Chunsaek (Napoleon's World)

Chunsaek (1909- June 3rd, 1942; also spelt Junsaek; personal name Yi Geon) was the last King of Korea, part of the Choson dynasty and the House of Yi. Succeeding his uncle Sunjong in 1939, Chunsaek set about to reestablish monarchical authority in Korea and rebuild the country after the devastation of the Pacific War and the Second Sino-Japanese War. However, on June 3rd, 1942, he was assassinated by Communist military officers in Hanseong and the monarchy was thereafter effectively abolished. His murder sparked the Korean Civil War, which would in turn last until 1947 and result in the deaths of over three million of his countrymen.