Won, Hereditary Prince Imperial of Korea
Encyclopedia
Yi Won, is a descendant of the Joseon Dynasty
(a.k.a. Yi Dynasty) and the head of the House of Yi. He works as a general manager of Hyundai Home Shopping, a branch of the Hyundai
chaebol
. He was born as the eldest son of Prince Gap of Korea, the 9th son of Prince Yi Kang by his wife at Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
and became the adopted son of Yi Gu, the twenty-ninth head of the Imperial house, though legality of the adoption is contested.
Those who dispute the legitimacy of the adoption point out that consent for the adoption of Prince Won was not given by other members of Imperial House, including Prince Yi Seok
, the younger half-brother of Prince Gap, and Princess Yi Hae-won, the eldest surviving member of the house. Also, according to present Korean law, the traditional adoption after death of a foster parent to continue the line has been outlawed by legislation as of 2004.
Another problem rises over whether Prince Won or his father Prince Gap is the senior member of the house. While the line of Prince Gang is the senior line following the death of Prince Gu, there are descendants of the elder sons of Prince Gang. Barring the descendant of Prince Geon, the eldest son who had been naturalised as a Japanese after World War II
, some members of the House insist that the Headship of House should pass to the descendants of Prince Wu
, the second son of Prince Gang. In this case, the rightful Head of the House is Yi Chung
, Prince Wu's eldest son.
Prince Won attended the Sangmun High School during 1979-1981 and completed studies in broadcasting at the New York Institute of Technology
, United States
. He and his wife have had two children, the eldest son born in 1998; the other son born in 1999.
On 16 July 2005, following the death of Prince Gu, some members of the Lee Family Council chose him as the next Head of Korean Imperial Household and they also made his title the Hereditary Prince Imperial (Hwangsason) in the meaning of inherited a title of Prince Gu. His claim is contested by Princess Yi Haewon of Korea who was crowned Empress of South Korea by 12 descendants who felt that she should be Empress, not Prince Won.
He currently lives in an apartment
in Wondang, Goyang
, Gyeonggi province, Korea
with his family.
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
(a.k.a. Yi Dynasty) and the head of the House of Yi. He works as a general manager of Hyundai Home Shopping, a branch of the Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
chaebol
Chaebol
Chaebol refers to a South Korean form of business conglomerate. They are global multinationals owning numerous international enterprises. The term is often used in a context similar to that of the English word "conglomerate"...
. He was born as the eldest son of Prince Gap of Korea, the 9th son of Prince Yi Kang by his wife at Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and became the adopted son of Yi Gu, the twenty-ninth head of the Imperial house, though legality of the adoption is contested.
Those who dispute the legitimacy of the adoption point out that consent for the adoption of Prince Won was not given by other members of Imperial House, including Prince Yi Seok
Yi Seok
Yi Seok is a prince of the House of Yi, the Korean royal family. He was described as the "last pretender" to the Korean throne by The New York Times, although this status is not recognized by the Yi family association. Yi gained fame as the "singing prince" with the wedding favorite "Pigeon...
, the younger half-brother of Prince Gap, and Princess Yi Hae-won, the eldest surviving member of the house. Also, according to present Korean law, the traditional adoption after death of a foster parent to continue the line has been outlawed by legislation as of 2004.
Another problem rises over whether Prince Won or his father Prince Gap is the senior member of the house. While the line of Prince Gang is the senior line following the death of Prince Gu, there are descendants of the elder sons of Prince Gang. Barring the descendant of Prince Geon, the eldest son who had been naturalised as a Japanese after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, some members of the House insist that the Headship of House should pass to the descendants of Prince Wu
Wu, Prince of Korea
Yi Wu , was the 4th head of Unhyeon Palace and a member of the imperial family of Korea.-Biography:He was born the second son of Prince Gang, the fifth son of Emperor Gojong....
, the second son of Prince Gang. In this case, the rightful Head of the House is Yi Chung
Yi Chung
Prince Yi Chung of Korea is a member of the former Imperial Family of Korea and the genealogical male-line heir of Emperor Gojong...
, Prince Wu's eldest son.
Prince Won attended the Sangmun High School during 1979-1981 and completed studies in broadcasting at the New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational research university in New York City. NYIT has five schools and two colleges, all with a strong emphasis on technology and applied scientific research...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He and his wife have had two children, the eldest son born in 1998; the other son born in 1999.
On 16 July 2005, following the death of Prince Gu, some members of the Lee Family Council chose him as the next Head of Korean Imperial Household and they also made his title the Hereditary Prince Imperial (Hwangsason) in the meaning of inherited a title of Prince Gu. His claim is contested by Princess Yi Haewon of Korea who was crowned Empress of South Korea by 12 descendants who felt that she should be Empress, not Prince Won.
He currently lives in an apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
in Wondang, Goyang
Goyang
Goyang is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Goyang includes the new city of Ilsan, which is connected to Seoul via Seoul Subway Line 3. Goyang is bordered by Seoul to the south; walls of the Bukhan Mountain Fortress lie along a small portion of this border.Several institutions of higher...
, Gyeonggi province, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
with his family.
Title
- 16 July 2005 present: assumed to be His Imperial Highness Won, Hereditary Prince Imperial of Korea