Skip to content
  • What is Kimchibytes?
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • SoKo Living
  • Travel Resources
  • Teaching Abroad
  • Foreign Destinations
  • Photography
Menu
Kimchibytes
  • What is Kimchibytes?
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • SoKo Living
  • Travel Resources
  • Teaching Abroad
  • Foreign Destinations
  • Photography
Hit enter to search or esc to close
Home / Blog / The Last Living Heir of the Joseon Dynasty
Posted inBlog

The Last Living Heir of the Joseon Dynasty

Posted By Guest Contributor

On a recent lazy weekend, I came across some figurative living history that blew my mind: there is a living royal from the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. Within the city of Jeonju, a man lives as the last piece in Korea to its last and longest-ruling imperial family. And it gets better: the historical bloodline recently found its way onto American soil. The findings all started on Facebook.
I often fact check news shared by those I follow on the second earth that we call Facebook. (Most reports at the time of this post state that Facebook’s reached 2.27 billion monthly users, our planet has 7.7 billion… *gestures vaguely*) I immediately opened a second tab to start investigating when I saw a shared article from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) entitled, “This is No K-drama: the fresh prince of  South Korea is real royalty, and he’s American.”

Crown Prince Andrew Lee to the imperial throne of Korea
Credit: SCMP

In a turn of events that isn’t fully disclosed within the SCMP article, the mid-30 year old Korean American was able to reconnect with his family member — King Yi Seok — and impressed him so much that he made Lee his heir. Lee shared in the article that he was aware that his family had some ties to the Yi family but never shared that they were indeed royal relations. Well, aside from whichever relative of his who felt the need to say that he was of the Yi Dynasty in a passing reference.
Lee stated, “You don’t learn much about the Joseon empire or Korean history growing up in the US.” This is certainly true but even more so, how and why is the life of Yi Seok not widely known by current generations? For the TL;DR, his past was marred by the hardships of Japan occupation and after having to flee Korea, the need for an emperor had long fallen by his return.
Reporter Michael Alison Chandler reflected upon her visit with then Prince Yi Seok almost eight years ago in an article she wrote for The Washington Post; and it’s certainly worth reading. Also, if you want to do some cross-checking of your own, visit these websites for details on Facebook, Prince Andrew Lee and King Yi Seok’s history.
This isn’t the end of this story — we can’t learn something like this and not share more with you, readers. Plans are being made to visit Jeonju and, fate willing, see the king with my own eyes. His life’s story is truly amazing.
~Ashley

Tags: About Korea History imperial family Jeonju Joseon Dynasty Joseon Dynasty royal emblem King Yi Seok Prince Andrew Lee
Guest Contributor

Our blog is a sounding board for people to share their thoughts and opinions about living in South Korea and abroad.

Previous Article What I Learned Traveling Overseas for the First Time
Next Article The Real Seoul Fashion Week

Related Posts

ECS153 Facebook page header
Posted inFeatured

When Working at the Coffee Shop Just Won’t Do

This is a promoted post of Elancer Cowkorking Space and E=CS153 in Gangnam, South Korea. Visit www.ECS153.com to learn more about the facility and bringing your business to its address.   Plenty of people forget that not every foreigner in

Read More about When Working at the Coffee Shop Just Won’t Do
Posted By acharltongriffin
Posted inBlog SoKo Living

A day in the cabin of a Korean artist

It is Independence Day in South Korea. This is a red day for many public school teachers. Yes, we have a day to ourselves. Many of my colleagues and I intended on having a hike in our local town. Since

Read More about A day in the cabin of a Korean artist
Posted By talkativegp

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Author

Guest Contributor

Our blog is a sounding board for people to share their thoughts and opinions about living in South Korea and abroad.

Click Here to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101.com

MACG MAGAZINE

    Look & Hue Magazine

      MACG Productions

        Tags

        About Korea advice am I too old to teach abroad Asia Beach biking adventures biking in Korea cheonggyecheon Culture of Korea Daegu dating ESL Events expat expat life food guest writer hiking Hongdae humor Japan Korea Korean Culture Koreans Leighton Travels Multifacetedacg nightlife North Korea outdoor activities outdoors outdoor tourism party photography Seoul Social Issues South Korea Teaching abroad Teaching English as a foreign language The Best of Kimchibytes too old to teach abroad travel Travel Asia travel blogs vacation Visiting Korea
        © 2019 Multifacetedacg Productions LLC