Yi Un

Prince Imperial Yeong, the Crown Prince Uimin (also Euimin), also known as Yi Un, Yi Eun, Lee Eun, and Un Yi (20 October 1897 – 1 May 1970), was the 28th Head of Korean Imperial House, and the last crown prince of Korea.

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 pretext of receiving a modern education. He was enrolled at the Peers School (Gakushuin) and the Imperial Army Academy, both in Tokyo. In 1920 he married Princess Masako of Nashimoto (born 4 November 1901 – 30 April 1989(1989-04-30) (aged 87)), the eldest daughter of Prince Nashimoto Morimasa, on 28 April 1920 at Tokyo. In 1910, when Korea was annexed by Japan and Emperor Sunjong was forced to abdicate, he was titled His Royal Highness Crown Prince of Korea. On 10 June 1926, upon the death of Emperor Sunjong and his funeral, he became King Ri of Korea (demoted Korean sovereign's title after the Japan-Korean Annexation Treaty).

Prince Yi Eun (also known as Prince Ri Gin in Japan) served in the Japanese Army as Commanding Officer of the 59th Regiment, the 4th Depot Division, and then later the 51st Division. He also served in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force with the rank of lieutenant general, commanding IJA 1st Air Army. He further served as Instructor at Military Staff College, attached to the Inspectorate General of Military Training and became a Member of the Supreme War Council during wartime.^[1]

After Korea became independent of the Empire of Japan in 1945, he requested permission from President Syngman Rhee to be allowed to return to Korea with his family, but was refused. The prince was offered the position of Korean Ambassador to the Court of St. James's in 1960, but refused on the grounds of ill health. In November 1963, President Park Chung-hee) granted permission for him and his wife, Crown Princess Bangja, to return to Korea. By that time he was an invalid, unconscious from cerebral thrombosis. He received treatment at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul.

In his final years, he lived at Nakseon Hall, Changdeokgung Palace, the former residence of Imperial house 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 Hongyureung in Namyangju, near Seoul and is known posthumously as Crown Prince Euimin of Korea.

Children

• Yi Jin (Hangul: 이진; Hanja: 李晋; RR: I Jin) (born 18 August 1921 – 11 May 1922(1922-05-11) (aged 0)), the elder son of Prince Eun and his wife, 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. No issue.
• Yi Gu (Hangul: 이구; Hanja: 李玖; RR: I Gu) (born 29 December 1931 – 16 July 2005(2005-07-16) (aged 73)), 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. No issue.

Titles from birth

• His Royal Highness The Prince Eun of Korea (1897–1900)
• His Imperial Highness The Prince Imperial Yeong of Korea (1900–1907)
• His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince Eun of Korea (1907–1970)
  • His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Lee of Korea (1910–1926)
  • His Majesty The King Lee of Korea (1926–1945)
• The Crown Prince Euimin of Korea (Posthumous Title)

Notes