Sunjong, the Emperor Yunghui (; 25 March 1874 – 24 April 1926), was the second and the last Emperor of Korea, of the Yi dynasty, ruling from 1907 until 1910.

Biography

Crown Prince of Korea

Sunjong was the second son of Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong. When he became two years old in 1876, Sunjong was proclaimed the Crown Prince of Joseon. In 1882, he married a daughter of the Yeoheung Min clan, who later became Empress Sunmyeonghyo (). She later died at the age of 31 on 5 November 1904 due to the severe depression, after trying to protect her mother-in-law (Empress Myeongseong, also a member of the Yeoheung Min clan) from her assassination on 8 October 1895 by the Japanese military. When his father proclaimed

Korean Empire The Korean Empire () was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire stood until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910. During the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwa ...

in 1897, Sunjong was appointed as Crown Prince of Imperial Korea on 12 October 1897. On 29 June 1898, he was appointed as

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

of Imperial Korean Army. Sunjong Sunjong remarried again 3 years later to daughter of Yoon Taek-young, Yun Jeung-sun of the Haepyeong Yun clan, who was 20 years his junior, on 11 December 1906, and became Crown Princess Consort Yun (later Empress Sunjeong).

Emperor of Korea

On 19 July 1907, Gojong was deposed as a result of Japanese coercion, and Sunjong was made Emperor of Korea. His coronation was proceeded in Don-doek-jeon. He was proclaimed heir to the throne of Prince Imperial Yeong (), the younger half-brother of Sunjong, and moved from Deoksugung Palace to the imperial residence at

Changdeokgung Changdeokgung (Hangul: 창덕궁, Hanja: 昌德宮; literally, "The Palace of Prospering Virtue"), also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five G ...

Palace. Sunjong's reign was limited by the gradually increasing armed intervention of the Japanese government in Korea. In July 1907, he was proclaimed emperor of Korea but was immediately forced to enter into the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 (). This treaty allowed the Japanese government to supervise and intervene in the administration and governance of Korea, which also allowed for the appointment of Japanese ministers within the government. While under Japanese supervision, the Korean army was dismissed on the pretext of lack of public finance regulations. In 1909, Japan implemented the Japan–Korea Protocol () which effectively removed Korea's judicial power. Meanwhile, Japan dispatched Itō Hirobumi, Japanese Resident-General of Korea, to negotiate with Russia over problems involving Korea and Manchuria. However, Itō was assassinated by Ahn Jung-geun at

Harbin Harbin (; mnc, , v=Halbin; ) is a sub-provincial city and the provincial capital and the largest city of Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China, as well as the second largest city by urban population after Shenyang and largest ...

, which led to the

Japanese annexation of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspo ...

in 1910. Pro-Japanese politicians, such as

Song Byung-jun Song Byeong-jun (Korean:송병준, hanja:宋秉畯, August 20, 1857 – February 1, 1925) was a Korean Joseon dynasty politician, noted for his role in the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910. His clan was the Eunjin Song clan. His literary name was Jea ...

and

Lee Wan-yong Ye Wan-yong (; 17 July 1858 – 12 February 1926), also spelled Yi Wan-yong or Lee Wan-yong ( ko, 이완용), was a Korean politician who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Korea. He was pro-Japanese and is best remembered for signing the J ...

, defected, merging Korea with Japan by fabricating Korea's willingness and establishing the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty on 29 August 1910. Although still existent on paper, the intervention by the Japanese government effectively ended Sunjong's reign over the Korean Empire and he became essentially powerless within three years of ruling. Japan, in effect, abolished the

on 29 August 1910, ending 519 years of the Joseon dynasty.

After abdication

After the annexation treaty, the former Emperor Sunjong and his wife, Empress Sunjeong, lived the rest of their lives virtually imprisoned in

Palace in Keijō. Sunjong could not exercise any power as emperor because there were only pro-Japanese politicians in government. After the Korean Empire collapsed, Sunjong was demoted from emperor to king. Japan allowed him the title of ''King Yi of Changdeok Palace'' () and allowed for the title to be inherited. Sunjong died on 24 April 1926, in Changdeokgung and is buried with his two wives at the imperial tomb of Yureung (유릉, 裕陵) in the city of Nanyōshū. His

state funeral A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of Etiquette, protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive ...

on 10 June 1926, was a catalyst for the

June 10th Movement The June 10th Movement or Yuk-ship Undong ("Six-10 Movement" or "June Tenth Movement"), :ko:6.10 만세운동 was one of the earliest public displays of Korean resistance under the Japanese rule. The name refers to an event that occurred on ...

against Japanese rule. He had no children.

Family

* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Yi Hyeok, Prince Eui (이혁 의원군, 義原君李爀) (13 June 1661 – 12 November 1722) *** Adoptive-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: Yi Hwan, Prince Yang (이환 양원군, 李煥陽原君) (April 1658 – March 1724) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Princess Consort Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan (군부인 안동권씨) (27 August 1664 – 7 April 1735) *** Adoptive-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother: Princess Consort Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (군부인 여흥 민씨) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Yi Suk, Prince Anheung (이숙 안흥군, 李俶安興君) (9 October 1693 – 7 April 1768) * Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Princess Consort Ryu of the Munhwa Ryu clan (군부인 문화류씨) (3 January 1696 – 13 January 1755) * Great-Great-Great-Grandfather ** Yi Jin-ik (이진익, 李鎭翼) (25 September 1728 – 26 April 1796) * Great-Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Jo of the Hanyang Jo clan (본관: 한양조씨); (조도건의 딸) daughter of Jo Do-gyeon (조도건, 趙道健) * Great-Great-Grandfather ** Yi Byeong-won (6 April 1752 – 11 November 1822) (이병원, 李秉源) *** Adoptive-Great-Great-Grandfather: Yi Jin, Prince Eunsin (이진 은신군, 李禛恩信君) (11 January 1755 – 29 March 1771) * Great-Great-Grandmother ** Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (본관: 연일 정씨); (정의환의 딸) daughter of Jeong Eui-hwan (정의환, 鄭義煥) *** Adoptive-Great-Great-Grandmother: Princess Consort Namyang of the Namyang Hong clan (남양군부인 남양 홍씨, 南陽郡夫人南陽洪氏) (1755 – 21 March 1829) * Great-Grandfather ** Yi Gu, Prince Namyeon (22 August 1788 – 19 March 1836) (이구 남연군, 南延君) * Great-Grandmother ** Princess Consort Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (26 June 1788 – 1831) (군부인 여흥민씨, 驪興府大夫人閔氏) * Grandfather ** Yi Ha-Eung, King Heungseon of the Jeonju Yi clan (21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898) (흥선왕 이하응) *** Adoptive Grandfather: Yi Heon, King Munjo of Joseon (18 September 1809 – 25 June 1830) (조선의 문조 이영) * Grandmother ** Queen Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan (3 February 1818 – 8 January 1898) (순목왕비 민씨) *** Adoptive Grandmother: Queen Sinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan (21 January 1809 – 4 June 1890) (신정왕후 조씨) * Father ** Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire (대한제국 고종) (8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) * Mother ** Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (명성황후 민씨) (17 November 1851– 8 October 1895) *** Maternal Grandfather:

Min Chi-rok, Internal Prince Yeoseong Min Chi-rok (; 1799 – 17 September 1858), formally honoured as Internal Prince Yeoseong (). He also known as Duke Hyojeong () or Duke Sungan (), was a Korean political figure of the Joseon Dynasty. He was the father of Empress Myeongseong and th ...

(민치록, 閔致祿) (1799–1858) *** Maternal Grandmother: Internal Princess Consort Hanchang of the Hansan Yi clan (한창부부인 이씨, 韓昌府夫人李氏) (1818-1874) * Brothers ** Older half-brother: Yi Seon, Prince Wanhwa (16 April 1868 – 12 January 1880) (이선 완화군) ** Unnamed older brother (born 4 November 1871 – 8 November 1871) ** Unnamed younger brother (born 5 April 1875 – 18 April 1875) ** Unnamed younger brother (born 18 February 1878 – 5 June 1878) ** Younger half-brother: Yi Kang, Prince Uihwa (30 March 1877 – August 1955) (이강 의화군) ** Younger half-brother: Yi Eun, Crown Prince Uimin (20 October 1897 – 1 May 1970) (이은 의민태자) ** Younger half-brother: Prince Yi Yuk (3 July 1914 – 22 January 1915) (이육) ** Younger half-brother: Prince Yi U (20 August 1915 – 25 July 1916) (이우) * Sisters ** Unnamed older half-sister (born 1871–1872) ** Unnamed older sister (born 13 February 1873 – 28 September 1873) ** Unnamed younger half-sister (born 1879–1880) ** Younger half-sister: Princess Deokhye (25 May 1912 – 21 April 1989) (덕혜옹주, 德惠翁主) * Consorts: ** Empress Sunmyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (순명황후 민씨) (20 November 1872– 5 November 1904) – born to Min Tae-ho, leader of the Yeoheung Min clan; relative of Empress Myeongseong. She died before her husband was enthroned. ** Yun Jeung-sun, Empress Sunjeong of the Haepyeong Yun clan (순정황후 윤증순 윤씨) (19 September 1894– 3 February 1966) – daughter of

Marquis A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...

Yun Taek-yeong.

Honours

* : Founder of the Order of the Auspicious Phoenix(서봉장,瑞鳳章) * ** Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum – 16 January 1901; Collar – 17 October 1907 ** Korean Colonization Decoration - 1 August 1912 * : Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of Leopold

Ancestry

Gallery

File:Korean Emperor Kojong and Crown Prince Yi Wang.jpg, Emperor Gojong and the Crown Prince Sunjong File:Sunjong of the Korean Empire.jpg, Sunjong wearing Court uniform and dress of the Korean Empire File:Sunjong of the Korean Empire 02.jpg, Sunjong wearing Court uniform and dress of Korean Empire, Japanese honors and Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

In popular culture

* Portrayed by Ahn Sang-woo in the 2016 period drama film '' The Last Princess''.

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sunjong of Korea, Emperor 1874 births 1926 deaths Korean Empire emperors Monarchs who abdicated