The Life of Deokhye, the Last Princess of the Joseon Dynasty Who Was Not as Happy as Fiction - Played by Son Ye Jin

Kapanlagi.com - Has anyone watched the film THE LAST PRINCESS? This film, starring Son Ye Jin, is based on the true story of the last princess from the Joseon Dynasty era. The film was released in 2016 and sold 1.7 million tickets.

Who is this last princess that she is so remembered by the Korean people and her life story is even made into a film? Her life journey is even more dramatic than the film itself.

1. She is Princess Deokhye

Princess Deokhye as a baby © Courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Korea

King Gojong had a child with one of his concubines in 1912, who is now known as Princess Deokhye, also referred to as Ongju (Princess) - (If Gongjoo (Princess) is a term for the child of the Queen). It is known that King Gojong was already 60 years old when his daughter was born. Deokhye is the only daughter he had, so she was dearly loved by her father.

Unfortunately, her life was not as beautiful as the life of a princess we know. At the age of 13, the princess had to move to Japan to continue her education there for Japanese nobility, learning the Japanese language while wearing Japanese or Western clothing. Previously, Crown Prince Youngchin had already been studying in Japan since the age of eleven.

2. The Exiled Princess

Young Princess Deokhye wearing traditional Japanese clothing © Courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Korea

The Princess always felt lonely in her life. Just because she was a princess doesn't mean her life was happy even though she was in a foreign country. Deokhye Ongjoo was exiled in a foreign land. She could only spend her time with her stepbrother. However, this also could not cure her loneliness.

Her sadness grew when she heard that her mother died in 1929. In the Japanese royal regulations at that time, Deokhye was prohibited from wearing appropriate mourning clothes for the funeral. This made Princess Deokhye depressed, so shortly after her mother's death, the princess suffered from nerve disorders and was diagnosed with schizophrenia ahead of time.

3. Unhappy Marriage Leading to Child's Suicide

Princess Deokhye and So Takeyuki © Courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Korea

Princess Deokhye finally got married in 1931 despite her unstable state of mind. According to the regulations, she was married to Japanese nobleman Prince So Takeyuki from the Tsushima noble clan. So Takeyuki and Princess Deokhye had a daughter named Masae in 1932.

This arranged marriage worsened after the end of World War II. The wealth of the Japanese nobility at that time was completely destroyed, including So Takeyuki. Princess Deokhye was then admitted to a mental hospital in Tokyo in 1946 due to dementia. She and her husband divorced while Princess Deokhye was still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Life did not improve for Princess Deokhye, as she also lost Masae. Masae got married, but suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a letter that was possibly a suicide note.

4. Returning to Korea After 38 Years

Momen Putri Deokhye kembali ke Korea © Courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Korea

Princess Deokhye's journey ended with her return to her country. However, her journey was not as smooth as desired. It all started with the independence and the Korean War that left chaos and political unrest on the Korean Peninsula. Kim Eul Han, a correspondent in Tokyo for the Seoul Newspaper, made efforts to bring Princess Deokhye back to Korea in 1950 after hearing about her suffering.

However, the Korean government, led by President Lee Seung Man at that time, opposed bringing back members of the Imperial family in the new political climate. Kim Eul Han did not give up, and finally, the Princess successfully returned to her homeland after 38 years of absence.

Princess Deokhye cried upon her return to Korea. Despite her mental condition, she remembered the palace etiquette very well. A residence was established in Changdeokgung Palace. Her caretaker, who had been with her since her youth, was there to take care of her, as well as her sister-in-law, Youngchin's wife. The Princess passed away in 1989 and was buried next to her father.

(kpl/mit)