Queen Gonghye (Korean: 공혜왕후; Hanja: 恭惠王后; 17 November 1456 – 9 May 1474), of the Cheongju Han clan, personal name Han Song-yi, was the first wife of King Seongjong, the ninth monarch of Joseon, and the younger sister of Queen Jangsun. She was queen of Joseon from 1470 until her death in 1474.
The future Queen Gonghye was born during the reign of King Sejo, as the legitimate youngest daughter among one son and four daughters. Her father was Han Myeong-hoe, who would later become chief state councilor, and her mother was a lady from the Yeoheung Min clan. She had eight brothers and three sisters of concubine birth.
The eldest among her sisters married the eldest son of Shin Suk-ju.
Another sister married the eldest son of Princess Jeonghyeon (정현옹주), King Sejong's third daughter.
Her third sister became crown princess after marrying the future King Yejong, but she died following childbirth, more than six years before her husband's accession to the throne.
Her only full-brother married a daughter of County Princess Biin (비인현주), Grand Prince Hyoryeong's eldest daughter.
One of her nephews married Princess Gongsin (공신옹주), King Seongjong's fifth daughter.
On her paternal side, Lady Han was a second cousin once removed of Queen Jeonghyeon, a fourth cousin once removed of Queen Insu, and a fifth cousin of Queen Ansun.
Through her maternal line, she was a second cousin of Queen Jeongsun.
In 1467, at the age of 10, Lady Han married 9-year-old Yi Hyeol, the younger son of the late Crown Prince Uigyeong and a grandson of the reigning King Sejo.
According to Lady Han's epitaph, it was King Sejo who selected her as royal bride, but it has also been said that it was actually Yi Hyeol's mother, Crown Princess Su, who sought to make Lady Han her daughter-in-law after seeing her through a window.
In 1470, with Han Myeong-hoe's influence, Yi Hyeol succeeded his uncle, King Yejong (who was also Lady Han's former brother-in-law), and became the ninth monarch of Joseon (posthumously King Seongjong). Lady Han thus became queen. She was strictly educated according to Confucian ethics by her mother-in-law, now known as Queen Insu, and read books such as Biographies of Exemplary Women.
When Lady Han couldn't become pregnant, King Seongjong took concubines. Without despising the women, Lady Han presented them with clothes and jewelry.
In 1473, she moved to her parents' home due to illness and King Seongjong visited every other day in order to check on her condition. She later recovered and returned to the palace, but her illness flared up again within months. Because her health did not improve, Lady Han requested to move her residence to Changdeokgung, and King Seongjong and the three dowager queens (Jaseong, Insu and Inhye) tended to her. Her parents were also granted permission to enter the palace and look after their daughter; before her death, Lady Han urged them to eat as she knew they had been starving themselves for days while staying by her side.
Lady Han passed away without issue, six months before her 18th birthday. She was buried within Sulleung (술릉), today part of the Samneung Cluster in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Her elder sister, Queen Jangsun, was buried in the same area.
King Seongjong conferred upon her the posthumous name Gonghye (공혜), praising her for obediently and respectfully serving her in-laws ("gong"), and for her generosity, gentleness, and benevolence ("hye").
In 1498, during Yeonsangun's reign, Lady Han's posthumous name was enhanced by adding Hwiui Sinsuk (휘의신숙; lit. ''glorious restrain, prudent solemnity'').
During the reign of King Sejo (r. 1455–1468):