The Yi Royal Family and Aristocrats
Koreans under colonial rule faced new social networks and ways of life. In the 1920s, the Japanese authorities attempted so-called “rule through division”, to embrace new cooperators with colonial control. The Yi royal family (Wanggongjok), descendents of the royal family of the Great Han Empire and aristocrats were main targets for this conciliation. They cooperated with Japanese imperial rule while enjoying special, albeit limited, privileges.
The Yi Royal Family
- Wedding picture of Crown Prince Yi Eun and Nashimotonomiya Masako (Yi Bangja)
- Crown Prince Yi Eun and Nashimotonomiya Masako (Yi Bangja) in mourning clothes
- King Yi Yi Eun and wife and Governor-General Saito and wife in Geneva
- King Yi Yi Eun and wife with the families of Japanese officials in Geneva
- King Yi Yi Eun and wife with Governor-General Saito Makoto and wife, and representatives of other countries in Geneva
- Crowd gathering at the Gyeongseong Post Office Plaza to welcome the returning Crown Prince Yi Eun, September 3rd, 1921
- A student who graduated with top honors, awarded by the Commemorative Association for the Happy Occasion of the Royal Yi Family (Yi Wangga Eo Gyeongsa Ginyeomhoe). Student is reading a welcoming statement for Crown Prince Yi Eun and his wife who visited the Jinmyeong Girls’ Secondary School
- King Yi Yi Eun with Government-General officials and the Privy Council aristocrats, commemorating Yi’s visit to Gyeongseong (Seoul)
Aristocrats
- Korean Aristocrats – Count Song Byeongjun
- Funeral procession of Count Song Byeongjun (February 9th, 1925)
- Funeral procession of Count Song Byeongjun arriving at Yongsan Funeral Hall
- View of the funeral hall for Count Song Byeongjun
- Funeral procession of Count Song Byeongjun arriving at the burial site
- Machines at Continent Rubber Industries in Gyeongseong (Seoul), established by Viscount Yi Hayeong (1922)
- Wives of Korean high-ranking aristocrats with the Governor-General’s wife, Ms. Haruko, at Han Sangryong’s mansion, Gahoe-dong (town)
- At the wedding of Baron Han Changsu (February 21st, 1931)