If you watch Korean historical dramas, one king may seem to have several different names. Why do Joseon Kings have personal names and temple names? From Sejong and Yi Do to Taejong and Yi Bang-won, here is how royal names worked in Joseon Korea.
Why Are Joseon Kings Called by Different Names in K-Dramas?
If you are new to Korean historical dramas, you may find yourself wondering why King Sejong is sometimes called “Yi Do.” History books introduce him as King Sejong the Great, yet in K-Dramas set during his lifetime, you may hear the name Yi Do instead.
They are not two different people. Yi Do was Sejong’s personal name, while Sejong was the temple name by which he became known after his death.
For Koreans, this distinction is relatively familiar. I also grew up knowing that King Sejong was Yi Do during his lifetime and that King Taejong was Yi Bang-won. So when historical dramas refer to Sejong as Yi Do, Taejong as Yi Bang-won, King Jeongjo as Yi San, or Joseon’s founder King Taejo as Yi Seong-gye, the name itself can tell Korean viewers which stage of that person’s life the story is showing.
One more useful detail: the royal family of Joseon belonged to the Yi clan, which is why so many royal personal names begin with “Yi.”
This is quite different from European monarchies, where rulers are often distinguished by a personal name and a regnal number, such as Henry VIII or Louis XIV. For Joseon Kings, personal names and posthumous royal names followed a different system.
Jeonha (전하, 殿下) was an honorific title used to address a reigning king during the Joseon Dynasty, meaning it was a form of address used while the king was alive and on the throne. Literally, it carries the sense of “speaking humbly from below the royal hall where the king resides.”
When speaking directly to the king, officials used Jeonha as a second-person form of address. When referring to the king in the third person, they could use Jusang (주상). Senior members of the royal family who ranked above the king by age or family hierarchy could also address him directly as Jusang.
When Did Joseon Kings Receive Names Like Sejong and Taejong?
Names such as Sejong, Taejong, Sukjong, and Jeongjo are temple names, or myoho. These were generally assigned after a king’s death when he was enshrined in the royal ancestral shrine, Jongmyo.
In other words, Sejong was never called “Sejong” as his everyday name while he was alive. His personal name was Yi Do. Taejong was likewise known personally as Yi Bang-won, while “Taejong” became the name used by later generations after his death.
There is another reason royal naming can seem complicated to international viewers. In Joseon society, directly using a king’s personal name was considered highly sensitive. Confucian social hierarchy placed strong emphasis on rank, respect, and proper forms of address. Courtiers therefore did not casually call the king by his given name. They usually addressed him with honorific titles such as Jeonha, meaning “Your Majesty.”
As a result, one ruler could have a personal name, titles used during his lifetime, a temple name after death, and various posthumous titles.
This is why the same Joseon Kings can appear under different names in different K-Dramas. A drama about Taejong’s rise to power may naturally emphasize “Yi Bang-won,” while characters discussing his reign in a later historical period would be more likely to call him “Taejong.”
Why Aren’t All Joseon Kings Called “-jo” or “-jong”?
There are two especially interesting exceptions for international K-Drama viewers: Gwanghaegun and Yeonsangun.
Most Joseon Kings are remembered by temple names such as Taejong, Sejong, Sukjong, or Jeongjo. Gwanghaegun and Yeonsangun, however, were both deposed from the throne. Because they were removed as kings, they did not receive the same type of temple name as most other rulers.
That is why they are still known today as Gwanghaegun and Yeonsangun. The ending -gunmeans “prince” or “lord,” depending on the historical context.
Once you understand this difference, the names used in historical K-Dramas become much more meaningful. When you hear “Gwanghae,” for example, you are not simply hearing another royal name. The way he is remembered also reflects the political outcome of his reign.
European monarchies often distinguish rulers with the same name by adding numbers. Joseon Korea developed a different naming tradition in which a ruler’s personal identity, royal status, and posthumous remembrance could all be expressed through different names and titles.
That means names in K-Dramas are more than labels. They can reveal whether a character is still a prince, has already become king, or is being remembered by later generations.
Final Thoughts: Understanding Joseon Kings Through Their Names
King Sejong was Yi Do, and King Taejong was Yi Bang-won. The names Sejong and Taejong that we commonly use today are temple names associated with how these rulers were remembered after their deaths.
Once you understand this simple rule, Korean historical dramas become much easier to follow.
So the next time a familiar king suddenly seems to have a completely different name in a K-Drama, do not assume you have missed a new character. Instead, look at where that person is in his life.
The many names of Joseon Kings are not just confusing historical trivia. They are small clues that help you understand time, status, family relationships, and political change inside the world of a Korean historical drama.
Note from Rebecca:
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