Sunjong, the Emperor Yunghui (; 25 March 1874 – 24 April 1926), was the second and the last

Emperor of Korea Imperial titles were used in various historical Korean states before the 14th century and at the turn of the 20th century: Early Korean states used "great king", "greatest king", and "holy king"; later Korean states used "emperor". Korean monarc ...

, of the

Yi dynasty The House of Yi, also called the Yi dynasty (also transcribed as the Lee dynasty), was the royal family of the Joseon dynasty and later the imperial family of the Korean Empire, descended from the Joseon founder Yi Seong-gye. All of his descendant ...

, ruling from 1907 until 1910.

Biography

Crown Prince of Korea

Sunjong was the second son of

Emperor Gojong Gojong (; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) was the monarch of Korea from 1864 to 1907. He reigned as the last King of Joseon from 1864 to 1897, and as the first Emperor of Korea from 1897 until his forced abdication in 1907. He is known ...

and

Empress Myeongseong Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

. 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 The Yeoheung Min clan () is a Korean clan that traces its origin to Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The 2015 Korean Census counted 167,124 members of the Yeoheung Min clan. Origin The Yeoheung Min clan's progenitor was Min Ching-do (민칭도, 閔� ...

, 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 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 of

Imperial Korean Army The Imperial Korean Armed Forces (대한제국군) was the military of the Korean Empire. Foundation Succeeding the Joseon Army and Navy, the Gwangmu Reform reorganized the military into a modern western-style military. The foundation of the Im ...

. Sunjong Sunjong remarried again 3 years later to daughter of

Yoon Taek-young Yoon Taek-young (Korean:윤택영, Chinese:尹澤榮, 1876-24 October 1935) was an official of Joseon and Korean Empire. He was father of Empress Sunjeonghyo and father in law of Sunjong of Korea. Biography Yoon Taek-young was born in 1876 in ...

, 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 Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by members of Korea's Royal Family during the Joseon monarchy until the annexation of Korea by Japan in ...

Palace to the imperial residence at Changdeokgung 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 The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1907. Negotiations were concluded on July 24, 1907.Korean Mission to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, Washington, D.C., 1921-1922. (1922 ...

(). 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 was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Japan. He was also a leading member of the ''genrō'', a group of senior statesmen that dictated Japanese policy during the Meiji era. A London-educated samu ...

Japanese Resident-General of Korea The Japanese resident-general of Korea ( ja, 韓国統監, Kankokutōkan; ko, 일본의 대 한국통감, Ilbon-ui dae hangugtong-gam) was the leader of Korea under Japanese rule from 1905 to 1910. This post was highly hated among native Korea ...

, to negotiate with Russia over problems involving Korea and

Manchuria Manchuria is an exonym (derived from the endo demonym " Manchu") for a historical and geographic region in Northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day Northeast China (Inner Manchuria) and parts of the Russian Far East (Outer M ...

. However, Itō was assassinated by

Ahn Jung-geun Ahn Jung-geun, sometimes spelled Ahn Joong-keun (; 2 September 1879 – 26 March 1910; baptismal name: Thomas Ahn ), was a Korean-independence activist, nationalist, and pan-Asianist. He is famous for assassination of Itō Hirobumi, the first ...

at Harbin, which led to the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910. Pro-Japanese politicians, such as Song Byung-jun and Lee Wan-yong, 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 Korean Empire on 29 August 1910, ending 519 years of the

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

After abdication

After the annexation treaty, the former Emperor Sunjong and his wife,

Empress Sunjeong 36-year-old Empress Sunjeonghyo in 1930. Empress Sunjeonghyo,or literally known as Sunjeong, the Filial Piety Empress (Hangul: 순정효황후, Hanja: 純貞孝皇后; 19 September 1894 – 3 February 1966), of the Haepyeong Yun clan, was ...

, lived the rest of their lives virtually imprisoned in Changdeokgung Palace in

Keijō Keijō, or Gyeongseong, was an administrative district of Chōsen that corresponds to the present Seoul, the capital of South Korea. :ko:경성부, -(Seoul of Korea under Japanese rule) Honmachi The central district of Gyeongseong was ...

. 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 on 10 June 1926, was a catalyst for the June 10th Movement 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 The Munhwa Ryu clan or Munhwa Yu clan of Korea ( Korean: 문화 류씨 or 문화 유씨, Hanja: 文化柳氏) is one of the great aristocratic houses of Goryeo and Joseon dynasty. Munhwa is the name of the clan seat, a township in modern-day ...

(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 Namyang Hong clan () is one of the Korean clans. Their Bon-gwan is in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, Gyeonggi Province. According to the research held in 2015, the number of Namyang Hong clan members was 487,488. The Namyang Hong clan is divided into the ...

(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 Gojong (; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) was the monarch of Korea from 1864 to 1907. He reigned as the last King of Joseon from 1864 to 1897, and as the first Emperor of Korea from 1897 until his forced abdication in 1907. He is known ...

(대한제국 고종) (8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919) * Mother **

of the

(명성황후 민씨) (17 November 1851– 8 October 1895) *** Maternal Grandfather: Min Chi-rok, Internal Prince Yeoseong (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 Princess Deokhye (Korean: 덕혜옹주, ''Deokhye-Ongju''; Japanese: 徳恵姫, ''Tokue-hime''; 25 May 191221 April 1989) was the last princess of the Korean Empire. She was born on May 25, 1912, at Changdeok Palace, in Seoul, as the youngest ...

(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

. 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 Yun Taek-yeong.

Honours

* : Founder of the Order of the Auspicious Phoenix(서봉장,瑞鳳章) * ** Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Chrysanthemum is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the Collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously. Apart fr ...

– 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