The last princess of Korea, Deokhye, lived a tumultuous life, passing away in 1989 after a long period of mental illness and obscurity.
Princess Deokhye was born in 1912, the youngest daughter of Emperor Gojong and the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty. Her life was marked by the Japanese occupation of Korea, during which she was taken to Japan as part of the Imperial Household’s efforts to assimilate Korean royalty. In 1931, she was forced to marry Count Takeyuki So, a Japanese aristocrat, which further estranged her from her homeland.
The princess’s life in Japan was not a happy one. She suffered from mental health issues, which were exacerbated by the loss of her daughter, who went missing as a child, and the turbulent political climate of the time. After Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule in 1945, Deokhye’s situation did not immediately improve. It wasn’t until 1962 that she was able to return to Korea, thanks to the efforts of her brother, Prince Yi Gu, and a group of Korean patriots.
Upon her return, Deokhye was hospitalized for mental health issues and lived out the rest of her days in relative obscurity. She passed away in Sugang Hall of Changdeok Palace in Seoul, the city of her birth, and was buried in the royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. Her life story reflects the tragic history of Korea during the first half of the 20th century and the personal costs of colonialism and political upheaval.