Its recent main activities following World War II include holding annual Jongmyo jerye, the worship rites of the royal ancestors, and compiling genealogy books of the descendants from the House of Yi.
The king Taejo of Joseon started his reign in 1392, and some of the institution setups included an office to handle affairs regarding the royal family.
After the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, the former emperor Sunjong of Korea issued a decree, allowing the descendants of the royal family to form a private organization so as to strengthen the relationship within the clan.
The Association's headquarters are in the Lee Hwa Building (이화회관 [李花會館], "Plum Blossom Hall"),[7] located in Jongno District of Seoul, on the street leading to the main gate of Changdeokgung.
As various ways to support members from the clan, there are several sub-organizations, including one that can offer scholarship, committees for academics and art, as well as ones dedicated to ancestral worship activities.