[1] Her paternal grandmother, Lady Hong, was a 5th great-granddaughter of Princess Jeongmyeong, daughter of Seonjo of Joseon and Queen Inmok.

[5] Prior to the marriage, the Imo Incident of 1882 had forced Empress Myeongseong to flee from the palace, which brought Eom to demonstrate extreme loyalty to Gojong.

When she became Crown Princess Consort, her mother was given the royal title of "Internal Princess Consort Gyeongheung of the Gigye Yun clan" (경흥부부인 기계 유씨; 慶興府夫人 杞溪 兪氏) while her father was given the royal title of "Internal Prince Haepung Yun Taek-yeong" (해풍부원군 윤택영; 海豊府院君 尹澤榮).

During the Korean War, Empress Sunjeonghyo stayed in Changdeok Palace as long as she could in the face of advancing forces from North Korea.

As the war progressed, she moved to Busan with other Imperial family members, including Princess Hui (wife of Prince Wanheung).

After the war, the new government of President Rhee Syng-man, jealous of the popularity of the Imperial House, prevented Empress Sunjeonghyo from entering the palace Changdeokgung.

After a change in government in 1961 she returned to Nakseon Hall, Changdeokgung with her dutiful ladies-in-waiting: Park Chang-bok (d. 1981), Kim Myung-gil (d. 1983) and Sung Ok-yeom (d. 2001), and five other staff.

After 37 years, Princess Deokhye was also able to return to Korea at the invitation of the South Korean government on 26 January 1962 due to reporter Kim Eul-han's help.