Granddaughter of Korean emperor loses trial to regain lost land

The granddaughter of Korean Emperor Gojong, the 26th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), lost a trial to reclaim land that she claims was taken over by the government without following due process.

Princess Yi Hae-won and 16 other people who are descendants of the dynasty that was stripped of its powers by Japan in the early 20th century had filed a legal suit asking for the return of 12,700 square meters of land in Hanam east of Seoul.

The 94-year-old princess is the daughter of Prince Euihwa, the fifth son of Gojong.

The land that originally belonged to the royal family was used by the Japanese military during the colonial period (1910-45), transferred to the U.S. military between 1945 and 1948 and then finally taken over by the newly-formed republic.

The Seoul Central District Court said the plaintiffs did not have proper documents to claim the land as theirs, and also failed to file a complaint with authorities in the past to demand the return of their property. The court added that the government had properly acquired the land in accordance with the law.
(Yonhap News)