Sejong the Great

Sejong the Great 세종대왕 世宗大王
King of Joseon
Reign	10 August 1418 – 17 February 1450
Enthronement	Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace, Hanseong
Predecessor	Taejong
Successor	Munjong
Regent	Crown Prince Yi Hyang (1439–1450)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure	3 June 1418 – 10 August 1418
Predecessor	Crown Prince Yi Je
Successor	Crown Prince Yi Hyang
Born	Yi Do (이도; 李祹) 10 April 1397 Junsu-bang, Hanseong, Joseon
Died	17 February 1450(1450-02-17) (aged 52) Grand Prince Yeongeung's Mansion,[a] Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Yeongneung Mausoleum, Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Spouse	Queen Soheon ​ ​ (m. 1408; died 1446)​
Issue among others...	Munjong of Joseon Sejo of Joseon
Era name and dates Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Yeongnak (Yongle) (영락; 永樂): 1418–1424 Honghui (Hongxi) (홍희; 洪熙): 1425 Seondeok (Xuande) (선덕; 宣德): 1426–1435 Jeongtong (Zhengtong) (정통; 正統): 1436–1449 Gyeongtae (Jingtai) (경태; 景泰): 1450 Posthumous name Joseon: King Jangheon Yeongmun Yemu Inseong Myeonghyo the Great 장헌영문예무인성명효대왕 莊憲英文睿武仁聖明孝大王 Ming dynasty: Jangheon (장헌; 莊憲) Temple name Sejong (세종; 世宗)
Clan	Jeonju Yi clan
Dynasty	House of Yi
Father	Taejong of Joseon
Mother	Queen Wongyeong
Religion	Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism) → Korean Buddhism

Sejong (Korean: 세종; Hanja: 世宗; 10 April 1397 – 17 February 1450),^[b][c] personal name Yi Do (이도; 李祹), commonly known as Sejong the Great (세종대왕; 世宗大王), was the fourth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history, and is remembered as the inventor of Hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language.

Initially titled Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군; 忠寧大君), he was the third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. In 1418, Sejong replaced his eldest brother, Yi Je, as crown prince; a few months later, Taejong voluntarily abdicated the throne in his favor. Despite this, Sejong was a mere figurehead, while his father continued to hold the real power and govern the country until his death in 1422.

Sejong reinforced Korean Confucian and Neo-Confucian policies, and enacted major legal amendments (공법; 貢法). He personally created and promulgated the Korean alphabet,^[1][2] encouraged advancements in science and technology, and introduced measures to stimulate economic growth. He dispatched military campaigns to the north and instituted the Samin Jeongchaek (사민정책; 徙民政策; lit. 'Peasants Relocation Policy') to attract new settlers to the region. To the south, he helped subjugate the Japanese pirates through the Ōei Invasion.

From 1439, he became increasingly ill^[3] and his eldest son, Crown Prince Yi Hyang (future King Munjong), acted as regent.

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