Princess Deokhye
Princess Deokhye of Korea (Korean: 덕혜옹주, Deokhye-Ongju; Japanese: 徳恵姫, Tokue-hime; 25 May 1912 – 21 April 1989) was the last princess of the Korean royal family.
| Princess Deokhye 덕혜옹주 | |
|---|---|
Princess Deokhye, ca. 1923 | |
| Born | Yi Deokhye 25 May 1912 Deoksu Palace, Keijo, Korea |
| Died | 21 April 1989 (aged 76) Sugang Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul, South Korea |
| Burial | Hongryureung, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Countess Sō Masae |
| Father | Gojong of Korea |
| Mother | Imperial Consort Boknyeong Gwi-in |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 덕혜옹주 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Deokhye Ongju |
| McCune–Reischauer | Tŏkhye Ongju |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 이덕혜 |
| Hanja | 李德惠 |
| Revised Romanization | Yi Deokhye |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Dŏkhye |
She was born on 25 May 1912, at Changdeok Palace, in Seoul, as the youngest daughter of Emperor Gojong from his concubine, then known as Yang Gwi-in. After her birth, Gojong bestowed the royal title Boknyeong on Lady Yang.
Deokhye was not formally recognized as a princess by Japan until 1917, because she was not the daughter of a Queen. In 1917, her name was formally entered into the Imperial Family's registry. Her father loved her greatly and established the Deoksugung Kindergarten for her in Junmyungdang (준명당), Hamnyeong Hall. Girls her age from noble families attended the kindergarten.
In South Korea, she is called Deokhye Ongju, not Gongju. Gongju refers to the daughters of the Queen, and Ongju refers to the daughters of concubines.