Myeongjong (Korean: 명종; Hanja: 明宗; 13 July 1534 – 12 August 1567), personal name Yi Hwan (이환; 李峘), was the 13th monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea.
Despite Yun Won-hyeong's violent rule, Queen Munjeong was an effective administrator, distributing to the common people land formerly owned by the nobility.
After the death of Queen Munjeong in 1565, the king decided to rule the kingdom by himself and had his uncle, Yun Won-hyeong, put to death, along with his second wife[2] Jeong Nan-jeong, who also rose to power due to her close friendship and being the second sister-in-law to Queen Munjeong.
Rebel leader Im Kkeok-jeong was arrested and executed in 1552, but outside invasion continued; the Joseon Dynasty had to re-mobilize its army and navy along to protect its borders.
Myeongjong tried to reform the government after taking power into his own hands by recalling and reinstating Sarim scholars who were exiled in the purge, but died only two years later without any male issue.