Yi Che was born in 1394, but the exact date is unknown. At the time, Joseon had just been founded and his grandfather, King Taejo, was on the throne.
Yi Che became crown prince four years after King Taejong's accession. Known for his dislike of study and misconduct, he often clashed with his father.
In 1415, he caused a scandal when he had an affair with Cho-gung-jang, a courtesan belonging to his uncle, King Jeongjong; he had been unaware that she was his uncle's woman. In 1417, he secretly brought Eo-ri, a concubine of Gwak Seon, into the palace. Angered, Taejong banished Yi Che to the residence of his father-in-law, Kim Han-ro (김한로), who arranged rendezvous between Yi Che and Eo-ri. For a while, Taejong did not fault his son for his libertine proclivities, but instead held Kim Han-ro accountable for his improprieties. However, Yi Che accused Taejong of hypocrisy, criticizing his father for punishing him over his affair with Eo-ri, while Taejong himself maintained numerous concubines.
Yi Che was deposed on 15 July 1418. He reportedly neither cried nor showed signs of sadness. He was expelled from the palace and relocated to Gwangju County. Two months later, his younger brother, Yi To (posthumously King Sejong), acceded to the throne.
After Sejong became king, the relationship between the brothers strengthened, with Sejong often inviting Yi Che to the palace. During King Sejo's reign, he enjoyed the status of the most senior member of the royal family.
↑Married Yi Ja (이자) from the Yeoju Yi clan (여주 이씨). They had issue (2 sons, 3 daughters).
↑▪︎1st wife: Lady, of the Pyongsan Shin clan (평산 신씨;?–1453). ▪︎2nd wife: Lady, of the Yeonil Jeong clan (연일 정씨); concubine-born daughter of Jeong Jong-seong (정종성) and granddaughter of Jeong Mong-ju — Demoted to concubine. ▪︎Issue: 4 sons, 4 daughters.
↑▪︎Wife: Princess Consort Taein (태인군부인), of the Goseong Yi clan (고성 이씨). ▪︎Issue: 6 sons.
↑▪︎Wife: Princess Consort Yangcheon (양천군부인), of the Ansan Kim clan (안산 김씨;?–1464); daughter of Kim Gae (김개). ▪︎Issue: 2 sons.
↑Married Yi Beon (이번) from the Gyeongju Yi clan (경주 이씨).
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Hampyeong No clan (함평 노씨); daughter of No Gil-chang (노길창). ▪︎Issue: 1 son, 1 daughter.
↑▪︎1st wife: Lady, of the Papyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨). ▪︎2nd wife: Lady, of the Jinju Kang clan (진주 강씨); daughter of Kang Wi (강위). ▪︎Issue: 2 sons, 5 daughters; among his descendants is the 1st president of South Korea, Syngman Rhee.
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Uiryeong Nam clan (의령 남씨); daughter of Nam Cheok (남척). ▪︎Issue: 1 daughter.
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Jeonju Choe clan (전주 최씨); daughter of Choe Yun-hyeong (최윤형). ▪︎Issue: 1 daughter.
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Jinju Kang clan (진주 강씨); daughter of Kang Cheo-jeong (강처정). ▪︎Issue: 3 sons.
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Yeoheung Min clan (여흥 민씨); daughter of Min Dam (민담). ▪︎Issue: 6 sons, 2 daughters.
↑▪︎Wife: Lady, of the Hyeonpung Gwak clan (현풍 곽씨); daughter of Gwak Hang (곽항). ▪︎Issue: 1 son, 1 daughter.
↑Married Han Chi-hyeong (한치형) from the Cheongju Han clan (청주 한씨); first cousin of Queen Insu. They had issue (1 daughter).
↑Married Gwon Chi-jung (권치중) from the Andong Gwon clan (안동 권씨). They had issue (at least 1 daughter); among their descendants is Sugui Gwak (숙의 곽씨; consort of Yeonsangun).
# denotes that the king was deposed and never received a temple name.
↑Those who were listed were not reigning monarchs but posthumously recognized; the year following means the year of recognition.
↑Only the crown princes that did not become the king were listed; the former year indicates when one officially became the heir and the latter one is that when one died/deposed. Those who ascended to the throne were excluded in the list for simplification.
↑The title given to the biological father, who never reigned, of the kings who were adopted as the heir to a precedent king.
↑The de jure monarch of Korea during the era was the Emperor of Japan, while the former Korean emperors were given nobility title "King Yi" instead.
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