Yi Un: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
org lead
fixed template
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|General and last crown prince of Korea}}
{{Short description|Last Crown Prince of Korea (1897–1970)}}
{{Expand Korean|topic=bio|fa=yes|date=December 2022}}
{{Expand Korean|topic=bio|fa=yes|date=December 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Yi||lang=Korean}}
{{family name hatnote|Yi||lang=Korean}}
Line 20: Line 20:
| birth_place = [[Deoksugung|Deoksu Palace]], [[Seoul]], [[Korean Empire|Empire of Korea]]
| birth_place = [[Deoksugung|Deoksu Palace]], [[Seoul]], [[Korean Empire|Empire of Korea]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1970|5|1|1897|10|20|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1970|5|1|1897|10|20|df=yes}}
| death_place = Nakseon Hall, [[Changdeok Palace]], [[Seoul]], [[Republic of Korea]]
| death_place = Nakseon Hall, [[Changdeok Palace]], [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]
| place of burial = [[Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty#Hongneung and Yureung (홍릉&유릉)|Yeongwon Hongneung]], [[Namyangju]], [[Gyeonggi Province]], [[South Korea]]
| place of burial = [[Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty#Hongneung and Yureung (홍릉&유릉)|Yeongwon Hongneung]], [[Namyangju]], [[Gyeonggi Province]], [[South Korea]]
| father = [[Gojong of Korea|Emperor Gojong of Korea]]
| father = [[Gojong of Korea|Emperor Gojong of Korea]]
Line 41: Line 41:
}}<!-- This article needs additional commentary for readers to learn about his role in any war crimes, whether he was tried in Tokyo for any crimes (or pardoned like Emperor Hirohito), and how the Korean people thought about him while he served in the Japanese military through WWII. Article also needs expansion on his other war time activities, such as his command of the First Air Army from 1943-1945 during the height of American strategic bombing, specifically, what role he played in the air defense of the Home Islands.-->{{Infobox Korean name
}}<!-- This article needs additional commentary for readers to learn about his role in any war crimes, whether he was tried in Tokyo for any crimes (or pardoned like Emperor Hirohito), and how the Korean people thought about him while he served in the Japanese military through WWII. Article also needs expansion on his other war time activities, such as his command of the First Air Army from 1943-1945 during the height of American strategic bombing, specifically, what role he played in the air defense of the Home Islands.-->{{Infobox Korean name
}}
}}
'''Yi Un'''{{{Efn|Name also rendered as '''Yi Eun''', '''Lee Eun''', and '''Un Yi'''.}} ({{Korean|hangul=이은}}; 20 October 1897 – 1 May 1970) was the 28th Head of the [[House of Yi|Korean Imperial House]], an [[Imperial Japanese Army]] general and the last [[crown prince]] of [[Korea]]. He also went by the names '''Prince Imperial Yeong''', or '''Crown Prince Uimin''' or '''Euimin'''. In 1910, when the [[Korean Empire]] was annexed by Japan and Emperor Sunjong was forced to abdicate, Yi Un was titled '''''His Highness The Crown Prince of Korea'''''. On 10 June 1926, upon the death of Emperor Sunjong, he became '''''His Highness King Yi of [[Changdeokgung]]''''' in Japan.
'''Yi Un'''{{Efn|Name also rendered as '''Yi Eun''', '''Lee Eun''', and '''Un Yi'''.}} ({{Korean|hangul=이은}}; 20 October 1897 – 1 May 1970) was the 28th Head of the [[House of Yi|Korean Imperial House]], an [[Imperial Japanese Army]] general and the last [[crown prince|Imperial Crown Prince]] of the [[Korean Empire]]. Before becoming the [[heir apparent]] to [[Sunjong of Korea]], who became the emperor in 1907, Yi Un was known as the title '''Prince Imperial Yeong''' ({{lang|ko|영친왕}}). In 1910, the [[Korean Empire]] was annexed by Japan and Emperor Sunjong was forced to abdicate, and Yi Un married [[Yi Bangja|Princess Masako of Nashimoto]], the eldest daughter of [[Prince Nashimoto Morimasa]], on 28 April 1920 at [[Tokyo]].


Yi Un achieved the rank of Lieutenant General in the Imperial Japanese Army, commanded Japanese forces in China and served as a member of the [[Supreme War Council (Japan)|Supreme War Council]]. After [[World War II]] he was refused entry to Korea, and his Japanese titles were removed by article 14 of the new [[Constitution of Japan]] in 1947.
On 10 June 1926, upon the death of Emperor Sunjong, Yi Un received the late emperor's title, and became the '''King Yi of Changdeokgung''' ({{lang|ja|昌徳宮李王}}), which referred to the palace [[Changdeokgung]]. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant General in the Imperial Japanese Army, commanded Japanese forces in China and served as a member of the [[Supreme War Council (Japan)|Supreme War Council]]. After [[World War II]] he was refused entry to Korea, and his Japanese titles were removed by article 14 of the new [[Constitution of Japan]] in 1947. After his death in 1970, Yi Un is alternatively known as '''Crown Prince Uimin''' ({{lang|ko|의민태자}}), a [[posthumous name]] given by the [[Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association]].

In 1920, he married [[Bangja, Crown Princess Euimin of Korea|Princess Masako of Nashimoto]] (born 4 November 1901 – {{Death date and age|1989|04|30|1901|11|04|df=y}}), the eldest daughter of [[Prince Nashimoto Morimasa]], on 28 April 1920 at Tokyo.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Line 51: Line 49:
The prince was born on 20 October 1897 at [[Deoksugung|Deoksu Palace]] in [[Seoul]] as the seventh son of [[Gojong of Korea|Gojong]], the Gwangmu Emperor. His mother was the Honorable Princess Consort Eom Seon-yeong, a palace attendant, who was posthumously awarded the title of Princess Sunheon. He was also the younger half-brother of [[Sunjong of Korean Empire|Emperor Sunjong]] and [[Prince Imperial Ui]]. He was titled ''Prince Imperial Yeong'' in 1900, and became the crown prince in 1907, despite being younger than Prince Ui. Prince Ui's support base at court was not strong because his own mother, Lady Jang, had already died.
The prince was born on 20 October 1897 at [[Deoksugung|Deoksu Palace]] in [[Seoul]] as the seventh son of [[Gojong of Korea|Gojong]], the Gwangmu Emperor. His mother was the Honorable Princess Consort Eom Seon-yeong, a palace attendant, who was posthumously awarded the title of Princess Sunheon. He was also the younger half-brother of [[Sunjong of Korean Empire|Emperor Sunjong]] and [[Prince Imperial Ui]]. He was titled ''Prince Imperial Yeong'' in 1900, and became the crown prince in 1907, despite being younger than Prince Ui. Prince Ui's support base at court was not strong because his own mother, Lady Jang, had already died.


In December 1907, he was taken to Japan on the initiative of [[Itō Hirobumi]] to be enrolled at [[Gakushūin]] Peers' School. The move was meant to ensure that the Korean royal family would not take any further anti-Japanese actions following [[Hague Secret Emissary Affair|The Hague Secret Emissary Affair]].<ref name=":0">Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 35.</ref> Japanese [[Emperor Meiji]], who largely ignored his own grandchildren, devoted a lot of attention to Yi Un, acting as his guardian.<ref>Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 35.</ref> Itō would bring Yi Un whenever he was visiting the princes [[Hirohito]], [[Prince Chichibu|Chichibu]] and [[Prince Takamatsu|Takamatsu]].<ref>Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 35.</ref> Meiji apparently stopped seeing Yi Un so frequently after Ito's assassination.<ref>Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 697, note 38.</ref> Yi Un was allowed to visit Korea again only after the death of his mother in 1911.<ref>Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 35.</ref>
In December 1907, he was taken to Japan on the initiative of [[Itō Hirobumi]] to be enrolled at [[Gakushūin]] Peers' School. The move was meant to ensure that the Korean royal family would not take any further anti-Japanese actions following [[Hague Secret Emissary Affair|The Hague Secret Emissary Affair]].<ref name=":0">Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 35.</ref> Japanese [[Emperor Meiji]], who largely ignored his own grandchildren, devoted a lot of attention to Yi Un, acting as his guardian.<ref name=":0"/> Itō would bring Yi Un whenever he was visiting the princes [[Hirohito]], [[Prince Chichibu|Chichibu]] and [[Prince Takamatsu|Takamatsu]].<ref name=":0"/> Meiji apparently stopped seeing Yi Un so frequently after Ito's assassination.<ref>Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 697, note 38.</ref> Yi Un was allowed to visit Korea again only after the death of his mother in 1911.<ref name=":0"/>


==Military career==
==Military career==
Line 66: Line 64:
Under his command, the division relocated to Manchukuo to participate in the [[Kantokuen|Special exercise of the Kwantung Army]] (actually a mobilization for the possible large-scale conflict with the [[Soviet Union]]). The preparations for the war with the [[Soviet Union]] were officially cancelled in August 1941. In September, the division was transferred to [[Guangdong]] under command of [[Twenty-Third Army (Japan)|IJA 23rd Army]]. He returned to a post on the staff of the [[Inspectorate General of Military Training]] in November.
Under his command, the division relocated to Manchukuo to participate in the [[Kantokuen|Special exercise of the Kwantung Army]] (actually a mobilization for the possible large-scale conflict with the [[Soviet Union]]). The preparations for the war with the [[Soviet Union]] were officially cancelled in August 1941. In September, the division was transferred to [[Guangdong]] under command of [[Twenty-Third Army (Japan)|IJA 23rd Army]]. He returned to a post on the staff of the [[Inspectorate General of Military Training]] in November.


From August 1942, the prince was transferred to the [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Force]] and became commander of the [[First Air Army (Japan)|1st Air Army]] from July 1943. In April 1945, he became a member of the [[Supreme War Council (Japan)|Supreme War Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maeil Sinbo |date=1945-04-03 |title=군사참의관에 이왕전하 어영전 |url=http://gonews.kinds.or.kr/OLD_NEWS_IMG3/MIN/MIN19450403v00_01.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214319/http://gonews.kinds.or.kr/OLD_NEWS_IMG3/MIN/MIN19450403v00_01.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-09 |language=Korean}}</ref>
From August 1942, the prince was transferred to the [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Force]] and became commander of the [[First Air Army (Japan)|1st Air Army]] from July 1943. In April 1945, he became a member of the [[Supreme War Council (Japan)|Supreme War Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1945-04-03 |title=군사참의관에 이왕전하 어영전 |url=http://gonews.kinds.or.kr/OLD_NEWS_IMG3/MIN/MIN19450403v00_01.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214319/http://gonews.kinds.or.kr/OLD_NEWS_IMG3/MIN/MIN19450403v00_01.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-09 |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=[[Maeil sinbo]] |language=Korean}}</ref>
<!-- Needs expansion to describe his actions in the immediate pre-WWII years through the Tokyo War Trials and his post-WWII attempt to return to Korea. -->
<!-- Needs expansion to describe his actions in the immediate pre-WWII years through the Tokyo War Trials and his post-WWII attempt to return to Korea. -->


Line 72: Line 70:
Following the [[surrender of Japan]], Yi Un lost his royal status under the American [[Occupation of Japan]] in 1947. He was also declared stateless, as Korea had become independent of the [[Empire of Japan]], but [[President of the Republic of Korea|Korean President]] [[Syngman Rhee]] had refused his request to be allowed to return to Korea with his family. In May 1947, following the end of the American occupation, he acquired Japanese citizenship and travelled to the United States the same month. In March 1959, while still in the United States, he suffered from a [[Cerebral infarction|stroke]]. He returned to Japan in May. In 1960, President Rhee again denied him permission to return to Korea, but instead offered the prince the position of Korean Ambassador to the [[Court of St. James's]]. He refused on the grounds of illness, but made a trip to New York from June to August 1960, and to Hawaii from March to May 1961. His health deteriorating rapidly, he was hospitalized in Tokyo from August 1961.
Following the [[surrender of Japan]], Yi Un lost his royal status under the American [[Occupation of Japan]] in 1947. He was also declared stateless, as Korea had become independent of the [[Empire of Japan]], but [[President of the Republic of Korea|Korean President]] [[Syngman Rhee]] had refused his request to be allowed to return to Korea with his family. In May 1947, following the end of the American occupation, he acquired Japanese citizenship and travelled to the United States the same month. In March 1959, while still in the United States, he suffered from a [[Cerebral infarction|stroke]]. He returned to Japan in May. In 1960, President Rhee again denied him permission to return to Korea, but instead offered the prince the position of Korean Ambassador to the [[Court of St. James's]]. He refused on the grounds of illness, but made a trip to New York from June to August 1960, and to Hawaii from March to May 1961. His health deteriorating rapidly, he was hospitalized in Tokyo from August 1961.


In November 1963, President [[Park Chung-hee]] granted permission for Prince Yi Eun and Crown Princess Bangja to return to Korea. By that time, Prince Yi Eun was unconscious from [[cerebral thrombosis]]. He received treatment at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul.
In November 1963, President [[Park Chung Hee]] granted permission for Prince Yi Eun and Crown Princess Bangja to return to Korea. By that time, Prince Yi Eun was unconscious from [[cerebral thrombosis]]. He received treatment at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul.


In his final years, Prince Yi Eun lived at Nakseon Hall, [[Changdeokgung]] Palace, the former residence of the [[Korean royalty|Korean Imperial Family]] in Seoul, with Bangja and his younger sister [[Deokhye, Princess of Korea|Princess Deokhye]]. Seven years after returning to his country, he died on 1 May 1970 at Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul. He was buried at Hongreung in Namyangju, near Seoul; he is known posthumously as '''Yi Un, Crown Prince Euimin of Korea.''' He was enshrined as a deity in the [[Jongmyo (Seoul)|Jongmyo]] shrine on 6 May 1973.
In his final years, Prince Yi Eun lived at Nakseon Hall, [[Changdeokgung|Changdeok]] Palace, the former residence of the [[House of Yi|Korean Imperial Family]] in Seoul, with Bangja and his younger sister [[Deokhye, Princess of Korea|Princess Deokhye]]. Seven years after returning to his country, he died on 1 May 1970 at Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul. He was buried at Hongreung in Namyangju, near Seoul.


==Children==
==Children==
* Yi Jin ({{Ko-hhrm|hanja=李晋|hangul=이진|rr=Lee Jin|mr=Lee Chin}}) (born 18 August 1921 – {{Death date and age|1922|05|11|1921|08|18|df=y}}), the elder son of Prince Eun and his wife, [[Bangja, Crown Princess Euimin of Korea|Princess Bangja]]. He died abruptly during a visit to Korea with his parents, fueling conspiracy theories. His funeral was held on 17 May 1922 and he is buried in [[Korea]].
* Yi Jin ({{korean|hanja=李晋|hangul=이진|rr=I Jin|mr=Yi Chin|labels=no}}; born 18 August 1921 – 11 May 1922), the elder son of Prince Eun and his wife, [[Yi Bangja|Princess Bangja]]. Yi Jin died abruptly during his infancy while on a visit to Korea with his parents. This fueled conspiracy theories about the circumstances of his death. His funeral was held on 17 May 1922 and he is buried in Korea.
* [[Yi Gu]] ({{Ko-hhrm|hanja=李玖|hangul=이구|rr=Lee Gu|mr=Lee Ku}}) (born 29 December 1929 – {{Death date and age|2005|07|16|1929|12|29|df=y}}), the second son of Prince Eun and his wife, Princess Bangja. Prince Gu became the 29th Head of the Korean Imperial Household upon the death of his father. He married [[Julia Mullock]], an [[United States|American]] citizen (b. 1928) on 25 October 1959 at St George's Church in New York, they had no issue but adopted a daughter, Eugenia Unsuk Lee (Eun-sook) (b. 1959).
* [[Yi Gu]] ({{korean|hanja=李玖|hangul=이구|rr=I Gu|mr=Yi Ku|labels=no}}; born 29 December 1931 – 16 July 2005), the second son of Prince Eun and his wife, Princess Bangja. Prince Gu became the 29th Head of the Korean Imperial Household upon the death of his father. He married an [[United States|American]] citizen [[Julia Mullock]] on 25 October 1959 at St George's Church in New York, they had no issue but adopted a daughter, Eugenia Unsuk Lee (Eun-sook) (b. 1959).


==Honours==
==Honours==
Line 84: Line 82:
*{{flag|Empire of Japan}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], [[Order of the Paulownia Flowers|with Paulownia Flowers]] – 17 October 1907<ref>{{cite book|author=刑部芳則|title=明治時代の勲章外交儀礼|url=http://meijiseitoku.org/pdf/f54-5.pdf|year=2017|publisher=明治聖徳記念学会紀要|language=ja|page=155}}</ref>
*{{flag|Empire of Japan}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], [[Order of the Paulownia Flowers|with Paulownia Flowers]] – 17 October 1907<ref>{{cite book|author=刑部芳則|title=明治時代の勲章外交儀礼|url=http://meijiseitoku.org/pdf/f54-5.pdf|year=2017|publisher=明治聖徳記念学会紀要|language=ja|page=155}}</ref>
* {{flag|Denmark}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]] – 10 November 1927<ref name="Statskalender">{{cite book |year=1933 |orig-year=1st pub.:1801 |editor1-last=Bille-Hansen |editor1-first=A. C. |editor2-last=Holck |editor2-first=Harald |title=Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1933 |trans-title=State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1933 |url=https://dis-danmark.dk/bibliotek/918011.pdf#page=57 |format=PDF |series=Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender |language=da |location=Copenhagen |publisher=J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri |page=21 |access-date=16 September 2019 |via=[[:da:DIS Danmark]]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Denmark}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]] – 10 November 1927<ref name="Statskalender">{{cite book |year=1933 |orig-year=1st pub.:1801 |editor1-last=Bille-Hansen |editor1-first=A. C. |editor2-last=Holck |editor2-first=Harald |title=Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1933 |trans-title=State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1933 |url=https://dis-danmark.dk/bibliotek/918011.pdf#page=57 |format=PDF |series=Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender |language=da |location=Copenhagen |publisher=J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri |page=21 |access-date=16 September 2019 |via=[[:da:DIS Danmark]]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sweden}}: Commander Grand Cross of the [[Order of Vasa]], with Collar – 13 November 1927<ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges statskalender|year=1931|volume=2|page=148|url=http://runeberg.org/statskal/1931bih/0148.html|via=runeberg.org|access-date=2018-01-06|language=sv}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sweden}}: Commander Grand Cross of the [[Order of Vasa]], with Collar – 13 November 1927<ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges statskalender|year=1931|volume=2|page=148|url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1931bih/0148.html|via=runeberg.org|access-date=2018-01-06|language=sv}}</ref>
* {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the White Lion]] – 16 December 1927<ref>https://www.prazskyhradarchiv.cz/file/edee/vyznamenani/cs_rbl.pdf {{bare URL PDF|date=April 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the White Lion]] – 16 December 1927<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prazskyhradarchiv.cz/file/edee/vyznamenani/cs_rbl.pdf|title=Československý řád Bílého lva|language=cs|access-date=2023-08-31}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Yi Un is known posthumously as '''Yi Un, Crown Prince Euimin of Korea'''. Approved by the President [[Park Chung Hee]], Yi Un's [[spirit tablet]] was put into [[Jongmyo (Seoul)|Jongmyo]] shrine on 6 May 1973 according to the royal tradition.<ref>{{cite book |author1=新城道彥 |title=朝鮮王公族―帝国日本の準皇族 |date=2015-03-25 |publisher=[[Chuokoron-Shinsha]] |isbn=978-4121023094 |pages=229–230 |quote=李垠は皇帝または王に即位していないので、本来ならば宗廟内の永寧殿に位牌が祭られることはなかった。しかし、新たに祠堂を設けるよりは永寧殿で空室となっている最後の最後の一室に位牌を納めたほうがよいとの判断から、朴正熙大統領の許可を得たうえで同所に安置された。}}</ref>

Yi Un's residence '''Kitashirakawa Palace''' in Tokyo was originally built in 1930. After [[World War II]], it was converted to Akasaka Prince Hotel, which opened in 1955 (later [[Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka]]). After the hotel was demolished in 2013, the building became part of [[Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho]], refurbished as a banquet facility, now known as '''Akasaka Prince Classic House'''.


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
* Portrayed by [[Park Soo-young]] in the 2016 period drama film ''[[The Last Princess (film)|The Last Princess]]''.
* Portrayed by [[Park Soo-young]] in the 2016 period drama film ''[[The Last Princess (film)|The Last Princess]]''.

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 129: Line 135:
[[Category:Korean nobility]]
[[Category:Korean nobility]]
[[Category:Japanese generals]]
[[Category:Japanese generals]]
[[Category:Zainichi Korean people]]
[[Category:Zainichi Korean politicians]]
[[Category:Korean princes]]
[[Category:Imperial Korean princes]]
[[Category:Korean anti-communists]]
[[Category:Korean anti-communists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers]]
Line 137: Line 143:
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Vasa]]
[[Category:Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of Vasa]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the White Lion]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the White Lion]]
Line 143: Line 149:
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Plum Blossom]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Plum Blossom]]
[[Category:Crown princes]]
[[Category:Crown princes]]
[[Category:Korean expatriates in Manchukuo]]
[[Category:Korean people in the Imperial Japanese Army]]

Latest revision as of 14:17, 2 May 2024

In this Korean name, the family name is Yi.
Yi Un
Crown Prince of Korea
Yi Un as a lieutenant of the IJA, 1920s
Head of the House of Yi
Period24 April 1926 – 1 May 1970
PredecessorEmperor Sunjong
SuccessorCrown Prince Yi Ku
Born(1897-10-20)20 October 1897
Deoksu Palace, Seoul, Empire of Korea
Died1 May 1970(1970-05-01) (aged 72)
Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul, South Korea
Burial
Yeongwon Hongneung, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1920⁠–⁠1970)​
IssuePrince Yi Jin
Crown Prince Yi Ku of Korea
Names
Yi Un (이은, 李垠)
Posthumous name
Crown Prince Uimin (의민황태자, 懿愍皇太子)
HouseYi
FatherEmperor Gojong of Korea
MotherImperial Noble Consort Sunheon
Military career
Allegiance Japan
Service/branch Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service1917–1945
Rank Lieutenant General
UnitNorth China Area Army
Chosen Army
Inspectorate General of Military Training
Supreme War Council
Commands heldImperial Guards 2nd Brigade
51st Division
First Air Army
Battles/warsSecond Sino-Japanese War
Second World War
AwardsGrand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

Yi Un[a] (Korean: 이은; 20 October 1897 – 1 May 1970) was the 28th Head of the Korean Imperial House, an Imperial Japanese Army general and the last Imperial Crown Prince of the Korean Empire. Before becoming the heir apparent to Sunjong of Korea, who became the emperor in 1907, Yi Un was known as the title Prince Imperial Yeong (영친왕). In 1910, the Korean Empire was annexed by Japan and Emperor Sunjong was forced to abdicate, and Yi Un married Princess Masako of Nashimoto, the eldest daughter of Prince Nashimoto Morimasa, on 28 April 1920 at Tokyo.

On 10 June 1926, upon the death of Emperor Sunjong, Yi Un received the late emperor's title, and became the King Yi of Changdeokgung (昌徳宮李王), which referred to the palace Changdeokgung. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant General in the Imperial Japanese Army, commanded Japanese forces in China and served as a member of the Supreme War Council. After World War II he was refused entry to Korea, and his Japanese titles were removed by article 14 of the new Constitution of Japan in 1947. After his death in 1970, Yi Un is alternatively known as Crown Prince Uimin (의민태자), a posthumous name given by the Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association.

Early life[edit]

Yi and Itō Hirobumi

The prince was born on 20 October 1897 at Deoksu Palace in Seoul as the seventh son of Gojong, the Gwangmu Emperor. His mother was the Honorable Princess Consort Eom Seon-yeong, a palace attendant, who was posthumously awarded the title of Princess Sunheon. He was also the younger half-brother of Emperor Sunjong and Prince Imperial Ui. He was titled Prince Imperial Yeong in 1900, and became the crown prince in 1907, despite being younger than Prince Ui. Prince Ui's support base at court was not strong because his own mother, Lady Jang, had already died.

In December 1907, he was taken to Japan on the initiative of Itō Hirobumi to be enrolled at Gakushūin Peers' School. The move was meant to ensure that the Korean royal family would not take any further anti-Japanese actions following The Hague Secret Emissary Affair.[1] Japanese Emperor Meiji, who largely ignored his own grandchildren, devoted a lot of attention to Yi Un, acting as his guardian.[1] Itō would bring Yi Un whenever he was visiting the princes Hirohito, Chichibu and Takamatsu.[1] Meiji apparently stopped seeing Yi Un so frequently after Ito's assassination.[2] Yi Un was allowed to visit Korea again only after the death of his mother in 1911.[1]

Military career[edit]

In September 1911, the prince was enrolled in the second year of the Army Central Youth School, a military preparation school located in Tokyo. He was poor in gymnastics due to his small stature, but excelled in music and martial arts. He was then enrolled in the 29th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, from which he graduated on 25 May 1917 with an excellent record.

Yi and his wife Yi Bangja (Princess Masako), 1923

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry on 25 December, and steadily rose up the ranks, receiving promotions to lieutenant (April 1920), and captain (July 1923). He graduated from the 35th class of the Army Staff College in November 1923 and commanded a battalion of the Guards 2nd Infantry Regiment. He was assigned to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office in December 1924, and to the staff of the Chosen Army in July 1926. In 1926, he visited Korea in order to visit Sunjong of Korea with his wife.[3] In May 1927, he was sent on an extensive European tour, visiting France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Monaco, and returning to Japan in April 1928. In August, he was promoted to major and in August 1929 became commander of the IJA 1st Infantry Regiment. In December 1930, he was assigned to the Inspectorate General of Military Training and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in August 1932. He became colonel in August 1935 and commanded the Utsunomiya-based IJA 59th Infantry Regiment. From April 1937, he served as an instructor at the Army Academy.

From right to left: Yi Un's nephews Prince Yi Wu, Prince Yi Geon and Yi Un as officers of the Imperial Japanese Army, together with members of the Japanese imperial family at the Yasukuni Shrine, 1938

In July 1938, the prince was promoted to major general and from December was assigned to the staff of the North China Area Army, which was engaged in combat operations in northern China following the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Throughout the first half of 1939, he made extensive inspection tours of front-line units throughout northern Japan, and reviewed Kwantung Army garrison units in Manchukuo. In August, he was appointed commander of the Guards 2nd Brigade and in May 1940 was commander of the reserve Fourth Depot Division. He was promoted to lieutenant general in December. In July 1941, he was appointed commander of the IJA 51st Division also based in Utsunomiya.

Under his command, the division relocated to Manchukuo to participate in the Special exercise of the Kwantung Army (actually a mobilization for the possible large-scale conflict with the Soviet Union). The preparations for the war with the Soviet Union were officially cancelled in August 1941. In September, the division was transferred to Guangdong under command of IJA 23rd Army. He returned to a post on the staff of the Inspectorate General of Military Training in November.

From August 1942, the prince was transferred to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force and became commander of the 1st Air Army from July 1943. In April 1945, he became a member of the Supreme War Council.[4]

Later life[edit]

Following the surrender of Japan, Yi Un lost his royal status under the American Occupation of Japan in 1947. He was also declared stateless, as Korea had become independent of the Empire of Japan, but Korean President Syngman Rhee had refused his request to be allowed to return to Korea with his family. In May 1947, following the end of the American occupation, he acquired Japanese citizenship and travelled to the United States the same month. In March 1959, while still in the United States, he suffered from a stroke. He returned to Japan in May. In 1960, President Rhee again denied him permission to return to Korea, but instead offered the prince the position of Korean Ambassador to the Court of St. James's. He refused on the grounds of illness, but made a trip to New York from June to August 1960, and to Hawaii from March to May 1961. His health deteriorating rapidly, he was hospitalized in Tokyo from August 1961.

In November 1963, President Park Chung Hee granted permission for Prince Yi Eun and Crown Princess Bangja to return to Korea. By that time, Prince Yi Eun was unconscious from cerebral thrombosis. He received treatment at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul.

In his final years, Prince Yi Eun lived at Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace, the former residence of the Korean Imperial Family in Seoul, with Bangja and his younger sister Princess Deokhye. Seven years after returning to his country, he died on 1 May 1970 at Nakseon Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul. He was buried at Hongreung in Namyangju, near Seoul.

Children[edit]

  • Yi Jin (이진; 李晋; I Jin; Yi Chin; born 18 August 1921 – 11 May 1922), the elder son of Prince Eun and his wife, Princess Bangja. Yi Jin died abruptly during his infancy while on a visit to Korea with his parents. This fueled conspiracy theories about the circumstances of his death. His funeral was held on 17 May 1922 and he is buried in Korea.
  • Yi Gu (이구; 李玖; I Gu; Yi Ku; born 29 December 1931 – 16 July 2005), the second son of Prince Eun and his wife, Princess Bangja. Prince Gu became the 29th Head of the Korean Imperial Household upon the death of his father. He married an American citizen Julia Mullock on 25 October 1959 at St George's Church in New York, they had no issue but adopted a daughter, Eugenia Unsuk Lee (Eun-sook) (b. 1959).

Honours[edit]

Legacy[edit]

Yi Un is known posthumously as Yi Un, Crown Prince Euimin of Korea. Approved by the President Park Chung Hee, Yi Un's spirit tablet was put into Jongmyo shrine on 6 May 1973 according to the royal tradition.[9]

Yi Un's residence Kitashirakawa Palace in Tokyo was originally built in 1930. After World War II, it was converted to Akasaka Prince Hotel, which opened in 1955 (later Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka). After the hotel was demolished in 2013, the building became part of Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, refurbished as a banquet facility, now known as Akasaka Prince Classic House.

In popular culture[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Name also rendered as Yi Eun, Lee Eun, and Un Yi.

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yi Un.
  1. ^ a b c d Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 35.
  2. ^ Herbert P. Bix, Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (New York 2016), page 697, note 38.
  3. ^ "조선왕조실록". sillok.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  4. ^ "군사참의관에 이왕전하 어영전" (PDF). Maeil sinbo (in Korean). 1945-04-03. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  5. ^ 刑部芳則 (2017). 明治時代の勲章外交儀礼 (PDF) (in Japanese). 明治聖徳記念学会紀要. p. 155.
  6. ^ Bille-Hansen, A. C.; Holck, Harald, eds. (1933) [1st pub.:1801]. Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1933 [State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1933] (PDF). Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender (in Danish). Copenhagen: J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri. p. 21. Retrieved 16 September 2019 – via da:DIS Danmark.
  7. ^ Sveriges statskalender (in Swedish), vol. 2, 1931, p. 148, retrieved 2018-01-06 – via runeberg.org
  8. ^ "Československý řád Bílého lva" (PDF) (in Czech). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  9. ^ 新城道彥 (2015-03-25). 朝鮮王公族―帝国日本の準皇族. Chuokoron-Shinsha. pp. 229–230. ISBN 978-4121023094. 李垠は皇帝または王に即位していないので、本来ならば宗廟内の永寧殿に位牌が祭られることはなかった。しかし、新たに祠堂を設けるよりは永寧殿で空室となっている最後の最後の一室に位牌を納めたほうがよいとの判断から、朴正熙大統領の許可を得たうえで同所に安置された。
Yi Un
Born: 20 October 1897 Died: 1 May 1970
Royal titles
Preceded by
Yi Cheok
(Sunjong of Korea)
 Imperial Crown Prince of the Korean Empire
7 August 1907 – 29 August 1910 		Title abolished
King Yi
(Changdeokgung)
24 April 1926 – 3 May 1947
Cultural offices
New title Director of the Jeonju Lee
Royal Family Association
29 July 1966 – 1 May 1970 		Vacant
Title next held by
Yi Ku
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Emperor of Korea
24 April 1926 – 1 May 1970
Reason for succession failure:
Empire abolished in 1910 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yi_Un&oldid=1221874026"