Prince Imperial Heung

Prince Imperial Heung (Korean: 흥친왕; Hanja: 興親王, 22 August 1845 – 9 September 1912) was a prince of the Joseon dynasty and of the Korean Empire. He was the son of Heungseon Daewongun and the elder brother of Emperor Gojong of Korea. By birth, his original name was Yi Jae-myeon (이재면; 李載冕) and the art name was U-seok (우석; 又石); after he acquired the "Prince Imperial" title, his name was changed to Yi Hui (이희; 李熹) on 25 August 1910.^[1] Five days later, the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 became effective, Yi Hui lost the imperial title and received a title "Duke Yi Hui" (이희공; 李熹公) instead.^[2]

Yi Jae-myeon 이재면
Prince Imperial Heung 흥친왕
Prince Imperial of Korean Empire
Prince Wanheung of Korea
Reign	1900–1910
Predecessor	None
Successor	None
Prince Imperial Heung of Korea
Reign	15 October 1910 – 29 August 1910
Predecessor	None
Successor	None
Duke Yi of Korea 1st generation of Yi Hui line
Reign	29 August 1910 – 1912
Predecessor	None
Successor	Yi Jun
Born	22 August 1845 Unhyeongung, Joseon
Died	9 September 1912 (1912-09-10) (aged 67) Unhyeongung, Korea, Empire of Japan
Burial	Heungwon (흥원; 興園)
Spouse	Lady Hong of Pungsan Hong clan Lady Lee of the Yeoju Lee clan
Issue	Prince Yeongseon
House	House of Yi
Father	Grand Internal Prince Heungseon
Mother	Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan
Korean name
Hangul	흥친왕 (or 완흥군)
Hanja	興親王 (or 完興君)
Revised Romanization	Heung Chinwang (or Wanheunggun)
McCune–Reischauer	Hŭng Ch'inwang (or Wanhŭnggun)
Birth name
Hangul	이재면
Hanja	李載冕
Revised Romanization	I Jaemyeon
McCune–Reischauer	I Chaemyŏn

Biography

Prince Imperial Heung was born in 1845, as the son of Prince Heungseon, who was a member of the ruling family but had no authority.

In 1864, he passed the literary examination of the Gwageo. He was an official under his father's regency. He visited his father when he was locked in China.^[3] After his younger brother got the power, and Kim Hong-jip was appointed as the chancellor, Yi was appointed as Minister of Gungnaebu.^[4]

In May 1900, Yi became Prince Wanhung. He got Order of the Plum Blossom and Order of the Auspicious Stars in 1907, after the abdication of Gojong and coronation of Sunjong of Korea. In November 1907, Yi was appointed as Lieutenant General. He was later sent to Japan as a diplomat and got 1st class of Order of the Paulownia Flowers. In 1909, Yi got Order of the Golden Ruler. He helped the annexation of Korea from June 1910. On 15 August 1910, Yi became Prince Imperial Heung. He signed the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, which annexed Korea. He was ennobled as Duke Yi Hui after the annexation. He got 830,000 Won for the annexation of Korea and decoration for the annexation of Korea. His title was inherited to Yi Jun-yong.^[3]

Family

• Father: Yi Ha-Eung, Grand Internal Prince Heungseon (이하응 흥선대원군; 21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898)
  • Grandfather: Yi Gu, Prince Namyeon (이구 남연군; 22 August 1788 – 19 March 1836)
  • Grandmother: Princess Consort Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (군부인 여흥민씨; 26 June 1788 – 1831)
• Mother: Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan (순목대원비 민씨; 3 February 1818 – 8 January 1898)
  • Grandfather: Min Chi-Gu (민치구; 1795 – 14 December 1874)
  • Grandmother: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨; 1797 – 17 November 1873)
• Sibling(s)
  • Younger sister: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (이씨; 李氏; 1848–1869)
    • Brother-in-law: Jo Gyeong-ho (조경호; 趙慶鎬) of the Imcheon Jo clan (1839–1914)
  • Younger brother: King Gojong (고종; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919)
    • Sister-in-law: Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (명성태황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895)
      • Nephew: Emperor Sunjong (순종 효황제; 25 March 1874 – 25 April 1926)
  • Younger sister: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (이씨; 李氏; 1854–?)
    • Brother-in-law: Yi Yun-yong (이윤용; 李允用) of the Ubong Yi clan (1855 – 8 September 1939)^[a]
  • Younger sister: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (이씨; 李氏; 1863–1899)
    • Brother-in-law: Jo Jeong-gu (조정구; 趙鼎九) of the Pungyang Jo clan (1862–1926)
• Consorts and their Respective Issue(s):

1. Lady Hong of the Pungsan Hong clan (풍산 홍씨; 8 April 1844 – 19 December 1887)
   1. Yi Jun-Yong, Prince Yeongseon (이준용 영선군; 23 July 1870 – 22 March 1917)
   2. Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (1874–?)
   3. Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (1875 – 21 August 1924)
   4. Yi Mun-Yong (이문용; 4 September 1882 – 8 October 1901)
2. Princess Imperial Heung of the Yeoju Lee clan (흥친왕비 여주 이씨; 驪州 李氏; 7 June 1883 – 8 January 1978)
   1. Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (1900–?)
3. Lady Joo of the Sinan Joo clan (신안 주씨)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Prince Imperial Heung
Yi Chin-ik Yi Byeong-won Yi Gu, Prince Namyeon Heungseon Daewongun Min Gyeong-hyeok Princess Consort Min Yi Jae-myon, Prince Imperial Heung Min Baek-sul Min Dan-hyon Min Chi-gu Lee Ok of Deokheung Lady Yi, Princess of Deokheung Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan

Popular culture

• Portrayed by Han Beom-hee in the 2001–2002 KBS2 TV series Empress Myeongseong.

See also

• History of Korea
• Rulers of Korea
• Empress Myeongseong
• Yi Jun-yong
• Heungseon Daewongun
• Hague Secret Emissary Affair
• Emperor Gojong
• Emperor Sunjong

Notes

1. He was the adoptive older brother to Yi Wan-yong, who is known for signing Korea's annexation to Japan

References

1. 흥친왕의 이름을 희로 고치도록 하다. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (29 August 1910). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
2. 대일본 천황이 조서를 내리다. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty (29 August 1910). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
3. 이재면(李載冕). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
4. 조선왕조실록. Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. Retrieved 2022-05-05.

External links

• "Essays Trace US, Japan Roles in Joseon's Downfall" Korea Times, June 13, 2008