PoliticsJune 1456(Lunar)

Six Martyred Ministers

Seong Sam-mun, Bak Paeng-nyeon and others were executed for plotting to restore Danjong, who was exiled to Yeongwol and died the next year.

Cheongnyeongpo, Yeongwol, where the deposed Danjong lived in exile
Naturehead · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Seong Sam-mun, Bak Paeng-nyeon, Ha Wi-ji, Yi Gae, Yu Seong-won and Yu Eung-bu planned to kill Sejo at a banquet for Ming envoys in the sixth month of 1456. When the plan was postponed, fellow conspirator Kim Jil betrayed them. Sejo then abolished the Hall of Worthies and the royal lectures. Danjong was demoted to Prince Nosan and exiled to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol. These six are called the Six Martyred Ministers; those who refused office out of loyalty, such as Kim Si-seup and Nam Hyo-on, the Six Living Loyalists. The six were rehabilitated under Sukjong.

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States and rulers at the time: Joseon — Sejo

People

Seong Sam-mun1418 – 1456
leader · Hall of Worthies scholar executed for plotting to restore Danjong; one of the Six Martyred Ministers
Sejo (Grand Prince Suyang)1417 – 1468
monarch · Seized power in the 1453 coup and took the throne from his nephew Danjong
Danjong1441 – 1457
related figure · Sixth king of Joseon, deposed by his uncle Sejo and killed in exile at Yeongwol
Bak Paeng-nyeon1417 – 1456
leader · Jiphyeonjeon scholar executed as one of the Six Martyred Ministers for plotting with Seong Sam-mun to restore Danjong

Before and after

Earlier: 1453 Gyeyu Coup
Later: 1457 Jingwan defence system

Related works

TV episode: Naked Korean History Episode 102: Was Danjong Really Killed by His Uncle Sejo?TV episode · 2024 · Song Woong-seob · tvN STORY