What is Heungseon Daewongun?
[[File:Heungseon Daewongun Portrait.jpg|thumb|Heungseon Daewongun]] '''Heungseon Daewongun''' ([[Hangul]]: {{lang|ko|흥선대원군}}, [[Hanja]]: {{lang|ko|興宣大院君}}, 1820 - 1898) was the title of Korean politician and [[regent]] of the [[Joseon dynasty]] '''Yi Ha-eung'''. Yi Ha-eung received the title when he became regent for [[King Gojong]] who was a child when he became [[King]] of [[Korea]]. Yi ruled between 1863 and 1874, during his rule he tried to close Korea from foreign influences and protect the traditional Korean way of life; when Christian missionaries threatened the traditional Korean social [[hierarchy]], he became a persecutor of [[Christians]] [[martyr]]ing Korean converts and Western missionaries. {{bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Heungseon Daewongun}} [[Category:1820 births]] [[Category:1898 deaths]] [[Category:Korean politicians]] [[Category:Regents]]