beom · tvN STORY

Themes that include this event

  • Factional Politics in Joseon1498 – 1863

    From the literati purges to in-law government — how Sarim factions moved from coexistence and checks to purges and one-faction rule, then through Tangpyeong to the dominance of a few clans