Royal Descendent Seeks His Roots

A compilation of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese historical data on Prince Regent Daewon Lee Ha-eung has been published.

A total of four volumes, the “Prince Daewon Compilation”(Hyeoneumsa), is the result of prolonged and painstaking efforts taken by Prince Daewon’s great great great grandson, Lee Cheong (70). This book was based on official national documents such as Korea’s “Seongjeongwon Diaries,” China’s “Cheonggye Chinese Japanese Korean Related Historical Data,” and Japan’s “Japanese Diplomacy Documents,” as well as “The Story of Prince Daewon,” written by a Japanese reporter by the name of Kikuchi Kenjo who participated in the assassination of Queen Min. The records in 10 types of historical data of Prince Daewon were compiled with original and translated text.

The book was sponsored by Seokpa Scholars Institute, which was established from Lee Cheong’s private funds. Lee is the great-grandson of Price Daewon’s youngest son Lee Jae-myeon (name later changed to Lee Hee). He is also the only son of great great grandson Lee Woo, who perished in the Hiroshima bombings, and “Unhyeon Palace Majesty” Park Chan-ju, who returned to her homeland to protect Unhyeon Palace after Lee’s death until passing away in 1995.

Lee Cheong wrote in the prologue, “I always felt that what was written in the previously published books and what was recollected by the elders in my family didn’t match,” and explained how the lamentable absence of completed biographies of Prince Daewon, King Gojong, and Sunjong led him to write this book. But Lee also adamantly refused an interview, saying, “I’ve lived my life avoiding the media.”

As checkered as Prince Daewon’s life was, records of his actions and personality in Korea, China, and Japan are varied in their evaluations.

For instance, even in the ruler of Qing empire Li Hong Xiang’s reports, Prince Daewon was “conniving and violent” right after the Horse Year rebellion (1882), but after two years was “a hero to the weak people of Joseon” and was praised for his “incomparable talent” right after the Ape Year Coup d’etat.

Leading the publication was former Chung-Ang University professor Kwon Seok-bong, who said, “I ascertained that there are so many extremes in Prince Daewon’s character that it’s not easy to approach his life.”

Chae-Hyun Kwon confetti@donga.com