| Yi Haewŏn | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 이해원 |
| Hanja | 李海瑗 |
| Revised Romanization | Yi Hae-won |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Hae-wŏn |
| Claimed Imperial title | |
| Hangul | 여황 |
| Hanja | 女皇 |
| Revised Romanization | Yeohwang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yŏhwang |
| "Empress" | |
Princess Yi Haewŏn (born April 24, 1919), a descendant of the Yi Dynasty (Empire of Korea) is a pretender to the throne of Korea. She is a second daughter of Prince Imperial Ui of Korea, a fifth son of Emperor Gojong of Korea and his concubine, Lady Sudeokdang. Princess Yi Haewŏn is currently a disputed contender to the position of head of the Korean Imperial Household with her nephew Won, Hereditary Prince Imperial of Korea.[1][2] She is the eldest of the surviving daughters of Prince Imperial Ui.
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Haewŏn was born in Sadong Palace which was an official residence of her family in Seoul and raised in Unhyeon Palace. She graduated from Kyunggi High School in 1936 and then married Lee Seunggyu, who was kidnapped compulsorily to North Korea in the Korean War, having had issue, three sons and one daughter.
Claiming the Throne since the death of Prince Hoeun on 16 July 2005, Princess Haewŏn was enthroned as the symbolic monarch of Korea on 29 September 2006 by the Korean Imperial Family Association, organized by about a dozen descendants of Joseon Dynasty. She lays claim to the title of the Empress of Korea and declared the restoration of Imperial House in her own succession ceremony. The private enthronement was not approved or supported by the republican government of South Korea.