Jungjong worked to remove excesses of Yeonsangun and return to Seongjong's era, but his royal authority was limited due to powerful presence of coup leaders who put him on the throne.
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The Sarim scholars generally shunned the royal court and studied neo-Confucianism in rural provinces especially after King Sejo's usurpation of throne in 1455, but they began to enter politics during the reign of King Seongjong.
Then a military officer in the Royal Guards, he is forced by King Seongjong to administer poison to Queen Yun, deposed mother of the next king, King Yeonsangun.