Did Prince Yeongchin Wear It...? Joseon Royal Family Children's Clothes to Become Folk Cultural Heritage

Insufficient Data to Identify Owner but Sufficient Value as Cultural Heritage
Popular Materials and Patterns from Late 19th to Early 20th Century... Well-Preserved Condition

Children's clothing said to have been made for Yeongchinwang Yi Eun (1897?1970), the last crown prince of the Korean Empire, is designated as a National Folk Cultural Property. On the 19th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it named nine pieces of Joseon royal children's clothing donated by Sookmyung Women's University in 1998 as 'Former Yeongchinwang Family Children's Clothing' and announced its preliminary designation as a National Folk Cultural Property. Opinions from various sectors will be collected and reviewed for a month, and the final decision will be made after deliberation by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

The clothes are said to have been kept by Lady Yi Bangja, the queen consort of Yeongchinwang. There is insufficient data to identify the owner. Based on the size, it cannot be specifically determined that Yeongchinwang actually wore them. However, the Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "They clearly exhibit key characteristics seen in royal children's clothing from the Joseon Dynasty, making them valuable as cultural heritage."

'Former Yeongchinwang Family Children's Clothing' consists of sagyusam (ceremonial attire worn by boys), changui (an undercoat worn beneath outer garments when going out), durumagi (overcoat), jeogori (jacket), saekdong magoja (colorful striped vest), pungcha pants (boys' pants with openings at the bottom for convenience), vest, beoseon (traditional socks), and more. According to expert investigations, these items are very similar in materials, buttons, and patterns to the clothing relics of Yeongchinwang's son, Yi Gu (1931?2005), among the 'Yeongchinwang Family Clothing and Accessories' repatriated from Japan and designated as a National Folk Cultural Property in 2009.

The Cultural Heritage Administration recognized the outstanding academic value of the royal children's clothing, even aside from its high rarity. An official stated, "The durumagi, jeogori, and pungcha pants show consideration for young children and well represent the characteristics of children's clothing from the Joseon period." They added, "In particular, the vest indicates changes in sewing methods due to the influx of Western culture." Furthermore, they noted, "The overall materials and patterns of the garments have been confirmed to have been popular from the late 19th to early 20th century, and their preservation condition is also good."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.