When Min Chi-rok was young, he studied under scholar Oh Hui-sang (Hangul: 오희상, Hanja: 吳熙常), and eventually married his daughter and first wife, Lady Haeryeong of the Haeju Oh clan (Hangul: 해령부부인 해주 오씨, Hanja: 海寧府夫人 海州 吳氏) (1798 - 15 March 1833). But she died at the age of 36 in 1833 with no heirs. So after mourning for 3 years, he married Yi Gyu-nyeon's daughter, Lady Hanchang of the Hansan Yi clan in 1836. Before the Empress was born, she had an older brother, and two older sisters, but they all died prematurely.