Rewriting History: The Myths and Realities of Prince Yi Kang’s Legacy
The fall of the Korean Empire was largely due to the role of King Gojong, who was an incompetent and foolish ruler. Sunjong, the next king, lacks presence even as much as the recent statue episode, leading people to pin their hopes on Prince Yi Kang. However, as Yi Bangja and even Yun Chi-ho pointed out earlier, Yi Kang was known for his reckless spending and was notoriously indulgent, especially in keeping numerous concubines, more than anyone else of his time. There were many women who bore his children and others mentioned occasionally in articles as his concubines. However, he had no children with his legal wife. Despite this, he is often held in higher regard than other members of the royal family, primarily due to his attempted exile to Shanghai.
However,
1. The truth behind the Shanghai exile incident
When he was caught just before crossing the border, Yi Kang claimed he had been forced into the situation and attempted to distance himself from the events. His testimony is recorded, where he blamed all the issues on Jeon Hyup and the members of the Daedongdan. He essentially betrayed them. Some say it was fabricated by the Japanese, but there was no reason for Japan to fabricate such a statement. Why would they bother fabricating an interrogation record? Jeon Hyup, who led the attempted exile, suffered severely under harsh torture during the interrogation process, was released on bail due to illness, but eventually died shortly after. His funeral was held under strict Japanese surveillance. Despite being under Japanese rule, Korean newspapers like Dong-A Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo paid tribute to him as a patriot. And what did Yi Kang do then? He didn't show up at all.
2. Concubines and hot spring trips
Afterward, he continued his indulgent lifestyle, traveling from place to place. Some claim that Yi Kang lived such a dissolute life to cover up his involvement in the independence movement, but there is absolutely no reason for him to have done so. Which independence activist engaged in such activities as keeping concubines and touring around the countryside? And as for the claim that he was dragged off to Japan, that's a blatant lie. Who has ever lived in exile while enjoying the hot springs of Beppu?
3. Selling off the Sadong Palace
Perhaps the most telling incident that reveals his true character is when, after liberation, Yi Kang quickly sold off his residence, the Sadong Palace, fearing it might be confiscated by the new government as enemy property. Although he was ultimately swindled and lost the property, he never regained it (he even filed a lawsuit but later withdrew it himself). It wasn't Lee Seung-man who took it away—supporters of Lee Seung-man seem to overlook the fact that they are being criticized for something they didn't even do. Some of Yi Kang's descendants, despite their ancestor's actions, conveniently erase this fact while lamenting about "confiscation," "destruction," and "restoration." This is truly shameless behavior. If they wish to restore it, they should ensure that the historical record clearly states, “Yi Kang, shortly after liberation, sold off the property in a rush, fearing it would be taken by the new nation, only to be swindled.”
Yet, some try to paint him as an independence activist. The only thing that can remotely qualify as an independence movement on his part is the failed attempt to exile. However, his worshippers seem to think this alone isn't enough, so they've taken to creating stories that never happened. Here are some of the lies they spread:
4. Stealing others’ achievements
"Editor of the Shinhan Minbo," involvement with the Kongnip Hyeophoe and relationship with Ahn Chang-ho—these are all the achievements of a true independence activist, Yi Kang 李鋼. It's a malicious tactic to steal another person's accomplishments. During this time, Prince Yi Kang 李堈 was busy creating gossip articles with American women.
5. Transforming pro-Japanese collaborators into righteous fighters
They claim that in October 1909, he visited Jeong Taegyun's house in Geochang and engaged in righteous activities, but if you check the Hwangseong Shinmun and Daehan Maeil Shinbo from October 1909, Yi Kang never left Seoul during that time. Moreover, Jeong Tae-gyun was a pro-Japanese collaborator who supported squads that suppressed independence fighters. Those who elevate their ancestors are turning pro-Japanese collaborators into independence fighters.
6. Fantasy of the Imperial Secret Service, 帝國益聞社
This is pure fiction: there is no evidence that Yi Kang was ever associated with this organization. Lee Ho-seok, whom they claim is a descendant of Prince Ui Chin, was actually just a family butler. Hong Soon-hyung, who they assert was a deputy minister, refused an official Japanese title but was awarded a prize by the Korean Governor-General and faced charges of adultery in his seventies. They also claim that a man named Kim Jae-sik from Bugang-yeon fought for independence alongside Prince Ui Chin, but he had no ties to the independence movement. They say Kim Jae-sik was a finance minister and therefore had knowledge of the royal fortune, but he never held such a position. It is true that Prince Ui Chin wrote the inscription on Kim Jae-sik’s tombstone, but this was done after his death. Prince Ui Chin was a calligrapher who wrote inscriptions for many, even those who were pro-Japanese. The narrative surrounding Prince Ui Chin and the imperial family is simply a fabrication.
7. Lies upon lies
The fabricated tales of his alleged exile to Beppu hot springs and the supposed confiscation of Sadong Palace have already been discussed, so I’ll skip them here.
8. Fabricated claims
Some assert that Kim Gu and Kim Kyu-sik visited Yi Kang on November 23, 1945, after their return to Korea, but on that day, the Provisional Government officials went straight to the residence of Choi Chang-hak, which had been designated as their accommodation, and met only with Lee Seung-man, refusing all other visits. Those who fabricate stories about events that never happened fail to realize they are tarnishing their ancestor's legacy.
Yi Kang could have been evaluated in a fairly modest way, but with all this embellishment, he has become a distorted figure. On top of this, they have transformed a pro-Japanese collaborator into a righteous fighter, making it seem like everything he did was part of some grand secret plan.