孝宗 재위 후반기 仁祖 직계 자손 復權과 정치 명분론 — 1658년 麟坪大君 상례 전후 논쟁을 중심으로 —

Abstract

This study examines the process of restoring the status of Injo(仁祖)'s direct descendants, focusing on the controversies surrounding the 1658 funeral rites of Prince Inpyeong(麟坪大君). During the reigns of Injo and Hyojong(孝宗), these descendants were implicated in treason, stripped of royal status, and confined. Among them, the case of Yi Seok-gyeon(李石堅), the son of Crown Prince Sohyeon(昭顯世子), was particularly sensitive, as it was tied to the major criminal case of Gangbin(姜嬪) and King Hyojong's legitimacy. In the early years of his reign, Hyojong concentrated on military expansion under the banner of the Northern Expedition discourse, responding passively to the treatment of Injo's descendants. However, as the limitations of this discourse became evident, Hyojong actively pursued a new political justification to reestablish his authority and worked toward restoring his exiled siblings and nephews, aiming to unify the royal family. However, the officials' opposition, based on the argument that “a criminal cannot be reinstated for personal reasons,” combined with the risk that leniency toward Yi Seok-gyeon could escalate into a broader challenge to Hyojong's legitimacy, led the discussions to a deadlock. In this situation, Prince Inpyeong’s funeral became a turning point. Hyojong transcended established rituals, using the occasion to reignite the restoration debate. Supported by Song Si-yeol(宋時烈) and Song Jun-gil(宋浚吉), who provided a justification for the restoration, Hyojong ultimately resolved the treatment of Injo's descendants. These efforts demonstrate that, contrary to the conventional view that Hyojong lacked the will or ability to govern independently in his later years, he actively sought new political justifications and managed state affairs with determination.