She is the eldest daughter of His Highness Prince Yi Seok of of Korea by his second wife, Donkgo Jeonghui, and a great-granddaughter of Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire. Yi Hong was born in Chigung palace in the neighborhood of Gujeong-dong located next to Gyeongbokgung palace, Seoul, the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty.
She is commonly referred to as "the last Imperial princess" by the public in South of Korea. Her father, Yi Seok is the eleventh son of Prince Imperial Ui, the 5th son of Emperor Gojong of of Korea. He was a well known singer in the 1960s while in his twenties, having several hit songs including "Bidulgi jip (Dove"s house).
Yi Seok is currently lecturing at Jeonju University and several universities.
Since 1979, she had lived in the United States for 10 years. Yi did not know that she was a descendant of the Korean Empire until she was at the first year of her middle school.
She first met her father at her senior year of her high school 6 months before she took the university entrance examination In an interview with a weekly magazine, she confessed that she felt glad to meet her father, and at the same time, she was in confusion.
After graduation from the Industrial design department at Hansung University, she worked as an interior designer for a short period.
Yi then studied Business in Japan. Although she appeared in several films as a small roles, Yi officially started her career as an entertainer by starring in a KTF commercial. She also appeared in a Samsung Anicall commercial, and singer Jo Gwan-u"s music video.
In an interview with Hankook Ilbo in 2007, Yi Hong wished to restore the dignity of the empire.
They have one child, a daughter born in 2001.
