VOL.77/2024.12

Women Who Protected the Korean Empire

An Imperial Descendant of the Korean Empire’s Pick

2024.11.04

I would like to recommend two novels that focus on the hardships and adversity of people who lived through the history of the Korean Empire. The stories in these novels vividly depict tragic but resilient lives, and remind us of the stories of our ancestors who endured suffering throughout history.

First off, Kwon Bee-Young’s novel Princess Deokhye (Dasan Books) has a special meaning to me. The protagonist of the novel, Princess Deokhye, is the last princess of the Korean Empire and my great-aunt. She was born into the imperial family of the Korean Empire as the youngest daughter of Emperor Gojong, but was forced to live a lonely and tragic life in Japan after the loss of her country. The novel conveys Princess Deokhye’s deep sorrow and agony at not being able to protect her country. I, too, as a royal descendant of the Korean imperial family, cannot help but feel her pain in my heart. Through the life of the princess, we will have to revisit the pain of the imperial family and the people who lost their country and the hope that blossomed within them.

The novel Ha Ran-Sa (Special Books) follows the life of Ha Ran-Sa, a woman who was an independent activist during the time of the Korean Empire. She was born Kim Ran-Sa (金蘭史) and became known as Ha Ran-Sa (河蘭史) after her husband’s surname. She studied in Japan and the US, and was the first Korean to earn a bachelor’s degree in the US - showing her exceptional passion for education.
The book Ha Ran-Sa tells the story of her life, from how the woman born Kim Ran-Sa came to have the name Ha Ran-Sa, to her time studying in the US, to her activities after meeting King Uichin (also known as Yi Kang), the imperial prince of the Korean Empire. Through her dedication to women’s education and independence, and her commitment to her country, we are reminded of the sacrifices and dedication of women independence fighters of the time.

Both works above portray the stories of two women who fought through the crisis facing the Korean Empire. They sacrificed themselves for their country in their own way, and their lives are a great lesson for us today. Although they faced tragic fates in the midst of a miserable history, their noble hearts and strong spirits for the country still continue to give us many lessons.
And recently, British journalist Daniel Tudor’s novel The Last Kingdom (Gimm-Young Publishers) was published. The book, based on my grandfather, King Uichin (Yi Kang), delicately depicts the historical wounds suffered by the Korean Empire and imperial family, as well as the hope that blossomed in the midst of them. The section about the last period of the Korean Empire was particularly meaningful to me as a crown prince and descendant of the imperial family. The stories of our ancestors who fought to the end to protect the country and their aspirations for a free and peaceful country are deeply embedded in this novel. This makes us realize that history is not just a record of the past, but something that has a deep impact on our lives today.
I am confident that the two novels recommended above, as well as The Last Kingdom, will resonate with you as well. And, I hope that more people will deepen their understanding of the history of the Korean Empire and the lives of the people who lived through it, and remember their sacrifices through these novels. This is because history is not just a record of the past, but has a profound impact on our lives today, and we exist only through history.

Written by Crown Prince Lee Won (Chair of the Dae Han Imperial House)