was appointed special ambassador to the Empire of Japan for the celebration ceremonies for Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. According to Yun Chi-ho, who met Yi before going Europe, assessed him as a smart 18 years old who had a good personality like his father but worried to study abroad. In August 1895, Yi was appointed as Special ambassador and visited some European countries including, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Italy and Austria-Hungary. In 1899, he in Japan. According to Japanese record, 3,000 Won was sent for Yi. While he was not in Korea, Yi Kang was promoted to the rank of Prince Imperial Ui, and styled His Imperial Highness in 1900. At the same year, he went to the United States and began studies at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia from March 1901, where he majored in mathematics. While he was in the United States, the Korean Government gave him 30,000 Won in 1902. While in America, Yi was beaten by some Americans in 1903. In 1904, some Korean foreign students tried to abdicate Gojong and make Yi the emperor. After graduation, he spent a brief period at the Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, and then traveled to San Francisco and Hawaii, returning to Korea on 15 March 1906. Same year, he got Order of the Golden Ruler. On 8 April 1906, Yi was appointed as Lieutenant General (부장). He was appointed as Chanmogwan and was ordered to participated in the Military parade in Empire of Japan. He received 1st class of Order of the Paulownia Flowers from the Japanese Government while he was in Japan. Prince Yi Kang served as the president of the Korean Red Cross from 1906 to 1907. On 15 January 1907, Yi persuaded civilians and military personnels to raise Righteous army. When Emperor Gojong was abdicated and Emperor Sunjong succeeded as the Emperor, Yi was not appointed as the crown prince, but his younger brother, Yi Un, was appointed as the crown prince because, Yi did not receive public support and Gojong did not like him. Also, Imperial Consort Sunheon bribed Itō Hirobumi, who was the Japanese Resident General of Korea, to appoint her son as the crown prince. When Itō Hirobumi was assassinated by An Jung-geun, Yi was ordered to participate the funeral as deputy of Korean Imperial House. But the order was canceled and Minister of