Sunjong of Korea

Sunjong was the second son of Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong. When he became two years old in 1876, Sunjong was proclaimed the Crown Prince of Joseon. In 1882, he married a daughter of the Yeoheung Min clan, who later became Empress Sunmyeonghyo (Korean: 순명효황후; Hanja: 純明孝皇后). She later died at the age of 31 on 5 November 1904 due to the severe depression she got from trying to protect his mother of her assassination on 8 October 1895.

The Korean Empire was established in 1897, and Sunjong became the imperial crown prince. Sunjong remarried again 3 years later to Yun Jeong-sun of the Haepyeong Yun clan, who was 20 years his junior, on 24 January 1907, and became Crown Princess Consort Yun (later Empress Sunjeong). In 19 July 1907, Gojong was deposed as a result of Japanese coercion, and Sunjong was made Emperor of Korea. He was proclaimed heir to the throne of Prince Imperial Yeong (Korean: 영친왕; Hanja: 英親王), the younger half-brother of Sunjong, and moved from Deoksugung Palace to the imperial residence at Changdeokgung Palace.[4]

Sunjong's reign was limited by the gradually increasing armed intervention of the Japanese government in Korea. In July 1907, he was proclaimed emperor of Korea but was immediately forced to enter into the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 (Korean: 한일신협약, 정미7조약; Hanja: 韓日新協約, 丁未七條約). This treaty allowed the Japanese government to supervise and intervene in the administration and governance of Korea, which also allowed for the appointment of Japanese ministers within the government.[5]

While under Japanese supervision, the Korean army was dismissed on the pretext of lack of public finance regulations. In 1909, Japan implemented the Japan–Korea Protocol (Korean: 기유각서; Hanja: 己酉覺書) which effectively removed Korea's judicial power. Meanwhile, Japan dispatched Itō Hirobumi, Japanese Resident-General of Korea, to negotiate with Russia over problems involving Korea and Manchuria. However, Itō was assassinated by Ahn Jung-geun at Harbin, which led to the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910. Pro-Japanese politicians, such as Song Byung-jun and Lee Wan-yong, defected, merging Korea with Japan by fabricating Korea's willingness and establishing the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty on August 29, 1910.[6][7]

Although still existent on paper, the intervention by the Japanese government effectively ended Sunjong's reign over the Korean Empire and he became essentially powerless within three years of ruling. Japan, in effect, abolished the Korean Empire on August 29, 1910, ending 519 years of the Joseon dynasty.[8]

• Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Yi Hyeok, Prince Eui (이혁 의원군, 義原君 李爀) (13 June 1661 – 12 November 1722)
    • Adoptive-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather: Yi Hwan, Prince Yang (이환 양원군, 李煥 陽原君) (April 1658 – March 1724)
• Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • Princess Consort Kwon of the Andong Kwon clan (군부인 안동권씨) (27 August 1664 – 7 April 1735)
    • Adoptive-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother: Princess Consort Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (군부인 여흥 민씨)
• Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Yi Suk, Prince Anheung (이숙 안흥군, 李俶 安興君) (9 October 1693 – 7 April 1768)
• Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • Princess Consort Ryu of the Munhwa Ryu clan (군부인 문화류씨) (3 January 1696 – 13 January 1755)
• Great-Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Yi Jin-ik (이진익, 李鎭翼) (25 September 1728 – 26 April 1796)
• Great-Great-Great-Grandmother
  • Lady Jo of the Hanyang Jo clan (본관: 한양조씨); (조도건의 딸) daughter of Jo Do-gyeon (조도건, 趙道健)
• Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Yi Byeong-won (6 April 1752 – 11 November 1822) (이병원, 李秉源)
    • Adoptive-Great-Great-Grandfather: Yi Jin, Prince Eunsin (이진 은신군, 李禛 恩信君) (11 January 1755 – 29 March 1771)
• Great-Great-Grandmother
  • Lady Jeong of the Yeonil Jeong clan (본관: 연일 정씨); (정의환의 딸) daughter of Jeong Eui-hwan (정의환, 鄭義煥)
    • Adoptive-Great-Great-Grandmother: Princess Consort Namyang of the Namyang Hong clan (남양군부인 남양 홍씨, 南陽郡夫人 南陽 洪氏) (1755 – 21 March 1829)
• Great-Grandfather
  • Yi Gu, Prince Namyeon (22 August 1788 – 19 March 1836) (이구 남연군, 南延君)
• Great-Grandmother
  • Princess Consort Min of the Yeoheung Min clan (26 June 1788 – 1831) (군부인 여흥민씨, 驪興府大夫人 閔氏)
• Grandfather
  • Yi Ha-Eung, Grand Internal Prince Heungseon (21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898) (이하응 흥선대원군)
    • Adoptive Grandfather: Crown Prince Hyomyeong (18 September 1809 – 25 June 1830) (이영 효명세자)
• Grandmother
  • Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan (3 February 1818 – 8 January 1898) (순목대원비 민씨)
    • Adoptive Grandmother: Queen Shinjeong of the Pungyang Jo clan (21 January 1809 – 4 June 1890) (신정왕후 조씨)
• Father
  • Emperor Gojong (고종) (8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919)
• Mother
  • Empress Myeongseong of the Yeoheung Min clan (명성황후 민씨) (17 November 1851– 8 October 1895)
    • Maternal Grandfather: Min Chi-rok (민치록, 閔致祿) (1799–1858)
    • Maternal Grandmother: Lady Hanchang of the Hansan Yi clan (한창부부인 이씨, 韓昌府夫人 李氏) (1818-1874)
• Brothers
  • Older half-brother: Yi Seon, Prince Wanhwa (16 April 1868 – 12 January 1880) (이선 완화군)
  • Unnamed older brother (born 4 November 1871 – 8 November 1871)
  • Unnamed younger brother (born 5 April 1875 – 18 April 1875)
  • Unnamed younger brother (born 18 February 1878 – 5 June 1878)
  • Younger half-brother: Yi Kang, Prince Uihwa (30 March 1877 – August 1955) (이강 의화군)
  • Younger half-brother: Yi Eun, Crown Prince Uimin (20 October 1897 – 1 May 1970) (이은 의민태자)
  • Younger half-brother: Prince Yi Yuk (3 July 1914 – 22 January 1915) (이육)
  • Younger half-brother: Prince Yi U (20 August 1915 – 25 July 1916) (이우)
• Sisters
  • Unnamed older half-sister (born 1871–1872)
  • Unnamed older sister (born 13 February 1873 – 28 September 1873)
  • Unnamed younger half-sister (born 1879–1880)
  • Younger half-sister: Princess Deokhye (25 May 1912 – 21 April 1989) (덕혜옹주, 德惠翁主)
• Consorts:
  • Empress Sunmyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (순명황후 민씨) (20 November 1872– 5 November 1904) – born to Min Tae-ho, leader of the Yeoheung Min clan; relative of Empress Myeongseong. She died before her husband was enthroned.
  • Empress Sunjeong of the Haepyeong Yun clan (순정황후 윤씨) (19 September 1894– 3 February 1966) – daughter of Marquis Yun Taek-yeong.

•  Korea: Founder of the Order of the Auspicious Phoenix(서봉장,瑞鳳章)[lower-alpha 2][11]
•  Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum – 16 January 1901; Collar – 17 October 1907[12]
•  Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of Leopold

• 
  Emperor Gojong and the Crown Prince Sunjong
• 
  Sunjong wearing Court uniform and dress in the Empire of Japan and Japanese honors
• 
  Sunjong wearing Court uniform and dress of the Empire of Japan, Japanese honors and Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

• List of Korea-related topics
• History of Korea
• Korean Empire
• Rulers of Korea
• House of Yi