“Behind the formidable masculine bureaucracy of the Joseon state council lay an intimate, highly literate network of royal women. Through hundreds of surviving Hangul palace letters (Eon-gan), Queen Sunwon directed royal court politics, comforted grieving relatives, and preserved monarchical stability during times of grave crisis.”
1. Queen Sunwon: Daughter of Kim Jo-sun and Royal Matriarch
Queen Sunwon (純元王后, 1789–1857) was crowned queen consort to King Sunjo in 1802. Over her fifty-five years in Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung palaces, she served as Queen Regent twice—first for her grandson King Heonjong, and later for King Cheoljong.
2. The Literary Sophistication of Royal Hangul Letters (Eon-gan)
While official court records were compiled in classical Chinese, Queen Sunwon maintained daily correspondence with her brother Kim Jwa-geun and family elders in elegant, fluid Hangul calligraphy (Gungche). Her surviving letters reveal an acute understanding of international diplomacy, judicial appeals, and royal budget management.