Prince Imhae

Prince Imhae (; 20 September 1572 – 3 June 1609; personal name Yi Jin, childhood name Yi Jin-Guk), was a Joseon Royal Prince as the eldest son of King Seonjo and the elder brother of King Gwanghae. He was known for such a violent and arrogant personality, that he murdered some government officials alongside his half brothers: Prince Jeongwon () and Prince Sunhwa (), but were survived under their father's protection. Also, when his depravity led to government officials demanding severe punishment for his actions, he was able to avoid such punishment by his father's protection too.

However, he was passed over for the Crown Prince's role in favour of his younger brother who would eventually take the throne and became King Gwanghae. After investigated for crimes he committed against common people, he was sent into exile to Gyodong County after the Imjin War, then died in 1609.

Early life and marriage

He was born on 20 September 1572 as the first and oldest son of King Seonjo, by his concubine, Lady Gim with the name of Yi Jin-guk (later changed into Yi Jin). But, when he was only 6 years old, she died in 1577. As a result, he and his younger brother were raised by Seonjo's primary wife, Queen Uiin who was childless at this time. Different from him, his brother was said to not have a good relationship with the Queen due to his birth mother's face.

He then married the daughter of Heo-Myeong (), Lady Heo from the " Yangcheon Heo clan" in 1585. In 1591, both of him, Prince Gwanghae (), Prince Sinseong (), Prince Jeongwon () and Prince Sunhwa () became ''Gwanggigwonjonggongsin'' ().

During the Imjin War

At the time of Imjin War

During the start of the Imjin War in 1592 (25th year of the reign of King Seonjo), he lost his position as Crown Prince () due to his violent personality. He would later be faced with a miserable end after the throne was instead handed over to his younger brother, Gwanghae. After being passed over for the position of Crown Prince, he was sent Hamgyeong-do with Prince Sunhwa () to recruit the ''Geunwang Soldiers'' ().

However, on 23 July in the same year, both of Imhae and Sunhwa were captured by local Inspector in Hoe-ryeong, Hamgyeong-do. They were eventually released after series negotiations. Gim Hui-cheol (), Imhae and Gwanghae's maternal grandfather had also died during the War.

After the Imjin War

Yi Jin acted arrogantly and violently by used his high status. Some officers also said that he always acted so arrogant and always caused various problems. Meanwhile, there was some who asked for his crime and want him to severely punished due to his acts such as assaulting an innocent person or killing a person even if they just had a minor resentment. After that, he and his half-brother were constantly impeached, but they were safe.

When Gwanghae took over the throne, appeals for his punishment and expulsion came up one after another. Afterwards, Uigeumbu () followed Gwanghae's instructions and they punished Yi Jin, Gi Ja-heon () and Yi Heung-ro (). Meanwhile, Hong Mun-gwan () raised some mantras to advocated the death penalty of Imhae. Afterwards, he was exiled again to Gyodong-gun. Based on ''"Gwanghaegun's Diary"'' (), Yi Jeong-pyo () a soldier, who guarded him in the exile, was suspected to have forced him drink poison, but after the rebellion, a servant of Imhae testified that he was, in fact, strangled to death. There was also a re-investigation in 1623 which concluded that he was murdered by an assassin sent by Yi Yi-cheom (), then reinstated under King Injo's command.

Debate of children

There is debated that the Prince's children were detained in Japan by Katō Kiyomasa and became monks or the wives of their general. But since there is no evidence to support the detention of his children, so it cannot be said if it is true.

Family

*Father: Seonjo of Joseon (조선 선조; 1552–1608)
*Mother: Royal Noble Consort Gong of the Gimhae Gim clan (공빈 김씨; 1553–1577)
*Wife: Princess Consort, of the Yangcheon Heo clan (군부인 양천허씨; 26 July 1571 – 15 October 1644) – daughter of Heo-Myeong ().
*#Unnamed daughter; died prematurely
*#Yi Tae-ung (이태웅; 1589–1665) – an Iryeon Buddhist ()
*#Yi Jun, Prince Changwon () – adoptive son
*#Yi Gyeong, Prince Yangnyeong (이경 양녕군; 1616–1644) – adoptive son

In popular culture

Television series

*Portrayed by Kim Mu-saeng in the 1982 MBC TV Series ''Woman Exhibition in the West Palace''? ().
*Portrayed by Jung Sung-mo in the 1985–1986 MBC TV Series ''The Imjin War''.
*Portrayed by Im Jung-ha in the 1986 MBC TV Series ''The Hoechun Gate''.
*Portrayed by Im Hyuk-joo in the 1995 KBS2 TV Series '' West Palace''.
*Portrayed by Lee Won-bal in the 2000–2001 KBS2 TV Series ''Roll of Thunder''.
*Portrayed by Kim Yu-seok in the 2003–2004 SBS TV Series ''The King's Woman''.
*Portrayed by Lee Kwang-soo and Lee In-sung in the 2013 MBC TV Series '' Goddess of Fire''.
*Portrayed by Park Joo-hyung in the 2014–2015 KBS2 TV series '' The King's Face''.
*Portrayed by Yoon Hong-bin in the 2015 KBS1 TV series ''The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War''.
*Portrayed by Choi Jong-hwan in the 2015 MBC TV series '' Splendid Politics''.

Film

*Portrayed by Kim Seung-ho in the 1962 South Korean film ''Queen Dowager Inmok''.

References

Prince Imhae
on the '' Encyclopedia of Korean Culture'' .

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imhae, Prince
Korean princes
House of Yi
1572 births
1609 deaths
16th-century Korean people
17th-century Korean people