Birth and Background
He was the second son of King Seonjo, born to Lady Gong, a concubine. When Japan invaded Korea to attack the Ming Empire, he was installed as Crown Prince. While the king fled north to the border with Ming, he set the branch court and fought defensive battles. During and after the Seven Year War (1592–1598), he acted as de facto ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, commanding battles and taking care of reconstruction of the nation after the devastating war in the place of old and weak King Seonjo.
Although it brought prestige to him, his position was still unstable. He had an elder but incompetent brother Prince Imhae ( Imhaegun, 임해군, 臨海君) and a younger but legitimate brother Prince Yeong-chang (Yeong-chang Daegun, 영창대군, 永昌大君), who was supported by the Lesser Northerners faction. Fortunately for Gwang-hae, King Seonjo's abrupt death made it impossible for his most favorite son Yeong-chang Daegun to succeed to the throne.
Read more about this topic: Gwanghaegun Of Joseon
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