Misplaced Pages

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54-829: After the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 , in which the Empire of Japan annexed the Korean Peninsula , some members of the Jeonju Yi clan were incorporated into the Imperial House of Japan and the Japanese peerage by the Japanese government. This lasted until 1947, just before the Constitution of Japan was promulgated. The treaty was nullified in the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and

108-606: A "merger petition" to Shigemaru Sugiyama, an advisor of the Iljinhoe . Prior to this, Song Byeong-jun went to the Empire of Japan in February 1909 and held a bargaining for the country. Many times, Itō Hirobumi urged a "merger", but when work was delayed due to the Japanese imperial armed forces' plan, he went directly to the Empire of Japan and negotiated a "merger" against the Japanese imperial Prime Minister Katsura Tarō and other members of

162-402: A commoner; for instance, the eldest daughter of deposed Yeonsangun of Joseon was addressed as "Ku Mun-gyeong's wife" after 1506. Later, there were also so-called "Kim Se-ryung's wife" (former Princess Hyomyeong ) and "Jeong's wife" (former Princess Hwawan ). In 1469, Seongjong of Joseon ascended to the throne as the adopted heir to his uncle, Yejong of Joseon . As of 1475, Seongjong asked

216-518: A major result of this conference is that the Korean claim that the annexation was illegal was rejected by the participating Western scholars, as well as others specializing in international law. On 28 August 2007, regarding the General Power of Attorney by Sunjong, Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo reported that Korean monarchs did not sign in the official documents with their real names, traditionally, but

270-560: A member of the Supreme War Council . Prince Yi Geon , the first son of Yi Kang, served as a cavalry officer, achieved the rank of Colonel at the end of the war and lived the remainder of his life in Japan. Prince Yi U , the second son of Yi Kang, served as a General Staff Officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel when he was killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima . After Korea's liberation in 1945, President Syngman Rhee suppressed

324-513: A professor at the University of Derby , stated, "During the height of the imperialism, it is difficult to find an international law sufficient to determine the legality/illegality of a particular treaty." According to the Asian Yearbook of International Law , in his book on international law, "Carty prefers seeing the relationship between Japan and Korea at the time with reference to the reality of

378-431: A royal family tree. After the death of Yi Ku, a dispute about the head of the royal family occurred. Yi Hae-won , second daughter of Yi Kang and a half-aunt of Yi Won, also made a counter-claim as the "Empress of Korea" in a private ceremony organized by her followers in a hotel room. She was enthroned as symbolic monarch of Korea on 29 September 2006 by a group called "Korean Imperial Family Association". She laid claim to

432-505: A scenario, the Empire of Japan gradually decided that the period of “Annexation” was ripening, and promoted Shigemaru to make a “joining petition” using Lee Yong-gu and Song Byeong-jun . The legality of the treaty was later disputed by the exiled Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea , as well as the South Korean government . While the treaty was affixed with the national seal of

486-677: A small residence in a corner of Changdeokgung in Seoul; the place was previously reserved for widowed queen/empress dowagers. Yi Un also became the director of the Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association, on 29 July 1966; the title would later pass down to his son in 1973. Yi Un died seven years later, in 1970, after a long illness resulting from strokes. Yi Un's son, Yi Ku , was forced by other family members to divorce his American wife, Julia Mullock , in 1982 due to her sterility (the couple, however, had an adopted daughter). In 1998, it

540-411: A title of "king" posthumously, Seonjo created a new title for him in 1569, Deokheung Daewongun (덕흥대원군), as an honor to the late prince. This action had a precedent in 1066, when Emperor Yingzong of Song promoted his biological father (Zhao Yunrang) without posthumously elevating him to the status of emperor. Following the precedent by Seonjo, three more royals were designated as Daewongun throughout

594-593: A year for Prince Yi Kang, but usually only two or three of the 11 surviving siblings attended the ceremonies. Meanwhile, the Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association was founded in 1922 by Prince Imperial Ui , and the members consist of the descendants of the royal family from various cadet branches of the clan. It was only in 1963 that a new president, Park Chung Hee , allowed some of the imperial family members, including Princess Deokhye , to return to Korea. However, they could only stay at Nakseon Hall,

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648-651: The Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 and 1905; and the United States had also sanctioned the annexation, as per the Taft-Katsura Agreement . The Empire of Japan had already confirmed the policy of Annexation at the Cabinet Meeting on 6 July 1909. However, it was left only to minimize side effects and obtain an international justification. The Japanese imperial government was preparing a scenario for

702-495: The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 (by which Korea was deprived of the administration of internal affairs). Japanese commentators predicted that Koreans would easily assimilate into the Japanese Empire. In 1965, the Treaty of Basic Relations between South Korea and Japan confirmed this treaty is "already null and void". The treaty was proclaimed to the public (and became effective) on 29 August 1910, officially starting

756-671: The Meiji Restoration , Japan acquired Western military technology. With this power, it forced Joseon to sign the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 after the Ganghwa Island incident . It established a strong economic presence on the peninsula, heralding the beginning of Japanese imperial expansion in East Asia . In the 19th century tensions mounted between China and Japan , culminating in the First Sino-Japanese War ; much of this war

810-581: The Roman Catholic Church . The Joseon Dynasty 's state religion was Neo-Confucianism , so Princess Sangsan, Prince Euneon and Princess Shin were executed for treason. Some of Prince Euneon 's sons, including Yi Gwang, were exiled on Ganghwa Island where they lived as poor farmers, but in 1822 the family received a special pardon from King Sunjo . On November 2, 1841, Grand Internal Prince Jeongye died at his home in Gyeonghaeng, Hanseong , at

864-551: The Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty , the title "prince" (군) was at first restricted to be given to sons or grandsons of kings, but these standards became looser over time. Generally, a royal eligible to be a prince could not receive the title automatically even if his rank raised him to the junior second rank. But such a hereditary title could be passed down to generations until it exceeds more than four generations (from

918-628: The period of Japanese rule in Korea. The treaty had eight articles, the first being: "His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makes the complete and permanent cession to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of all rights of sovereignty over the whole of Korea". Gojong of the Korean Empire later called the treaty a neugyak ( 늑약 勒約 , Forced treaty). This alternative term used in lieu of joyak ( 조약 條約 , Treaty) implies

972-847: The 1895 assassination of the queen consort, Queen Min , is believed to have been orchestrated by Japanese general Miura Gorō . The queen had great influence on politics during the reign of her husband, and she tried to maintain the neutrality of the country by accepting the offers from the Russian Empire , allowing the latter to have greater influence. After the death of the queen, the emperor honored her by posthumously promoting her status to empress ( Empress Myeongseong ). As an emperor, Gojong granted higher titles to some of his close relatives, and so did his successor Sunjong of Korea . In 1900, Gojong designated his younger son Yi Kang as Prince Imperial Ui (의친왕) and Yi Un as Prince Imperial Yeong (영친왕). Yi Seon, their older half brother who died young in 1880,

1026-688: The Buan Im clan; Sado himself was an illegitimate son of King Yeongjo of Joseon . This made Jeongye the half-nephew of King Jeongjo , but during his life, he did not receive the treatment of a member of the Royal Family. In 1801, Prince Euneon was executed after his legitimate wife, Princess Consort Sangsan of the Jincheon Song clan and his daughter-in-law, Princess Consort Shin of the Pyeongsan Shin clan (the wife of Prince Sanggye ), had been baptized into

1080-451: The Japanese imperial Choya. If Song Byeong-jun 's cabinet is established, not only is there a risk of retaliation, but also Ye Wanyong , fearing that the main role of the annexation will be taken away, said, "Even if the current cabinet collapses, a more pro-Japanese cabinet cannot come out." and voluntarily informed the Ministry of Knowledge Economy that it was possible. In directing such

1134-488: The Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was unjustified. On 28 July 2010, around 1000 intellectuals in Korea and Japan issued a joint statement that the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was never valid in the first place. Jeongye Daewongun Jeongye Daewongun ( Korean :  전계대원군 ; Hanja :  全溪大院君 ; 21 March 1785 – 2 November 1841; lit.   ' Grand Internal Prince Jeongye ' )

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1188-521: The Joseon history: Prince Jeongwon (1623, but later promoted to "King Wonjong" as of 1634"); Yi Kwang ( Jeongye Daewongun , 1849); and Prince Heungseon (1864). In 1650, Hyojong of Joseon , as requested by the prince regent Dorgon of the Qing dynasty , adopted a fourth cousin once removed as his daughter. Unusually, he gave her title, Princess Uisun , before she was about to leave Joseon to marry Dorgon. After

1242-710: The Korean Emperor was forced by Japan to follow a new custom to sign with his real name, which originated from the Western Hemisphere. It mentioned Sunjong's signature may be compulsory. On 23 June 2010, 75 South Korean congressmen suggested the legal nullification of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan . On 6 July 2010, Korean and Japanese progressive Christian groups gathered in Tokyo's Korean YMCA chapter and jointly declared that

1296-447: The Korean Empire, Emperor Sunjong of Korea refused to sign the treaty as required under Korean law. The treaty was instead signed by Prime Minister Ye Wanyong of the Korean Empire, and Resident General Count Terauchi Masatake of the Empire of Japan. This issue caused considerable difficulty in the negotiations for the establishment of basic diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea in 1965. The South Korean government held

1350-600: The Korean imperial family lived in Japan during colonial rule. The last princess of Korea Deokhye , was taken to Japan at a young age, she later married the Japanese count and politician Sō Takeyuki . During the Second World War , princes of the Korean imperial family served as officers of the Imperial Japanese Army . Crown Prince Yi Un achieved the rank of Lieutenant General, commanded Japanese forces in China and became

1404-534: The Koreans were coerced into accepting the treaty by the Japanese. Terms such as Gyeongsul Gukchi ( 경술국치 庚戌國恥 , National humiliation of the year of Gyeongsul) and Gukchi-il ( 국치일 國恥日 , National humiliation day) are also used in Korea to refer to the year and date of the treaty's proclamation. The United Kingdom had already acquiesced to the annexation of Korea by Japan, via the British connection to Imperial Japan via

1458-467: The Ming dynasty government to ratify his biological father, Crown Prince Uigyeong , to have a posthumous status as a king, and a temple name "Deokjong" was made for the late crown prince. A similar event took place in 1568, when Seonjo of Joseon succeeded the throne as the adopted heir to his half-uncle, Myeongjong of Joseon . Based on official advice, instead of giving his biological father (Prince Deokheung)

1512-688: The Republic of Korea . With the Constitution succeeding to the Provisional Government, the descendants of the Imperial Family continue to be given preference and constitute a favored symbol in South Korea . The July 2005 funeral of Yi Ku , former head of the royal household, attracted considerable media coverage. Yi Seok also caught attention as of the 100th anniversary of Korean independence on March 1, 2019. When Taejo of Joseon ascended to

1566-554: The adoptions Japan%E2%80%93Korea Treaty of 1910 Taishō period Shōwa period The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 , also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty , was made by representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on 22 August 1910. In this treaty, Japan formally annexed Korea following the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 (by which Korea became a protectorate of Japan) and

1620-502: The age of 56. The cause of death is unknown. In August 1841, the Noron faction plotted a coup d'état in order to crown Yi Won-gyeong , Yi Gwang's eldest child and only legitimate son as the new King. However, the plot was detected, which led to the execution of Yi Won-gyeong. The sole survivors were Yi Gwang's two illegitimate sons, Yi Gyeong-eung and Yi Won-beom , who were again exiled to Ganghwa-do . In 1849, his son, Yi Won-beom, born to

1674-570: The family's properties, and the imperial family was also blamed on being responsible for the "collapse of the nation". According to the prince's 11th son, Yi Seok , his mother, Hong Chongsun, was forced to sell noodles as a street vendor to make a living. Stripped of most of their wealth and authority, some family members fled to the United States and Latin America , known descendants reside in New Jersey and New York. For instance, Amy Lee ( Yi Haegyeong ),

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1728-568: The fifth daughter of Yi Kang, migrated to the United States in 1956 and worked for 27 years as a librarian at Columbia University in New York City. In September, 2012, she was 82 years old and described as "one of the last survivors of the Korean royal court". Among Prince Yi Kang's surviving four sons and seven daughters, four lost touch with the family after they left for the United States . The other family members held an ancestral ritual twice

1782-449: The imperial family, in order to prevent the restoration of the monarchy, as he feared that its return would challenge his emerging authority as the new republic's founding father. (Ironically Rhee himself was of the House of Yi; Rhee's family traced its lineage back to King Taejong of Joseon , and was a 16th-generation descendant of Grand Prince Yangnyeong .) Rhee seized and nationalized most of

1836-549: The king). Similar to male royals, female royals received titles according to their kinship to the kings. Daughters of the king and queen were called 공주 ( gongju ), girls born to other consorts and fathered by the king were called 옹주 ( ongju ) to differentiate, and some further distant female royalties also had different titles; in English all these titles are translated as "princess". If the above-mentioned females were stripped of titles due to various reasons, they would be referred to as

1890-596: The legality of Japan's annexation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 (titled A reconsideration of Japanese Annexation of Korea from the Historical and International Law Perspectives ) was held at Harvard University with the support of the Korea Foundation . Scholars of history and international law participated from South Korea, North Korea , Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. Anthony Carty,

1944-419: The more powerful Ming dynasty . As of 1412, Taejong of Joseon approved a new system for giving titles to the royalty: among the sons of a king, those who were born by the queen can acquire the title "grand prince" (대군), and the rest can be the "prince" (군); both princes are of senior first rank and their male descendants are as well insofar as their great-grandsons can retrieve official positions. According to

1998-662: The next heir of the Royal family. Currently, South Korea has no monarchist organizations that associated with the House of Yi, demanding to replace the South Korean republic with a monarchy . In 2022, the Royal Descendants of Emperor Gojong gathered and founded the Royal Foundation of Prince Imperial Ui that eventually became the non-profit organization for Korean Imperial Family members. – – – – – – - The dashed lines denote

2052-483: The next person to succeed Yi Ku . They had to find someone to adopt from the family of Prince Imperial Ui . The first heir of the Korean Imperial Family was Yi Jun  [ ko ] , the heir of Sadonggung Palace of Prince Imperial Ui . However, since Yi Jun had to succeed the Royal lineage of Sadonggung Palace, and also according to the royal tradition, the heir of the older brother cannot be adopted to

2106-403: The notorious fame of Yi Kang himself known not only domestically but also internationally. Yi Kang fathered 13 sons and 9 daughters by 14 mistresses; the number can be different based on difference sources. With an extremely wide range of historical evaluations over him — womanizer, as well as a behind-the-scene leader of the independence movement — the Japanese authorities limited the activities of

2160-494: The position that the annexation treaty was null and void at the time of signing, which the Japanese government contested. A compromise was reached in Article II of the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations : "It is confirmed that all treaties or agreements concluded between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of Korea on or before August 22, 1910, are already null and void." In January, April, and November 2001, an academic conference on

2214-496: The prince throughout the occupation. Emperor Sunjong died in 1926, Crown Prince Yi Un was called "King Yi", a nominal title because the country had already lost its sovereignty to Japan . Yi Un married a Japanese princess, Princess Masako of Nashimoto, who was later known as Yi Bangja , a family member of the shinnōke (cadet branch from the Imperial House of Japan ). After they married, Princess Masako gave birth to Yi Jin in 1921 (died young) and Yi Ku in 1931. Many members of

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2268-496: The seventh son, Yi Un . The Crown Prince, Yi Cheok, became Emperor Sunjong , the last monarch of the Korean Empire . Since Emperor Sunjong never had issue, his younger brother, Yi Un, the Prince Imperial Yeong became the new Imperial Crown Prince. Yi Kang (Prince Imperial Ui) might have taken the position due to his seniority but was passed over - due to the low status of Yi Kang's biological mother, Lady Chang, as well as

2322-491: The then international community dominated by Western powers, rather than viewing it in terms of treaty law as argued by Korean scholars". Alexis Dudden, a professor at the University of Connecticut , discussed Nitobe Inazō 's science of colonial policy. She is the author of Japan's Colonization of Korea: Discourse and Power in which she discusses how Japanese policymakers carefully studied and then invoked international law to annex Korea legally. According to Kan Kimura ,

2376-404: The throne in 1392, he continued to use the laws of Goryeo , and the noble titles he gave to his sons, nephews, and sons-in-law were all "prince" (군). After the coup d'état in 1398, the system of noble titles changed: "duke" for king's sons, "marquis" for royal descendants, and "earl" for officers of senior first rank. This system was abolished in 1401 to avoid "usurping" the existing title laws of

2430-440: The title of Emperor in order to assert Korea's independence; he gave himself the rank of the leaders of China and Japan. In addition, Korea sought modern military technology from other foreign powers, especially Russia , in order to fend off the Japanese. Technically, 1895 marks the end of the Joseon period, as the official name of the state was changed. But the dynasty continued, although Japan intervened in its affairs. For example,

2484-463: The title of Empress of Korea and declared the restoration of Imperial House in her own succession ceremony in a hotel room. The private enthronement was not approved or supported by Korean politics. Yi Hae-won eventually died on 8 February 2020, aged 100. Meanwhile, in 2005–06, Yi Seok , the 10th son of Yi Kang and a half-uncle of Yi Won , claimed that he was officially named heir apparent as [the late] Crown Princess Yi Bangja (the mother of Yi Ku and

2538-427: The treaty, some of the members of Yi family were incorporated into the royal family ( 王公族 , Ōkōzoku ) or made Korean nobles ( 朝鮮貴族 , Chōsen-kizoku ) . The Korean nobility titles granted by Japan in 1910, listing only those from Jeonju Yi clan , are as follows: Emperor Gojong had nine sons, but only three princes who survived to adulthood: the second son, Crown Prince Yi Cheok; the fifth son, Yi Kang , and

2592-423: The wife of Yi Un ) wrote a will, naming him as the "first successor”. As such, Yi Seok is referred as "king," "prince," and/or "last pretender" by some articles from mainstream media. Later, American Internet entrepreneur Andrew Lee , accepted a nomination by Yi Seok, on 6 October 2018, to become the "Crown Prince" of Korea. However, the first heir of the Royal family is Yi Jun, however he is not interested in being

2646-458: The younger brother's house. Therefore, the next younger cousin brother of Yi Jun was Yi Won -a son of Yi Gap  [ ko ] , 9th son of Yi Kang-who was therefore chosen to be Yi Ku 's successor and the status was confirmed by the association as of 22 July 2005. Although, the adoption would be invalid by present Korean Law therefore the Yi Won is not legally an adopted son of Yi Ku, but only on

2700-506: Was a member of the Korean Joseon dynasty as the biological father of King Cheoljong of Joseon . His personal name was Yi Gwang ( 이광 ; 李㼅 ), but he was also known as Kwae-deuk ( 쾌득 ; 快得 ) or Hae-dong ( 해동 ; 海東 ). Yi Gwang was born on March 21, 1785, in Ganghwa-do . His birth name was Kwae-deuk, which later changed to Hae-dong and after some years to Gwang. He

2754-434: Was fought on the Korean Peninsula . The Chinese defeat in the 1894 war resulted in the Treaty of Shimonoseki , which officially guaranteed Korea's independence from China. However, the treaty effectively granted Japan direct control over Korean politics. The Joseon court, pressured by encroachment from larger powers, tried to reinforce national integrity and declared the Korean Empire in 1897. King Gojong of Korea assumed

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2808-473: Was one of several illegitimate sons of Prince Euneon and the second of two sons of Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan. His older full-brother had an early death. His legitimate eldest half-brother was Prince Sanggye , also known as Crown Prince Wanpung, who was an adopted son of Jeongjo of Joseon and heir to the throne for a short time, in 1779. His father, Prince Euneon , was an illegitimate son of Crown Prince Sado by his concubine, Royal Noble Consort Suk of

2862-408: Was posthumously designated in 1907 as Prince Imperial Wan (완친왕). Gojong designated his (biological) elder brother Yi Jae-myeon as Prince Imperial Heung (흥친왕) in 1910. After a long-term process of controlling the puppet state , on 22 August 1910, Japan annexed the Korean peninsula effectively ended rule by the House of Yi, forcing the nation to accede to the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 . According to

2916-627: Was reported that Yi Kang's eighth son died alone in a social center in eastern Seoul . Yi Seok, as mentioned above, became a lecturer at the Jeonju University as of 2005. A series of business failures left Yi Ku out of support, and he died alone at the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka in Tokyo on July 16, 2005. The site of the hotel had been his birthplace 74 years prior. Upon death of Yi Ku , Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association , had to find

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