Father-in-law of King Danjong and Prince Yeoryang; executed in 1457 after Danjong's deposition; Jisin-gong branch
| Life | 1457 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 여산 송씨 |
Song Hyeon-su (?-1457) was an early Joseon official of the Jisin-gong branch of the Yeosan Song clan; his father was Song Bok-won, Jijungchuwon-sa. He served as Pungjeochang busa in 1448, and when his daughter was chosen queen of King Danjong (Queen Jeongsun) in 1454, he was named Dongji Donnyeongbu-sa and Prince Yeoryang, and then Pan Donnyeongbu-sa.
After King Sejo took the throne in 1455 and Danjong retired as retired king, Danjong was demoted to Prince Nosan and exiled to Yeongwol in 1457, and Song Hyeon-su was imprisoned. Kwon Wan testified that he had plotted treason, and he was first sentenced to 100 strokes and consignment to government servitude in a far province; but in October of that year, when the plot of Prince Geumseong and others to restore Danjong was discovered, his execution was ordered and he was strangled at Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. The Veritable Records say that Danjong took his own life on hearing the news.
His honor was restored much later. He was rehabilitated in 1698 (Sukjong 24) when Danjong and Queen Jeongsun were reinstated, and in 1791 (Jeongjo 15) he was enshrined at the supplementary altar of Jangneung in Yeongwol and received the posthumous title Jeongmin (貞愍). King Jeongjo is said to have ordered that his descendants be given office.
When the 14-year-old Lady Song was chosen as Danjong's queen in the first month of 1454, Song Hyeon-su's family suddenly became royal in-laws. But after Danjong's abdication the following year, being kin to the throne turned into a danger, and he could not escape suspicion of involvement in the movement to restore Danjong.
His rehabilitation under Sukjong (1698) and enshrinement under Jeongjo (1791) belong to the broader process in which figures tied to Danjong were cleared one after another centuries later. His daughter Queen Jeongsun was restored as queen at the same time and is enshrined at Sareung.
In Sukjong's reign his tomb was found on the family hill at Gwacheon, Gyeonggi and repaired; in 1791 a memorial rite was held there, a small marker stone was set up, and two tomb keepers were assigned. One report mentions an altar for him on the clan's hill near Chungnyeolsa in Cheongju, but this could not be confirmed.
His son Song Geo was specially permitted to sit the civil examination in 1475, and his nephew Song Yeong rose to the rank of vice minister.