Lock-icon.jpg
| This page is protected from editing until disputes have been resolved on the discussion page.
Protection is not an endorsement of the current version. To see other versions, use the page history.
|
Yi Seok (born 1941) a descendant of the Joseon Dynasty is one of two pretenders to the throne of Korea. A grandson of Emperor Gojong of Korea, he styles himself as "His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince Yi Seok", but he has no royal status or privilege since the Japanese Constitution abolished noble titles in 1947 and Korea became two republics in 1953. Yi's claims to the titles are disputed by other members of the dynastic family, who consider the formal Head of the Korean Royal House to be Yi Ku, his cousin.
Currently Yi resides in a building renovated for his use by the city of Jeonju, 243 kilometers south of Seoul. The city government hopes that Yi's settlement on the grounds of its Hanok Village will spotlight the historic significance of the city and help it to attract tourists. As part of this arrangement, Yi gives lectures to Jeonju visitors about Korean history. He also frequently lectures elsewhere and is often called upon for ceremonial duties, despite his official status as a private citizen. Recently, Yi authored a book about the late Joseon Dynasty royal court family and has founded an organization, which he now leads, dedicated to preserving the culture of the royal court.
External links
Yi Seok' (born 1941) a descendant of the Joseon Dynasty is one of the two pretenders to the throne of
Korea.
A grandson of Emperor Gojong of Korea, he styles himself as "His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince Yi Seok.
Early Life
Prince Yi seok was born and raised in Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul during the Japanese occupation. After WW2
ended with the occupation and partitition of Korea by the allies in the South, and the Russians and Chinese in the north,
the Korean royal family was rendered homeless, what assets that were not confiscated by the Japanese were then
confiscated by the incoming Syngman Rhee government, and forced to temporary accomodation.
Prince Yi Seok as a young man was required to look after his family as best he could, along with his brothers, and took
any jobs that he could to provide for his parents and siblings before and after university during the hard times of the
Korean War and Cold War era as the Republic of Korea fought communism and internal subversion.
At University in Seoul, Prince Yi Seok studied foreign languages, foreign relations and history, became fluent in several
languages, and prepared himself for the diplomatic service. A series of coups, changes in government and civil discord
rendered that impossible. After university, Yi Seok again worked at many different jobs to provide for his family, and as
he had an aptitude for entertaining, became a well known singer and professional musician in the 1960s while in his
twenties, having several hit songs.
Military Service
Prince Yi Seok volunteered for the Korean military and served as an enlisted man in the Vietnam War in an elite
Korean commando regiment as an infantryman in The Tiger Division also known as the Capitol Infantry Division
(mech.) The Tiger Division was an all volunteer division in which all soldiers donated 80% of their pay back to the
Republic of Korea to support the post-war economy.
Apart from serving in combat in many engagements as a member of the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Tiger Division, Yi
Seok was seriously wounded by shrapnel in a convoy that was landmined. Before and after his recuperation, he also
found time to entertain the troops during off-hours at their request. Before Yi Seok was wounded he participated in
combat operations from Tiger1 to Tiger12 with his regiment. The unit had a distinguished history in combat.
The Lost Years
Returning to the Republic of Korea, the royal family was again given accomodation at palaces in Seoul, but with the
coup following the assassination of President in 1979, the royal family was ordered out of the palace at gunpoint; and
what properties and assets they had were finally totally confiscated. Prince Yi Seok then travelled to the [[United
States]] where he took again a series of jobs in the recessionary 1980s to provide for his family and his relatives whilst
attempting protracted legal and moral battles to retrieve family properties seized illegally, and now irretrievable under
post-war Korean law.
With the changed political climate in the early 1990s, Yi Seok was able to return to the Republic of Korea, and once
again attempt to live in old family properties, and battle for his legal rights as a private citizen. After a series of difficult
times, he had a series of spiritual revelations, retired to a monastery, and regained a new public life at the beginning of
the 21st century, with a series of constant travels doing educational work, promoting both Korean royal tourism and the
restoration of historical buildings, and a schedule that involves over 100 speaking engagements or public appearances
each year. Currently he is a resident of [[Jeonju]
The hardships and resilience that is typical of Korean life from WW2 to the post Vietnam era proved interesting and
Prince Yi Seok's life was made into a dramatic semi-fictional TV programme on the Korean Broadcasting System
(KBS).
Current Activities
Together with many members of the Korean royal family, Yi Seok has worked to maintain royal Korean traditions that
go back
to 1392. His current concerns are in the areas of teaching history on an extensive lecture circuit to schools and colleges
in
the Republic of Korea, as well as encouraging more historical tours as a way of preserving essential aspects of Korean
tradition
for future generations.
Publications and Media
Prince Yi Seok is also a recently published author on the ceremonial rites of his family. And has agreed to host a tv
series on Korean royal history currently in pre-production.
Entitled "A personal view of Korea", the documentary series will feature three episodes on Korean history, palaces and
temples, and on the fortress architecture of the over 20 Yi Dynasty castles.
Production is to begin summer of 2005, and foreign rights sales are presently being negotiated.
=Official Websites
The Korean royal family website is to appear in English in early 2005, and is currently available only in Korean at
Controversy
Claims to certain Korean imperial titles are considered by those outside of the Yi family to be disputed - internally there
is less
comment. Claims by those outside the Yi family may consider the formal Head of the Korean Royal House to be
Prince [[Yi
Ku]], a cousin of Prince Yi Seok. HIH Prince Yi Ku was born in Japan, and is currently a citizen of Japan, and has
never lived
in either of the Koreas, but has affection for his ancestor's home.
HIH the Prince Yi Ku visits the Republic of Korea quarterly in order to perform the traditional ancestral rites of prayers
to five
generations back of the imperial ancestors, and is on very friendly terms with his imperial relative Prince Yi Seok, as
well as
many of the Yi family at home and abroad.
External links
http://entertainment.news.designerz.com/koreas-turbulent-times-mirrored-in-life-of-chosun-prince.html
http://thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=%5C2005%5C1%5C31&file=/2005/1/31/features/10006427&sec=features
(Este
artículo está en español.)
| 
