Jungjong, the 11th king of the Joseon Dynasty, ascended to the throne in September 1506 following the deposition of his half-brother, Yeonsangun. His rise to power was dramatic; initially believing he was to be killed, Jungjong became king after being persuaded by his wife, Lady Shin (later Queen Dangyeong).

Early in his reign, Jungjong was under the influence of Chief State Councillor Hwangbo In and General Kim Jong-seo, as well as his sister Princess Gyeonghye, due to his young age. However, his rule was soon dominated by his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang (later King Sejo), who staged a coup in 1453, executing key government figures including Hwangbo In and Kim Jong-seo.

One of Jungjong's significant actions was embracing the reforms initiated by scholar Jo Gwang-jo, who aimed to eradicate the remnants of Yeonsangun's tyrannical rule. These reforms included reopening Sungkyunkwan (the royal university) and the Office of Censors. Jungjong began asserting his authority more freely after the deaths of the coup's main leaders. Jo Gwang-jo's reforms, based on Neo-Confucian ideals, promoted local autonomy, equitable land distribution, and the recruitment of talented individuals regardless of social status. These reforms, however, faced opposition from conservative nobles.

In 1519, a factional conflict led to Jo Gwang-jo's execution and the abrupt end of his reform programs in what is known as the Third Literati Purge (Gimyo Sahwa). Following this, Jungjong's reign was overshadowed by power struggles among various conservative factions, often influenced by the king's wives and concubines. The internal conflicts at court and the weakening of royal authority led to increased challenges from foreign powers, including Japanese pirates and Jurchen raids on the northern frontier. Jungjong died on 29 November 1544 and was succeeded by his eldest legitimate son, Crown Prince Yi Ho (Injong), who died shortly after without issue. The throne then passed to Jungjong's younger half-brother, Grand Prince Gyeongwon (Myeongjong).