The future Royal Consort was born on August 6, 1753 (July 8, 1753 in Korean lunar calendar), during the 29th year of King Yeongjo's reign, into the Changnyeong Seong clan.
Their family was quite poor, and at the time of Lady Seong's birth, her father worked as a steward for Hong Bong-han, the maternal grandfather of King Jeongjo.
Because of her father's relationship with the Pungsan Hong clan, Lady Seong became a personal maid of King Jeongjo's mother, Crown Princess Hye.
The following year, Seong So-yong was promoted to the first senior rank of Bin and Jeongjo personally chose the prefix "Ui" (Hanja: 宜; meaning "appropriate/fitting") for her.
The graves were called Hyochangmyo (효창묘; 孝昌墓), but during the 7th year of King Gojong's reign, the status of the tombs was raised to Hyochangwon (효창원; 孝昌園).
[a] King Jeongjo planted 26.000 trees in the graveyard, which is known today as "Hyochang Park" and is situated in Yongsan District, Seoul.
Lady Seong's memorial tablet was enshrined in Uibingung (의빈궁; 宜嬪宮), at the Chilgung (also known as "The Palace of Seven Royal Concubines"; Historical Site No.