Wikipedia

Prince Imhae

Prince Imhae (Korean: 임해군; Hanja: 臨海君; 20 September 1572 – 3 June 1609;[3] personal name Yi Jin, childhood name Yi Jin-Guk), was a Joseon Royal Prince as the eldest son of King Seonjo[4] and the elder brother of King Gwanghae. He was known for such a violent and arrogant personality, that he murdered some government officials alongside his half brothers: Prince Jeongwon (정원군) and Prince Sunhwa (순화군), but were survived[clarification needed] under their father's protection.[5] Also, when his depravity led to government officials demanding severe punishment for his actions, he was able to avoid such punishment by his father's protection too.

Yi Jin
Prince of Joseon
Born20 September 1572
Joseon
Died3 June 1609 (aged 36)
Gyodong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, Joseon
Burial
Tomb of Prince Imhae [ko], Songneung-ri, Jingeon-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province[1][unreliable source?]
Spouse
Princess Consort, of the Yangcheon Heo clan
​
​
(m. 1585)​
IssueA daughter
Yi Tae-ung
Yi Jun (adoptive)
Yi Gyeong (adoptive)
HouseHouse of Yi
FatherSeonjo of Joseon
MotherRoyal Noble Consort Gongbin Kim
Korean name
Hangul
임해군
Hanja
臨海君
Revised RomanizationImhae-gun
McCune–ReischauerImh'ae-gun
Birth name
Hangul
이진
Hanja
李珒
Revised RomanizationYi Jin
McCune–ReischauerI Ch'in
Childhood name
Hangul
이진국
Hanja
李鎭國
Revised RomanizationYi Jinguk
McCune–ReischauerI Ch'inkuk
Posthumous name
Hangul
정민공[2]
Hanja
貞愍公
Revised RomanizationJeongmin-gong
McCune–ReischauerCh'ŏngmin-gong

However, he was passed over for the Crown Prince's role in favour of his younger brother who would eventually take the throne and became King Gwanghae. After investigated for crimes he committed against common people, he was sent into exile to Gyodong County after the Imjin war, then died in 1609.

Early life and marriage

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He was born on 20 September 1572 as the first and oldest son of King Seonjo, by his concubine, Lady Gim with the name of Yi Jin-guk (later changed into Yi Jin). But, when he was only 6 years old, she died in 1577.[6][unreliable source?] As a result, he and his younger brother were raised by Seonjo's primary wife, Queen Uiin who was childless at this time. Different from him, his brother was said to not have a good relationship with the Queen due to his birth mother's face.

He then married the daughter of Heo-Myeong (허명), Lady Heo from the "Yangcheon Heo clan" in 1585.[7] In 1591, both of him, Prince Gwanghae (광해군), Prince Sinseong (신성군), Prince Jeongwon (정원군) and Prince Sunhwa (순화군) became Gwanggigwonjonggongsin (광국원종공신).

During the Imjin War

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Main article: Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)

At the time of Imjin War

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During the start of the Imjin War in 1592 (25th year of the reign of King Seonjo), he lost his position as Crown Prince (왕세자; 王世子) due to his violent personality.[6] He would later be faced with a miserable end after the throne was instead handed over to his younger brother, Gwanghae. After being passed over for the position of Crown Prince, he was sent Hamgyeong-do with Prince Sunhwa (순화군) to recruit the Geunwang Soldiers (근왕병).[8]

However, on 23 July in the same year, both of Imhae and Sunhwa were captured by local Inspector in Hoe-ryeong, Hamgyeong-do.[9][10] They were eventually released after series negotiations. Gim Hui-cheol (김희철), Imhae and Gwanghae's maternal grandfather had also died during the War.[11]

After the Imjin War

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Yi Jin acted arrogantly and violently by used his high status. Some officers also said that he always acted so arrogant and always caused various problems.[6] Meanwhile, there was some who asked for his crime and want him to severely punished due to his acts such as assaulting an innocent person or killing a person even if they just had a minor resentment. After that, he and his half-brother were constantly impeached, but they were safe.[6]

When Gwanghae took over the throne, appeals for his punishment and expulsion came up one after another. Afterwards, Uigeumbu (의금부; 義禁府) followed Gwanghae's instructions and they punished Yi Jin, Gi Ja-heon (기자헌) and Yi Heung-ro (이흥로).[12][13] Meanwhile, Hong Mun-gwan (홍문관) raised some mantras to advocated the death penalty of Imhae. Afterwards, he was exiled again to Gyodong-gun. Based on "Gwanghaegun's Diary" (광해군일기), Yi Jeong-pyo (이정표) a soldier, who guarded him in the exile, was suspected to have forced him drink poison,[14][unreliable source?] but after the rebellion, a servant of Imhae testified that he was, in fact, strangled to death. There was also a re-investigation in 1623 which concluded that he was murdered by an assassin sent by Yi Yi-cheom (이이첨), then reinstated under King Injo's command.[6]

Debate of children

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There is debated that the Prince's children were detained in Japan by Katō Kiyomasa and became monks or the wives of their general. But since there is no evidence to support the detention of his children, so it cannot be said if it is true.

Family

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  • Father: Seonjo of Joseon (조선 선조; 1552–1608)
  • Mother: Royal Noble Consort Gong of the Gimhae Gim clan (공빈 김씨; 1553–1577)
  • Wife: Princess Consort, of the Yangcheon Heo clan (군부인 양천허씨; 26 July 1571 – 15 October 1644[15]) – daughter of Heo-Myeong (허명).
    1. Unnamed daughter; died prematurely
    2. Yi Tae-ung (이태웅; 1589–1665) – an Iryeon Buddhist (일연스님)
    3. Yi Jun, Prince Changwon (이준 창원군) – adoptive son
    4. Yi Gyeong, Prince Yangnyeong (이경 양녕군; 1616–1644) – adoptive son
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Television series

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  • Portrayed by Kim Mu-saeng in the 1982 MBC TV Series Woman Exhibition in the West Palace? (여인열전 - 서궁마마).
  • Portrayed by Jung Sung-mo in the 1985–1986 MBC TV Series The Imjin War.
  • Portrayed by Im Jung-ha in the 1986 MBC TV Series The Hoechun Gate.
  • Portrayed by Im Hyuk-joo in the 1995 KBS2 TV Series West Palace.
  • Portrayed by Lee Won-bal in the 2000–2001 KBS2 TV Series Roll of Thunder.
  • Portrayed by Kim Yu-seok in the 2003–2004 SBS TV Series The King's Woman.
  • Portrayed by Lee Kwang-soo and Lee In-sung in the 2013 MBC TV Series Goddess of Fire.
  • Portrayed by Park Joo-hyung in the 2014–2015 KBS2 TV series The King's Face.
  • Portrayed by Yoon Hong-bin in the 2015 KBS1 TV series The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War.
  • Portrayed by Choi Jong-hwan in the 2015 MBC TV series Splendid Politics.[16]

Film

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  • Portrayed by Kim Seung-ho in the 1962 South Korean film Queen Dowager Inmok.

References

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  1. ^ 남양주 임해군 묘. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  2. ^ 조선왕조실록. Joseon Wangjo Sillok (in Korean). Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  3. ^ In the Chinese calendar (lunar), he was born on 14th day 8th month 1572 and died on 29th day 4th month 1609.
  4. ^ 《선원속보》 선조자손록 권1
  5. ^ 조선왕조실록. Joseon Wangjo Sillok (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e 임해군이야기. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  7. ^ 조선왕조실록. Joseon Wangjo Sillok (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  8. ^ 《선조수정실록》 26권, 선조 25년(1592년 명 만력(萬曆) 20년) 4월 14일(계묘)
  9. ^ 선조 31권, 25년(1592 임진 / 명 만력(萬曆) 20년) 10월 19일(을사) 5번째기사, 경성판관 이홍업이 가져온 가토의 편지. 왕자들이 보낸 편지엔 7월 24일로 되어있다.
  10. ^ 《선조수정실록》 26권, 선조 25년(1592년 명 만력(萬曆) 20년) 7월 1일(무오)
  11. ^ 《선조수정실록》 26권, 선조 25년(1592년 명 만력(萬曆) 20년) 8월 1일(무자)
  12. ^ 광해 4권, 즉위년(1608 무신 / 명 만력(萬曆) 36년) 5월 16일(신축) 2번째기사
  13. ^ 조선왕조실록. Joseon Wangjo Sillok (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  14. ^ 이정표가 임해군을 살해하다. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  15. ^ In the Chinese calendar (lunar), she was born on 5th days 7th months 1571 and died on 15th days 9th months 1644.
  16. ^ '화정' 광해군 차승원 vs 임해군 최종환 일촉즉발 대결 시작됐다. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 14 April 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
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