Princess Uisun

Princess Uisun (1635–1662), born Yi Ae-suk, was a member of the Joseon Royal Family. She was the daughter of Yi Gye-yun, Prince Geumrim, who was a fourth-generation descendant of King Seongjong of Joseon, and Lady Yu of the Munhwa Yu clan. Yi Ae-suk was one of four daughters and seven sons born to Yi Gye-yun. She was a distant relative of King Hyojong of Joseon, being a fourth cousin twice removed.

In 1650, Dorgon, the regent of the Qing Dynasty, sought an alliance with Joseon by proposing a marriage alliance. Dorgon dispatched Gioro Bahana, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue, to the Joseon court to select a bride for him. The options included royal family members or noble daughters. Due to the young age of the Joseon princesses and political opposition from ministers, the court suggested a female from the royal clan. Subsequently, Yi Ae-suk was selected and granted the title Princess Uisun. Her biological father, Yi Gye-yun, received gifts of cloth and rice as reward for her adoption. Approximately a month after her adoption, Princess Uisun left Hanseong (modern-day Seoul) for Beijing, accompanied by 16 maids, a female physician, and her nursemaid.

Upon arriving in Beijing, Dorgon expressed dissatisfaction with her appearance and that of her court maids, raising concerns about her loyalty. He died seven months later in 1650, the same year she arrived in Beijing. Her marriage to Dorgon was short-lived; after his death, she was arranged to remarry Prince Bolo of the Second Rank, Dorgon's nephew. However, Prince Bolo died in 1652 before the marriage could be consummated.

In the winter of 1655, Yi Gye-yun led a diplomatic delegation to Beijing and requested Princess Uisun's return to Korea. During a feast, Yi Gye-yun petitioned for her return, which was eventually approved. In the summer of 1656, Princess Uisun returned to Joseon. King Hyojong granted her a monthly pension for her support. Her father's unilateral decision to seek her return without prior consultation with the court resulted in his political decline, leading to his removal from office after a series of impeachments.

Princess Uisun died in 1662 from an illness. Her burial rites were provided by King Hyeonjong of Joseon, who described her circumstances as pitiable.

Her family included her biological parents, Yi Gye-yun and Lady Yu. Her adoptive parents were King Hyojong and Queen Inseon of the Deoksu Jang clan. She had three older brothers: Yi Jun, Yi Su, and Yi Hae. Her husbands were Aisin Gioro Dorgon, Prince Rui of the First Rank, and after his death, she was to marry Bolo, Prince Duanzhong of the First Rank, who died in 1652.