Remembering Lee Kang, a royal family member who fought for independence

March is a very important month for the remebrance of the independence movements. This is because the one of the most significant events of the movements during the Japanese colonial period, March 1st Movement, took place on March. Today, I will introduce Lee Kang, the only independence activist of the royal family, who may be someone you are not really familiar with among the many independence activists.

Lee Kang, also called as Prince Imperial Ui, was born on March 30, 1877. He was the fifth son of King Gojong, the first emperor of Daehan Empire. When he was just 18, Lee Kang was sent to Japan as part of a diplomatic mission, and later to six European countries such as England, France, Germany, and more. These experiences helped him begin his future as an independence activist.

In the late 19th century, Lee Kang was sent to the United States, and attened college there. While studying, he interacted with many independence activists like Kim Kyu-sik and Ahn Chang-ho, all of whom you might have heard of if you are interested in the Korean independence movement. However, after Korea’s independence, much of his properties were seized by the government, marking the start of his difficult later years. He eventually moved to Andong Byeolgung Palace, where he spent his final years.

Let's find out more about his activities in supporting Korean independence in detail. After the Eulsa Treaty in 1905, Lee Kang returned to Korea in 1906 and was assigned as one of  the military and political leaders. Through those roles, he worked alongside King Gojong to resist Japanese imperialism.

During the March 1st Movement, Lee Kang supported many independence activists, helping organize efforts and bought additional lands to use as a base for those groups. He sent funds and letters to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and because of this, he was subjected to Japanese surveillance. In November 1919, Lee Kang tried to join the Provisional Government in Shanghai, but he was captured by Japan. After the event, he still managed to engage with independence movments, saying, “I would rather be a free citizen of Korea than a prince under the Japanese rule.”

The actions of his independence acts deserve to be remembered and respected. In 2022, in order to honor Prince Imperial Ui and his contributions, a special exhibition was held at Gyeongun Museum. Now, how can we, every one of us reading this article today, remember Lee Kang? One way is to explore places closely connected to his life. Since the Sadong Palace, Lee Kang's residence, is no longer preserved, I wanted to introduce Andong Byeolgung palace, where he spent his final years. 

Andong Byeolgung Palace is a royal residence located in Anguk-dong, Jongno, Seoul. The palace included building such as Gyeongyeondang, Jeonghwadang, Hyunghwangru, and Jeongsangru. Lee Kang passed away at the age of 79 in this palace. 

After his death, the property was taken over by the government. In the same place, Pungmun High School stood instead, and many of the original structures were dismantled. However, fortunately, some of the buildings, like Gyeongyeondang and Hyunghwangru, were preserved and moved in 2009 to the Korean National University of Arts in Buyeo.

Today, if you go to the place where Andong Byeolgung Palace used to stand, you can still see parts of the palace’s foundation, such as a 61-meter wall, which has been opened for public.

Lee Kang’s dedication and struggles as a Korean independence activist still remains as a powerful symbol of resistance. Perhaps this 3.1 Independence Movement Day would be a great time for you  to rethink about the story of the royal independence activist, Lee Kang, and respect his efforts.

Works Cited

Imperial House of Korea. Imperial House of Korea: The Life of Prince Yi Kang (Lee Kang), www.imperialhouse.kr/sub02/sub02_01_03.php. 

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. "이강 (Yi Kang)." Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, The Academy of Korean Studies, encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0043489. 

Cultural Heritage Administration. "안동별궁의 문화재적 가치" Cultural Heritage Administration, www.cha.go.kr/newsBbz/selectNewsBbzView.do;jsessionid=P1M7YEF15VkQq1AhPLgtINoqcBLWi1JiJ4770zuMfkchtQGWzfArah8X8eyv8OLG.cha-was01_servlet_engine1?newsItemId=155155899&sectionId=f_sec_2&pageIndex=6&pageUnit=10&strWhere=&strValue=&sdate=&edate=&category=&mn=NS_01_02.