World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseYi Kang (alternate romanization: Yi Gang), was born as the fifth son of Emperor Gwangmu of Korea and concubine Lady Yang in 1877. In 1891, he was given the title of Prince Euihwa. He married Lady Kim Sudeok, a daughter of First Baron Kim Sajun; she would take on the title of Princess Duk-in. In 1894, he visited Japan to celebrate the Japanese victory in the First Sino-Japanese War as a special ambassador. In 1895, he went on an official visit of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Italy, and Austria. In 1899, he studied in the United States; in the same year, he was made Prince Imperial Eui. In 1906, he was made the president of the Korean Red Cross; he would remain in that position until 1910. In 1919, he attempted to flee to Shanghai, China to join the provisional government, but he was captured by Japanese-sympathizers in northeastern China who returned him to Korea. He would make no further attempt to resist the Japanese occupation for the rest of his life. He passed away at the Seongrak Manor in the Seongbuk District of Seoul, South Korea in 1955. He was buried at Hongyu-reung, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Photographs

Yi Kang Timeline