King Jungjong of Joseon

Jungjong was installed as king of Joseon after the deposition of his half-brother Yeonsangun. His reign began with promises of reform, but he soon faced factional struggles between the officials who had placed him on the throne.

Jungjong promoted the Hyangyak system, a set of Confucian community compacts that encouraged local self-governance and moral education. This reform aimed to strengthen social order at the village level but had limited success due to factional opposition.

Jungjong ordered a purge of the Sarim faction, executing or exiling many reform-minded officials. This event, known as the Gimyo Literati Purge, reversed earlier reforms and deepened factional divisions in the court.

Jungjong attempted to revive the Royal Lecture (Gyeongyeon) system, where the king studied Confucian texts with scholars. The effort was undermined by factional infighting and never fully restored, limiting intellectual exchange at court.