Yi Yun-yong (; 5 September 1855 – 8 September 1938) was an Imperial Korean official and general. He is considered as a collaborator to Imperial Japan or
Chinilpa.
Biography
Yi was born on in Pyongyang.
He was posted to Yijo as a member of Don-Nyeong Bu in 1868. A year after, Yi appointed as Byeolgunjik, then Minister of Economy in 1894.
Same year, he was appointed as the chief of police. During his term, he oppressed
Yi Jun-yong
Yi Junyong (Hangul: 이준용, Hanja: 李埈鎔), known as Prince Yeongseon (영선군, 永善君) (23 July 1870 – 22 March 1917) was a politician, thinker, and member of the Korean Joseon Dynasty's royal family, politicians, and later became ...
's coup, making
Heungseon Daewongun to despise him.
Yi was one of those who rose to high position despite being a seoeol. After the assassination of
Empress Myeongseong, Yi was considered as an anti-Japanese politician and lost his position with
Ye Wanyong,
Yi Bum-jin, and
Min Sang-ho
Min Sang-ho (, 1870–1933) was Korean official and soldier of Korean Empire. He was part of the Chinilpa because he was ennobled as baron after annexation.
Life
Min Sang-ho was born in 1870 as the son of Min Chi-uk as a member of Yeoheung M ...
. Furthermore, his participation in the Chunsaeng Gate incident made him to exile to the American legation with other pro-American politicians. Later, he transformed into a pro-Russian politician and led
Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation
King Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation, also called the Agwan Pacheon incident ( ko, 아관파천, Hanja: 俄館播遷), occurred in 1896 in Korea when King Gojong and his crown prince left the Gyeongbokgung palace to take refuge at ...
.
Like
his younger brother, he was a supporter of the
Independence Club
The Independence Association (독립협회, 獨立協會) was founded through the initiative of Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae-pil) on July 2, 1896. At its founding it was recognized by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Despite some remarkable ach ...
, that he sponsored building
Independence Gate. In October 1896, Yi received
Dmitry Putyata
Dmitry Vasilyevich Putyata (russian: Дмитрий Васильевич Путята) was a General of the Imperial Russian Army and a Russian explorer of the Pamir Mountains. In 1883 he explored Karakul Lake, Tashkurgan Town, the Bendersky Pass ...
as Russian instructors. He requested them to train 2,200 Korean personnels. Soon,
Min Young-hwan, who actually brought these instructors, replaced him as the next Minister of Military. Other than being an official, Yi was also a businessman. In order to protect the rights of navigation in
Incheon
Incheon (; ; or Inch'ŏn; literally "kind river"), formerly Jemulpo or Chemulp'o (제물포) until the period after 1910, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시, 仁川廣域市), is a city located in northwestern South Kore ...
, Yi established a shipping firm. This enterprise was the first Korean shipping company had total of 5 ships that interconnected many Korean ports. During the
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War ( ja, 日露戦争, Nichiro sensō, Japanese-Russian War; russian: Ру́сско-япóнская войнá, Rússko-yapónskaya voyná) was fought between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire during 1904 and 1 ...
, however, four of the ships of the firm were exploited by Japanese for transporting their forces or their supplies.
However, by late 1900s, Yi became a pro Japanese collaborator. In 1909, Yi negotiated with growing
righteous army and lobbied them with 200,000 Won. He joined numerous pro Japanese organizations such as the GukCi Yushidan. After the annexation, Yi received title of Baron from the Japanese government. He continued his life as a pro-Japanese collaborator. He joined many pro-Japanese organization; Yi became an instructor of Buddhism Ongho Organization in 1917, and Daejeong Chinmok Hui in 1921. On 2 November 1928, Yi was appointed as a member of Jungchuwon of Japanese colonial government, and received 3,000 Won each year. He died in 1938, and his grandson received his title as baron.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yi, Yun-yong
1855 births
1938 deaths
Kazoku
19th-century Korean people
20th-century Korean people
Government officials of the Korean Empire
Political office-holders of the Korean Empire
Joseon Kazoku
Imperial Korean military personnel
Lieutenant generals of Korean Empire
Korean collaborators with Imperial Japan