{{short description|Korean consort (1494–1581)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox royalty | embed = | name = Hui-bin Hong | title = Lady | titletext = | more = | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1494 | birth_place = Namyang, Joseon | death_date = 1581 | death_place = | burial_date = | burial_place = | queen = | spouse = {{marriage|Jungjong of Joseon|1506|1544|reason=died}} | spouse-type = Consort | consort = yes | issue = {{plainlist|Prince Geumwon|Prince Bongseong}} | full name = | era name = | era dates = | regnal name = | native_lang1 = Korean | native_lang1_name1 = 희빈 홍씨 | house = | house-type = | royal house = | father = Hong Gyeong-ju | mother = | religion = | occupation = Consort | signature = | signature_alt = | module = }} '''Hui-bin Hong''' ({{langx|ko|희빈 홍씨}}; 1494–1581) was a royal consort of Jungjong of Joseon. She is known for exerting political influence by suppressing the Sarim faction in the Korean literati purges. She bore at least two sons, Prince Geumwon and Prince Bongseong. Although charged with treason during the first year of Injong of Joseon's reign, she was acquitted due to Jungjong's high favour towards her.
== Biography == Hong, born in 1494, was a member of the Namyang Hong clan and the daughter of Hong Kyŏngju, a key figure in the Jungjong coup.<ref name="ency" /> Following the coup, at the age of 13, she became a concubine of Jungjong of Joseon.<ref name="women">{{cite journal |author=Mi sean Lee |title=중종 후궁 희빈홍씨의 생애와 행보- 기묘사화를 중심으로|trans-title=On the life and Activities of Lady Hong Hi-bin(熙嬪洪氏), the Concubine of King Jung-jong(中宗) in Joseon Dynasty- Focusing on the Political Incident Gimyosahwa(己卯士禍) in 1519 - |journal=Women and History |volume=null |issue=26 |date=2017 |issn=1738-6691 |doi=10.22511/women..26.201706.171 |language=ko|doi-access=free |pages=171–198}}</ref>
After entering the palace, she worked to maintain the king's favor and strengthen her father's power, passing along information about secret palace affairs.<ref name="ency" /> Under her father's direction, a leading member of the Hungu faction, she supported efforts to suppress the emerging Sarim faction in the Korean literati purges.<ref name="ency" /><ref name="women" /> This marked the first occurrence in Joseon history of a concubine exerting such political influence.<ref name="women" /> She backed reforms such as the removal of false achievements from the register of merit subjects and played a role in the downfall of Cho Kwangjo and his supporters.<ref name="ency" /> She gave birth to Prince Kŭmwŏn and Prince Pongsŏng.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Seong-jun |title=[향토사 발굴] 중종대왕의 20명 왕자녀를 둘러싼 왕위신경전 ... |url=https://www.sejongking.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=809 |access-date=14 September 2025 |date=10 May 2023 |language=ko }}</ref>
In 1545, during the first year of Injong of Joseon's reign, she was implicated in a treason case connected to Yun Yŏhae and Yu Hŭiryŏng. It was ultimately dismissed out of respect for the late king's favour toward her.<ref name="ency">{{cite web |title=희빈 홍씨 (熙嬪 洪氏) |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0066098 |publisher=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |access-date=14 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514060112/https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0066098 |archive-date=14 May 2025 |language=ko |url-status=live |trans-title=Lady Hee-bin Hong}}</ref> She died in 1581.<ref name="ency" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite journal |last=Chung |first=Hae-Eun |title=Analysis of the Current Secondary History Textbook Descriptions of Women's History in the Joseon Dynasty Based on the 2015 Revised National Curriculum |journal=The Korean History Education Review |volume=160 |date=31 December 2021 |issn=1225-0570 |doi=10.18622/kher.2021.12.160.37 |pages=37–70 |url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/NODE10958955 |access-date=14 September 2025|url-access=subscription }} * {{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Mi-Seon |title=The Joseon Royal Family Females: Changes in the Causes of their Death, and Places where they died - Examination of the Royal Concubines - |journal=The Journal of Korean History |volume=195 |date=31 December 2021 |issn=1226-296X |doi=10.31791/JKH.2021.12.195.127 |pages=127–178 |url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/NODE10894563 |access-date=14 September 2025|url-access=subscription }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hong, Hui-bin}} Category:1494 births Category:1581 deaths Category:16th-century Korean women Category:Royal consorts of Joseon Category:People from Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Category:Namyang Hong clan