Yi Un

About

The 28th Head of the Korean Imperial House, an Imperial Japanese Army general and the last crown prince of Korea. In 1910, the Korean Empire was annexed by Japan and Emperor Sunjong, the second and the last Emperor of Korea, was forced to abdicate. He was known as Prince Imperial Yeong, Yi Un, Crown Prince Uimin (also Euimin).

Before Fame

In December 1907, he was taken to Japan on the initiative of Itō Hirobumi to be enrolled at Gakushūin Peers' School. Japanese Emperor Meiji, who largely ignored his own grandchildren, devoted a lot of attention to Yi Un, acting as his guardian. He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1917, and the Army Staff College in 1923.

Trivia

At 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.

Family Life

He was born 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. 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. In 1920, he married Princess Masako of Nashimoto, eldest daughter of Prince Nashimoto Morimasa.

Associated With

After the surrender of Japan, he 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. Korean President Syngman Rhee had refused his request to be allowed to return to Korea with his family.  In November 1963, President Park Chung-hee granted permission for Prince Yi Eun and Crown Princess Bangja to return to Korea.