Yi Kang's styles and allowances still remained until the end of World War II. Throughout the Japanese rule, there were only few members of Yi Kang family recognized by Japan: Yi Kang himself, his wife Kim Sudeok (Duchess Consort of Yi Kang), his eldest son Duke Yi Geon with his family, and his second son Duke Yi U (adopted as the heir to Duke Yi Jun-yong in 1917) with his family. After Independence After the independence of Korea, he continued to live in Seoul, but in increasing poverty. On 9 August 1955 he was baptized a Roman Catholic, given the Christian name "Pius"; Lady Kim was also baptized and had a name "Maria". Yi said that the reason why he was baptized a Roman Catholic was to apologize the Anti-Catholic of Joseon led by Heungseon Daewongun. Yi Kang died a week later on August 15, 1955, at the age of 78, in his mansion "Seongrakwon" Manor (now Seongnagwon Garden, in Seongbuk District, Seoul); he was buried at the Hongneung and Yureung imperial tombs in Namyangju near Seoul, where his father and brothers are also buried. His official heritor was decided to be his third son, Yi Bang on 30 June 1970. Family Prince Yi Gang married Kim Sudeok (22 December 1880 — 14 January 1964) in 1892; however, the couple had no children. Therefore, all children Yi Gang had, 12 sons and 9 daughters, were born by 13 of his various concubines. Wife Concubines Sons Daughters Ancestry Honours Order of the Golden Ruler on 9 April 1906 Order of the Paulownia Flowers 1st class on 27 April 1906 Korean Colonization Decoration on 1 August 1912 Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun Notes Further reading References 1877 births 1955 deaths House of Yi Korean independence activists Kazoku Korean princes Keio University alumni Roanoke College alumni South Korean Roman Catholics Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers Lieutenant generals of Korean Empire Sons of emperors Politicians of the Korean Empire Converts to Roman Catholicism People from Seoul