Deokhye

Princess Deokhye was the youngest daughter of Emperor Gojong, the 26th king of the Joseon dynasty and the first emperor of the Korean Empire. She was born on May 25, 1912, at Changdeok Palace, in Seoul, as the only child of her father's concubine, Yang Gwi-in. She was not formally recognized as a princess by Japan until 1917, because she was not the daughter of a queen. Her father loved her dearly and established a kindergarten for her in Deoksu Palace, where she played with other noble girls. In 1919, Emperor Gojong died suddenly, and Princess Deokhye was left alone with her mother. In 1925, she was taken to Japan under the pretext of continuing her studies, but in reality, she was held as a hostage to prevent any resistance from the Korean royal family. She attended the Gakushuin Girls' School in Tokyo, where she faced discrimination and isolation. She also suffered from mental and physical illnesses due to the stress and trauma of living in exile. In 1931, she was forced to marry Count Sō Takeyuki, a Japanese aristocrat, and changed her name to Tokue-hime. She gave birth to a daughter, Masae, in 1932, but she was not allowed to raise her. She was separated from her husband in 1946, and divorced him in 1955. She lost contact with her daughter, who drowned in 1956. She also lost her mother, who died in 1949. After the liberation of Korea in 1945, Princess Deokhye tried to return to her homeland, but she was prevented by the Japanese authorities. She was confined in a mental hospital, where she received electroshock therapy and other treatments. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression, and often forgot her identity and past. She was finally able to return to Korea in 1962, after the efforts of her brother, Yi Eun, and her cousin, Yi Gu. She was reunited with her relatives and friends, and received a warm welcome from the Korean people. She spent the rest of her life in Changdeok Palace, where she received medical care and rehabilitation. She gradually recovered some of her memories and regained her dignity. She died on April 21, 1989, at the age of 76. She was buried in Hongryureung, the royal tomb of her father and mother, in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. She was the last surviving member of the Korean imperial family.