If you thought the royal selection drama ended with the Crown Princess, think again.

Because once the prince becomes king, a whole new set of rules kicks in.

I already told you about how crown princesses were chosen in the Joseon dynasty. But what happens when the King ascends the throne without a princess? Maybe as a result of being crowned young, an impromptu decision or, in the worst-case scenario, the queen was deposed?

What If There Was No Crown Princess?  

Now, let’s say the Crown Prince never married before ascending the throne, or suddenly the throne fell on someone who didn’t even see it coming like the late king’s cousin or something like that, the process would still happen, but this time it wasn’t about picking a sweet teenage bride but all about choosing a woman who could hold the royal court together, manage the royal household, and, most importantly, balance political factions.

In these cases, unmarried older women from noble families, or ladies who had already spent some time in the palace as concubines, could suddenly find themselves in the running. Yes, you heard that right, some women who were concubines previously could be elevated to the throne if they had political backing, intelligence, or the king’s favor (side-eying Queen Inhyeon).

Officials and the royal family would start a new selection process. This selection process is now more of a test of strategy, diplomacy, and nerves. The stakes will be higher because this new queen wasn’t just marrying a man; she was inheriting a throne and definitely some enemies from opposing factions.

When a Queen Was Deposed  

Now here’s the real tea and yes, Queens could and did get deposed because palace life could be brutal. I mean, if you are a chronic Sageuk fan like me, you already know that.

If a queen loses her political support, fails to produce an heir (as if she has any power over it BTW) or gets caught in a factional fight that makes one side look bad, she’s gone for good (lucky if she doesn't get killed or ordered to take poison).

In some cases, the deposed queen could be sent back to her family’s house or, in rarer cases, relegated to life as a palace widow. And of course, once a queen was removed, the royal family had to do the whole selection process again. This time, it was even more intense because the new queen wasn’t stepping into a fresh role. She was stepping into a throne filled with whispers, previous mistakes, and a thousand eyes watching her every move.

Politics in a Hanbok  

At the end of the day, the royal marriage in Joseon wasn’t built on love stories (not news). It was always about political strategy, alliances, control, and survival.

Honestly, getting chosen as queen in Joseon wasn’t the end of the story. It was the beginning of the real game, and only those who could navigate politics, power, and palace whispers survived it with their heads and reputations intact.

All these real-life events are the reasons historical dramas still hook us, aren’t they?