Brother of Queen Munjeong and head of the “Lesser Yun” faction, who purged the rival “Greater Yun” in 1545
When Myeongjong came to the throne he used the backing of his sister Queen Munjeong to launch the Eulsa Purge of 1545, and drove out more opponents after the Yangjae Station wall-poster affair of 1547. He rose to Chief State Councillor, but when Queen Munjeong died in 1565 he was ousted and died the same year.
When the boy king Myeongjong came to the throne, his maternal uncle Yun Won-hyeong (the “Lesser Yun”) destroyed Yun Im (the “Greater Yun”) and the scholars around him — the fourth literati purge.
Dramatized works (films, dramas, novels) may differ from the historical record.
Queen of Jungjong and mother of Myeongjong; as regent she ruled with her brother Yun Won-hyeong and revived Buddhism through the monk Bou
Thirteenth king of Joseon, enthroned at twelve under the regency of his mother Queen Munjeong, while her brother Yun Won-hyeong held power
Neo-Confucian scholar who pioneered the primacy of li and influenced Yi Hwang; died in exile at Ganggye after the purge of 1547
From the literati purges to in-law government — how Sarim factions moved from coexistence and checks to purges and one-faction rule, then through Tangpyeong to the dominance of a few clans