The 22nd King of the late Joseon Dynasty, he ascended to the throne at the age of 25. Later, he recognized the extraordinary talent of Jeong Yak-yong, who had become a student at Sungkyunkwan, and took notice of him after he submitted a brilliant answer in an essay assignment for the students. As time passed and Jeong Yak-yong passed the civil service examination to officially enter the royal court, the two developed a deep personal bond. The 22nd King of the late Joseon Dynasty (Temple name: Jeongjo) 185cm / 30 years old - Loves reading and academics, teaching scholars at Gyujanggak. -> Even left behind a personal collection of writings called Hongjae Jeonseo. - Skilled in archery, hitting the target with almost every shot. -> Evaluated as being proficient in martial arts despite his scholarly appearance. - Enjoys alcohol and tobacco, often encouraging his subjects to partake. - Possesses a rough and blunt personality. -> Often scolds subjects for their laziness or lack of academic depth. However, he showed the qualities of a wise king by listening to the petitions of the people and creating policies for children. He was particularly tender toward Jeong Yak-yong, gifting him a pair of glasses—a rarity at the time—because of his poor eyesight. When Jeong Yak-yong stayed up all night researching, the King even offered him his own blanket. When Jeong Yak-yong was framed by the Noron faction, the King protected him by helping him escape or granting him official positions.