# Grand Prince Uian (born 1398)

Prince Uian (Korean: 의안대군; Hanja: 宜安大君; 1382 – 26 August 1398) was a Korean crown prince. He was the eighth and youngest son of King Taejo and the first crown prince of Joseon.
His birth name was Yi Bang Seok(芳碩). He was posthumously named Sodo (昭悼) with the nickname of Deposed Crown Prince Yi Bang-seok and posthumous title of Sodogun (昭悼君).
As the child of King Taejo's second wife, Queen Sindeok Kang, he was appointed as the first crown prince of the Joseon Dynasty. He was deposed during the First Strife of Princes and assassinated at the age of 17.

## Biography
### Early life

He was the son of Goryeo General Yi Song-gye and his second wife Queen Sindeok, as well as the younger brother of Prince Muan. Yi Song-gye had two wives, both of whom were his legal wives. In July 1392, Yi Song-gye founded the Joseon Dynasty and became its first king.

### Crown prince

He was elected as the crown prince on 7 September 1392 in the first year of King Taejo's reign. In this way, he overcame his older brothers. Later, Yi Bang-won and others claimed that Jeong Do-jeon and his supporters chose him as crown prince, But so far, no evidence has been found that Yi Bang-seok was elected crown prince by Jeong Do-jeon.
During his reign as crown prince, adultery occurred between his wife Hyeonbin Ryu and eunuch Yi Man which resulted in Hyeonbin Ryu and Yi Man being punished, after which Hyeonbin Shim was chosen as the crown prince's new wife.
On 15 September 1396, the crown prince's mother, Queen Sindeok, died.

### First Strife of Princes

On 6 October 1398, the First Strife of Princes began under the leadership of Prince Jeongan Yi Bang Won. The crown prince personally led the army against Prince Jeongan's forces stationed in front of Gwanghwamun Gate, but he refused to confront the rebels after an officer named Bong-Won Ryang reported that from Gwanghwamun to Namsan was full of elite cavalry.
After killing enemies such as Jeong Do-jeon, Nam-Eun, Shim Hyo Saeng, and Park Wi, Prince Jeongan chose Prince Yeongan Yi Bang Gwa as crown prince. The deposed Crown Prince Yi Bang Seok, who was to be exiled, was later sent from Gyeongbokgung Palace through the Yeongchumun Gate. With the approval of the Dopyeonguisasa assembly, Prince Jeongan's supporters, including Yi geoi, commissioned assassins to assassinate the deposed crown prince.

## After death

After his death, his body was buried in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, and he was given the title of Oh Won Gong (五原公). On 14 September 1406, King Taejong gave Yi Bang-seok the posthumous title of Sodogun (昭悼君 or Sodogong) and Bang-beon the posthumous title of Gong Sun Gun (恭順君 or Gong Sun Gong). On 21 August 1680, King Sukjong granted Yi Bang-seok the posthumous title of Grand Prince Uian (宜安大君) and Bang-beon the title of Grand Prince Muan (撫安大君).

### Tomb

His grave is located in the city of Gwangju at the Grand Prince Uian Cemetery. On 13 April 1998, his mausoleum was designated as a historical heritage site of Gyeonggi Province and registered with number 166.

## Family

* Father : Taejo of Joseon (1335 – 1408)
* Mother : Queen Sindeok (1356 – 1396)
** Sister : Princess Gyeongsun ( ? – 1407)
** Older brother: Yi Bang-beon (1381 – 1398)
Consorts:
* Deposed Crown Princess Hyeon, of the Yu clan (폐세자빈 현빈 유씨; b.1384)
* Grand Lady Samhanguk, of the Buyeo Shim clan (삼한국대부인 부유 심씨; 1380 – 1448)
** Yi Won-sun (원손; 25 May 1398 – 26 August 1398), 1st son

## In popular culture

* Portrayed by Yang Hui-seok in the 1996–1998 KBS1 TV series Tears of the Dragon.
* Portrayed by Park Jun-Mok in the 2014 KBS1 TV series Jeong Do-jeon.
* Portrayed by Lee Seung-woo and Jung Yoon-seok in the 2015–2016 SBS TV series Six Flying Dragons.
* Portrayed by Kim Min-ho and Lee Hyo-je in the 2019 JTBC TV series My Country: The New Age.
* Portrayed by Jang Jae-ha and Kim Jin-sung in the 2021 KBS1 TV series The King of Tears, Yi Bang-won.