Quick Facts
Biography
Princess Seonhwa or Queen Seonhwa was the daughter of King Jinpyeong of Silla and wife of King Mu of Baekje. As such, she was Queen consort of Baekje from 600 to unknown. Seonhwa's existence is controversial due to the discovery of evidence that points to King Uija's mother as being Queen Sataek, and not Seonhwa as indicated by historical records.
Biography
According to the Legend chapter of Samguk Yusa, she was the third daughter of King Jinpyeong of Silla and his wife Queen Maya of Silla and was famous for her beauty. Seonhwa's sisters were Princess Deokman (later Queen Seondeok of Silla) and Princess Cheonmyeong.
The Prince of Baekje, Seodong who loved her went to Gyeongju, the capital city of Shilla and he taught and made the children in there to sing a nursery rhyme which made by himself while provided Korean yams for them in reward for good performance of it. The children's song is called Seo Dong Yo (서동요, 薯童謠), which tells a secret love story of a Princess Seonhwa sneaking out to get together with Seodong every night. Soon, hearing the news of all the children in the whole city going around singing the song, the King Jinpyeong goes through the roof and expels the Princess Seonhwa out of Gyeongju.
On her way to a place of exile, the Princess Seonhwa met Seodong and fell in love with him, ending up go over to Baekje to live with him. Later, Seodong became the King Mu of Baekje, and Princess Seonhwa his wife. The Princess Seonhwa asked the King Mu to build Mireuksa in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. And she and the King Mu had a son who was destined to be the last King of Baekjae Dynasty, Uija of Baekje.
It is passed on that the tomb located in Seok Wang dong, Iksan, North Jeolla Province as the Princess Seonhwa's graveyard, but it is not known whether it is true or not since it has been digging out by stealth for several times.
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Choi Sulli and Lee Bo-young in the 2005–2006 SBS TV series Ballad of Seodong.
- Portrayed by Shim Eun-jung in the 2011 MBC TV series Gyebaek.