Korea is not currently ruled by a royal family, but there are still members of Korea's royal family alive and living in the country. After ruling for over five centuries, the Joseon Dynasty ended when Korea fell under the colonial rule of Japan. Here's everything you need to know about the Korean royal family — in the past and in modern day.
Korea's Royal Family - the Joseon Dynasty
The Joseon Dynasty ruled Korea from 1392 until 1910 when Japan colonized the country. The first ruler of the Joseon Dynasty (also known as the House of Yi), Yi Seong-gye (King Taejo), was a Goryeo military commander who established the capital in Hanyang (Seoul) and favored Confucian teachings for his nation. Family members in the House of Yi's line of succession continued to rule Korea for about the next 520 years.
The Last Korean Monarch
The last Korean monarch was Emperor Sunjong (Yunghui Emperor), 27th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, who ruled from 1907-1910. His father, King Gojong, ascended to the throne when he was 12 years old. After many years of strife in Korea including peasant revolts and the assassination of his queen, Gojong declared Korea "The Great Korean Empire" and declared himself Emporer. Emperor Sunjong was his second-born.
Japanese Annexation & the Korean Royals
In 1910, Japan annexed Korea, abolished the rule of the Joseon Dynasty, and established a governor-generalship to rule the country. There were no more monarchs ruling over Korea. As Japan attempted to assimilate Korean society into Japanese culture and included a number of oppressive practices, Korean resistance grew to their occupation. Japanese rule over Korea ended in 1945, and after World War II, the country was split into two separate republics that were divided by the 38th parallel. The Korean royal family was never re-established as rulers of either republic.
Korea's Royal Family Today
There is still an Imperial royal family in Korea, but they exist in name and lineage only. They do not rule Korea. His Imperial Highness, King Yi Seok, lived most of his life in Korea. He is the nephew and heir of Emperor Sunjong and the only living heir to the Korean throne currently residing in Korea.
Yi Seok is a former professional musician and member of the Korean military who lived in America for a time before returning to Korea in the 1990s. His current focus is on spreading the history and culture of the Joseon Dynasty. He also supports the idea of a constitutional monarchy in Korea.
Crown Prince Andrew Lee
On October 6, 2018, His Imperial Highness King Yi Seok of the Joseon dynasty, named Prince Andrew Lee as his successor. The current Crown Prince is a Korean-American tech entrepreneur who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had no idea he was related to the Korean royal family. He was born and raised in Indianapolis and only learned of his family's royal connection when a family member casually mentioned they were part of the House of Yi, the former Imperial family of Joseon.
Lee told reporters that he plans to use his position to help empower Koreans. He will use a newly launched Imperial Fund to invest in small businesses throughout the country, with an emphasis on tech development and education.
The Korean Royal Family in the Modern World
The Korean monarchy was fraught with upheavals, assassinations, and royal court drama as family members vied for power and control. The modern Korean royal family doesn't hold any political power, but with the Crown Prince's proposed goals, the country may advance in technology development.
