The unhappy and miserable life of Korean princess Deokhye

Princess Deokhye was born on May 25, 1912 at Changdeokgung Palace in Hanyang (present-day Seoul, Korea). She was the daughter of Emperor Gojong (the first king of Joseon) and his concubine named Yang Gui-in.

Deokhye was not recognized as a princess until 1917 because she was not the queen’s daughter. The princess’s father was 59 years old when Deokhye was born and the emperor was delighted to have a daughter in her late sixties.

In 1917, Deokhye’s name was officially included in the royal register. Deokhye’s father loved her very much and the emperor established a kindergarten named after him in Junmyungdang. Girls the same age as Deokhye from noble families attended this kindergarten.

In North Korea at that time, Deokhye was called Deokhye Ongju, not Gongju. Gongju refers to the queen’s daughter and Ongju refers to the daughters of concubines.

Deokhye’s mother was a low-ranking palace maid who worked in the kitchen. Her father, Emperor Gojong had 16 children with 10 wives, but Deokhye was his first daughter. The king’s four other daughters are not included because they all died under the age of one. Gojong is delighted with Deokhye’s birth and the emperor raises his daughter with boundless love. However, apart from her father’s love, Deokhye has no title and is treated by others as if she didn’t exist.

In 1919, Emperor Gojong planned a secret engagement between Princess Deokhye and Kim Jang-han, grandson of Kim Hwang-jin, a court official. The king thought, this would be the way to protect his daughter, but the engagement failed due to Japanese interference and since then, Kim Hwang-jin was not allowed to enter Deoksu palace once. again. Then, Emperor Gojong suddenly died on January 21, 1919 when Princess Deokhye was 7 years old.

In 1921, Princess Deokhye started attending Hinodae Elementary School in Seoul, Korea. In 1925, the princess was taken to Japan to continue her education. Like her brothers, the princess attended Gakushuin Private School, a school dedicated to princes and princesses. While studying here, Deokhye was friends with Yukika Sohma, a famous Japanese scholar later. According to Yukika’s description, Princess Deokhye is a quiet person and has difficulty learning gymnastics.

In 1929, Princess Deokhye’s mother passed away. Deokhye, then 17, was allowed to temporarily return to Korea to attend her mother’s funeral. In the spring of 1930, the princess began to show signs of psychological instability. She often sleepwalks, so she moves to live in the house in Tokyo, Japan of her brother, Prince Eun. During this period, Princess Deokhye often forgot to eat. The doctor diagnosed Deokhye’s illness as early dementia (now known as schizophrenia). However, after a year, the princess’s condition seemed to have improved.

In May 1931, after being matched by Japanese empress Teimei, Princess Deokhye married Count Sō Takeyuki, a handsome Japanese aristocrat. In fact, this marriage was arranged in 1930, but then the princess’s brother objected and the wedding was postponed because of the princess’s unstable health. After Princess Deokhye recovered, her wedding took place quite solemnly.

After the wedding, Princess Deokhye gave birth to a daughter named Masae in Korea on August 14, 1932. In 1933, Deokhye’s mental illness re-emerged and she later spent many years receiving treatment at various mental health clinics.

After Japan’s defeat in World War II, Korea once again gained independence and Princess Deokhye’s husband lost his title of earl. Deokhye’s health continued to deteriorate and after the permission of the princess’s brother, Sō Takeyuki and Princess Deokhye divorced in 1955. Sō Takeyuki later remarried to a Japanese woman named Yoshie Katsumura.

The greatest tragedy and mystery happened to Princess Deokhye in 1956 when her daughter Masae left behind a letter that looked like a suicide note. Masae is said to have committed suicide due to stress from his parents’ divorce. After her daughter disappeared, Deokhye’s mental health took a hit and the princess returned to Korea in 1962 at the invitation of the Korean government.

Although the princess’s mental state was unstable, she still accurately remembered the intricate court rituals. The princess lives in Changdeokgung Palace with her brother and his wife.

Princess Deokhye died at the age of 77 on April 21, 1989 after catching a cold. At the time, she was said to have aphasia, being unable to speak or understand what others were saying.

In recent years, Princess Deokhye’s tragic life has been marked by an exhibition held to celebrate the princess’s 100th birthday in 2012. In addition, her life was also established. movie named The Last Princess debuted in 2016 with movie star Landing where you are Son Ye-jin takes on the role of Princess Deokhye.