세자 광해군 : 용상을 향한 멀고도 험한 길

초록

The position of Crown Prince Kwanghae (1575-1641, r. 1608-1623) had been unstable throughout the seventeen years (1592-1608) since he was installed as the heir apparent in the early phase of the Imjin War (1592-1598), also well known as the Hideyoshi invasion of Korea. The basic factor for the instability was a political problem: King Sŏnjo’s hostility toward Crown Prince Kwanghae and the support of some court officials for Grand Prince Yŏngch’ang. People of the time explained the instability of the crown prince on the basis of political factors, such as the formation of hostile political factions as well as Sŏnjo’s personal antagonism. In addition, the Ming emperor’s repeated refusals of investiture also put Crown Prince Kwanghae in an even more difficult situation. Even after Crown Prince Kwanghae actually asended the throne, the Ming court rejected one more time the request from Chosŏn to recognize him as the King of Chosŏn. This attitude of the Ming toward Chosŏn, especially toward Crown Prince or King Kwanghae, originated from the internal affairs of the Ming, such as the long-term controversy over the imperial succession, yet it cast an indelible shadow over King Kwanghae’s legitimacy.

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