**Yi Won-ik** (Korean: 이원익; 15 December 1547 (24th day of the 10th lunar month) – 26 February 1634; Julian calendar: 5 December 1547 – 26 February 1634) was a civil official of [[Joseon]]. His ancestral seat was [[Jeonju Yi clan|Jeonju]], his courtesy name was Gongryeo (功勵), and his art name was Ori
Born~Died 1547 ~ 1634Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:51 PM
Yi Won-ik (Korean: 이원익; 15 December 1547 (24th day of the 10th lunar month), Julian calendar 5 December 1547 – 26 February 1634) was a civil official of Joseon. His ancestral seat was Jeonju (全州), his courtesy name was Gongryeo (功勵), and his art name was Ori (梧里). He was a 4th-generation descendant of Prince Ikyeong (益寧君) Chi (袳), a son of Taejong, and a maternal descendant of Jeong Chang-son, who served as Chief State Councillor.
In 1569 (Seonjo 2), he passed the civil service examination and was appointed to office, eventually serving as Minister of Justice, Minister of Revenue, Minister of Rites, and Minister of Personnel, as well as Left State Councillor in the State Council, and he rose to Chief State Councillor of the State Council. During the Imjin War, he accompanied King Seonjo in his flight to Uiju and was registered as a second-class Ho-seong Merit Subject (忠勤貞亮効節協策扈聖功臣二等) and enfeoffed as Wanpyeong Buwongun (完平府院君). He was also registered as a second-class Wonjong Merit Subject of the Seonmu order (宣武原從功臣二等) for his services during the Imjin War. He was known for diligence, frugality, and integrity, and was selected as one of the Model Officials (清白吏). His posthumous name is Munchung (文忠).
Originally a member of the Easterners (東人) faction, he became a Southerner when the Easterners split into the Southern and Northern factions following the Jeong Yeo-rip incident. Under Gwanghaegun, he opposed the proposal to depose Queen Inmok. After the , although the (西人) controlled the government, he was appointed Chief State Councillor and formed a coalition government of Westerners and Southerners. He also opposed the opinion of the meritorious subjects that Gwanghaegun should be put to death. In terms of scholarship, he inherited the scholarly lineage of and passed it on to the Southerners. Because he was short in stature, he was also nicknamed the "short minister" and the "short Chief Minister."
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Yi Won-ik was born on 15 December 1547 (24th day of the 10th lunar month) as the son of Yi Eok-jae (李億載), Magistrate of Hamcheon (咸川都正), and his wife, Lady Jeong (鄭氏), the daughter of Jeong Chi (鄭錙), an inspector (監察) of the Office of the Inspector General (사헌부). He was a great-grandson of Prince Ikyeong Yi Chi (益寧君 李袳), a son of Taejong Yi Bang-won and a half-brother of Sejong the Great.
His great-grandfather was Yi Jeong-eun (李貞恩), Lord Sucheon (秀泉君), and his grandfather was Yi Pyo (李彪), Lord Cheonggi (靑杞君). His uncles were Yi Eok-sun (李億舜) and Yi Eok-su (李億壽). His uncle Yi Eok-su, at an advanced age during the reign of Gwanghaegun, opposed the proposal to depose Queen Inmok; when the proposal emerged, he led activists opposing the deposition in an appeal and suffered disadvantages as a result. His father, Yi Eok-jae, married Lady Woo (禹氏) but had no children; later he married the daughter of Jeong Chi, an inspector, and had two sons and one daughter, of whom the second son was Yi Won-ik. The royal privileges granted to the family ended with his father's generation, but he diligently pursued learning. He was short in stature, and for this reason he was called the "short minister."
On his maternal side, he was a descendant of Jeong Chang-son and Kim Jil, who were close associates of Sejo, assisted in the Gyeyu Incident and the Sejo coup, and served as Chief State Councillor during the reigns of Sejo, Yejong, and Seongjong, respectively.
Youth and early adulthood
In 1564 (Myeongjong 19), he took and passed the Saengwon examination (生員試) and became a Saengwon scholar. Afterward, he entered government service early through the protective appointment (蔭補) and rose to the rank of Seungeuirang. He later passed the Jinsa examination.
Official career
In 1569 (Seonjo 2), he passed the civil service examination and became a junior official (正字) of the Seungmun Office. Afterward he remained at the Seungmun Office. Because his character was upright and he disliked unnecessary socializing, he came out only for official business, so few people knew him; however, Yu Seong-ryong (Seoae), Jeong Gu (Hangang), and Yi I (Yulgok) alone recognized his character and respected his wisdom. In 1573 (Seonjo 6), as a Seonggyungwan Jeonjeok (成均館 典籍), he served as a secretary (書狀官) to the Sijeolsa, the envoy for the Emperor's birthday, and accompanied the envoy Gwon Deok-yeo to Beijing in the Ming dynasty. There, in the presence of Ming officials who tested his literary talent, he displayed his fluent calligraphy, literary skill, and poetic ability, making his name known before returning.
The following year, he was selected from the Ministry of Rites and became governor (都事) of Hwanghae, gaining great esteem. In particular, at a time when Yi I served as Governor of Hwanghae Province, he handled affairs well under Yi I, and on Yi I's recommendation he became a Junior Minister (正言) in 1576 and advanced to central government office. Afterward, he held important posts in the Three Offices and served as Judge (判官) of the Gunginsi, Director (司諫) of the Saganwon, Lecturer (校理), and other posts. In 1578 he entered the Hongmun Office, and in 1583 he became Vice Chief Secretary (右副承旨). However, when the tutor to the royal princes, Ha Nak, memorialized that the Royal Secretariat clouded the king's wisdom, he took responsibility and was dismissed. In 1587 (Seonjo 20), he was appointed Magistrate of Anju. While serving as Magistrate of Anju, he used more than 10,000 seok of grain to relieve the starving people. Initially a member of the Easterners, in 1590, following the issue of Jeong Cheol's proposal regarding the designation of the crown prince, the Easterners split into the Southerners and Northerners, and he followed Yu Seong-ryong and Woo Seong-jeon to become a Southerner.
Political activities
Before and after the Imjin War
Afterward, he became Daesaheon (Grand Minister of Justice) but resigned (on the 23rd day of the 6th lunar month, 1591)1. When the Imjin War broke out in 1592 (Seonjo 25), he served as Minister of Personnel while concurrently serving as Governor-General for Pyeongan Province, taking the lead on the king's flight route and gathering scattered troops to fight the enemy. The following year, he contributed to the operation to recapture Pyongyang and became Chief State Councillor, but he was removed from office after defending Yu Seong-ryong, who had been dismissed for advocating peace negotiations with Japan.
In 1592 (Seonjo 25), he became Right State Councillor, and when the Imjin War broke out, he accompanied the king's royal carriage. He then concurrently served as Governor-General for Pyeongan Province and Chief Inspector-General (都體察使) of Sado, and fought against Japanese forces that had advanced as far as South Hamgyong Province and South Pyongan Province, achieving many merits. Afterward, as Left Minister (左相), he repeatedly presented memorials on state affairs, but he was excluded by the Westerners. He admonished King Seonjo, which earned him disfavor, and for a time he left the ministry and retired to the countryside. However, in 1600 he was recalled and succeeded Yi Hang-bok as Left State Councillor, and after again serving as Chief State Councillor, in 1604 he was finally registered as a second-class Ho-seong Merit Subject (忠勤貞亮効節協策扈聖功臣二等) and enfeoffed as Wanpyeong Buwongun (完平府院君).
Meanwhile, Heo Mok came to his tutelage. Afterward, Heo Mok became one of his disciples, and Yi Won-ik, who could read physiognomy, recognized the extraordinary talent of Heo Mok and gave him his granddaughter, making him his granddaughter's husband.
Among the commanders during the Imjin War, he highly valued the achievements of Yi Sun-sin, and even when Yu Seong-ryong, a friend of Yi Sun-sin, criticized him, he alone supported Yi Sun-sin, saying, "Among the many commanders of Gyeongsang Province, Yi Sun-sin is the most outstanding." Later, through his illegitimate daughter, he became related by marriage to Yi Sun-sin.
In 1604 (Seonjo 34), when rewarding officials involved in the Imjin War, he was registered as a first-class Wonjong Merit Subject of the Seonmu order (宣武原從功臣一等).
Therefore, when Gwanghaegun ascended the throne, he was appointed Chief State Councillor despite belonging to the Southerners. Early in his term as Chief State Councillor, in 1608 he proposed the Daedong Law and had it implemented nationwide, reformed unreasonable tax systems, and reformed the military system. The reform-minded Northerners strongly supported his views, while some Southerners viewed him negatively for serving as chief minister under the Northern regime.
However, when Prince Imhae was executed, he argued for lenient treatment, which put him out of favor with the Northerners, and he also opposed the plot to put Grand Prince Yeongchang to death. In 1615, when Yi I-cheom and others raised the proposal to depose Queen Inmok, he strongly opposed the deposition proposal. Despite the defense and appeals of Gi Ja-heon, Jeong Gu, and others, he was exiled to Hongcheon in Gangwon Province, and he was released in 1619.
Later life
The Injo Restoration
In early 1623 (Gwanghaegun 15), when he relocated the tomb of his maternal ancestor Jeong Chang-son, Yi Won-ik rebuilt the stele of his tomb, had Seo Geo-jeong's calligraphy supplemented by Han Baek-gyeom and restored with the calligraphy of Sim Yeol.
In the spring of 1623, when the Injo Restoration broke out under the leadership of Prince Neungyang, a secondary son of Seonjo, and the Westerners, he was specially appointed Chief State Councillor despite being a Southerner, in accordance with the policy of respecting scholars in the mountains, and formed a coalition government of Westerners and Southerners. Afterward, because the Injo Restoration had not received the support of the common people and the scholar-officials, he made great contributions to calming public sentiment while serving as Chief State Councillor. However, the coalition government effectively collapsed within a year.
In 1624 (Injo 1), a meritorious subject dissatisfied with the distribution of rewards led Yi Gwal's Rebellion, and he attended the king, who fled to Gongju. At that time, he opposed and dissuaded the reckless execution of 49 political prisoners held in the prison of Hanseong, but the Westerner court ignored his advice. Moreover, Queen Inmok (仁穆大妃) was determined to kill Gwanghaegun, and all the meritorious subjects agreed, but Yi Won-ik earnestly appealed to the queen and prevented it. In addition, anticipating an assassination attempt on Gwanghaegun, he sent people to protect Gwanghaegun in secret. He implemented the Daedong Law (大同法) and unified the tribute and taxes (貢賦).
Support for the Daedong Law
In 1624 (Injo 2), during Yi Gwal's Rebellion, he strongly opposed the execution of 49 political prisoners held in the prison of Hanseong, but his objection was not accepted. In his later years, he was enfeoffed as Wanpyeong Buwongun (完平府院君). He strongly supported Kim Yuk's Daedong Law and tried to expand it nationwide, but he met opposition from the Westerners.
On 10 January 1631 (Injo 9), Injo sent Secretary Kang Hong-jung to inquire after Yi Won-ik and asked, "What kind of house does he live in?"2 Kang Hong-jung reported, "It is a two-room thatched house, barely able to fit one's knees, so low and narrow that it does not take proper shape, and so dilapidated that it cannot shelter one from wind and rain." Hearing this, the king said, "He has been a minister for forty years, yet he lives in a thatched house of only a couple of rooms that cannot shelter him from wind and rain. Being honest, upright, and content with poverty is unmatched in past and present. What I respect and admire in him throughout my life is not only his merit and virtue. Lord Yi's integrity and simplicity are something all officials should take as a model." He then granted Yi Won-ik a house of five rooms. However, Yi Won-ik reportedly declined it repeatedly, saying, "If a house is built for me, it will also become one more reason for the people to resent me."2
Among the Southerners, Kim Yuk was ignored or opposed the Daedong Law because he was a Westerner, but Yi Won-ik transcended factional allegiance and actively supported Kim Yuk's Daedong Law.
Death
Afterward, he retired from office (致仕) to the Gwangamdang (觀感堂) and spent his remaining years in scholarly research and cultivating younger scholars. From his school came Heo Mok, Yun Hyu, and others. In particular, Heo Mok, one of his favorite disciples, was also his granddaughter's husband. Because Yi Won-ik lived in a thatched house during his forty-odd years as a minister, Injo, moved by his frugality, personally built the Gwangamjeong pavilion and granted him a house and land. Examples of a Joseon king personally building a house for a subject include the Yeongdang of Hwang Hui and the Euidang of Yi Won-ik, and the Eundang of his disciple and granddaughter's husband Heo Mok.
Near the Gwangamdang, where he lived in his later years, a shrine and portrait dedicated to him were enshrined. The place where his portrait was enshrined later gave rise to the name of the natural village "Yeongdangmal," meaning "the village with the portrait hall." He died on 26 February 1634 (29th day of the 1st lunar month), at the age of 88. After his death, he was enshrined together in the sanctuary of Injo's tomb.
After death
He was selected as one of the Model Officials and belonged to the Southerners, but because of his gentle character, he was also liked by his opponents. Many anecdotes have been transmitted under the name "the Ori Minister," and his writings include the Oriji (《오리집》).
As the corruption and arbitrary power of the meritorious subjects continued, in 1658 (Hyojong 9), in honor of his integrity and selflessness, a shrine called Samhyeonsa was built in Soha-ri, Siheung County, Gyeonggi Province (present-day Soha 2-dong, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province), where local Confucian scholars jointly honored him. Later, Samhyeonsa was renamed Chunghyeonsa (忠賢祠), and in 1676 (Sukjong 2), Sukjong personally granted it a royal plaque, calling it Chunghyeon Seowon (忠賢書院).
Modern times
His portrait faced the crisis of theft in the 1970s. Although the portrait of Yi Won-ik had long been kept in the shrine at Yeongdangmal, Siheung County, it was briefly stolen in the late 1970s, but the thieves abandoned the portrait outside the Yeongdang and fled, and it was recovered by his 13th-generation head of the main lineage, Yi Seung-gyu, and others.
His 13th-generation descendant, Yi Seung-gyu, a professor at the College of Medicine of Yonsei University, donated his own private funds to establish the Chunghyeon Museum, a memorial museum for Yi Won-ik.
Evaluation
There is an assessment that he was upright and free of selfish motives. During the reign of Seonjo, he was selected as a Model Official, and he was also respected by political rivals for his outstanding literary talent and gentle character.
Daughter-in-law: Sunheung An clan – daughter of An Gwaeng (安宏), Jangsarang (將仕郞)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi clan (全州 李氏, 5 December 1597 – February 1653) – wife of Heo Mok (許穆) of the Yangcheon Heo clan
Grandson: Yi Su-yak (李守約, 1530? – ?)
Eldest daughter: Yi Gyeong-seon (李敬善, 1574 – ?)
Son-in-law: Yi Jeong-hyeok (李廷赫), county magistrate (郡守) of the Hansan Yi clan
Concubine: Mo-ro-gae (模老介) – commoner origin
Eldest illegitimate daughter: Yi Gi-seon (李箕善, 1594 – ?)
Second illegitimate daughter: Yi Ui-seon (李儀善, 1598 – ?)
Third illegitimate daughter: Yi In-seon (李仁善, 1602 – ?)
Eldest illegitimate son: Yi Hyo-jeon (李孝傳, 1604 – ?)
Daughter-in-law: Hanyang Jo clan – daughter of Jo Won-ryang (趙元良), instructor (敎官)
Grandson: Yi Su-gyeom (李守謙, 1621 – ?)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1625 – ?) – wife of Kim Yeon (金沇)
Daughter-in-law: Cheongju Han clan – daughter of Han Hwang (韓滉), Tongjeong (通政)
Grandson: Yi Su-rim (李守臨, 1639 – ?)
Grandson: Yi Su-i (李守頤, 1657 – ?)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1641 – ?) – wife of Gwon Gyeong (權璟)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1643 – ?) – wife of Baek Gwang-seok (白光錫)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1646 – ?) – wife of Won Sang-hun (元尙勲)
Granddaughter: wife of Jeong Hwan (鄭環)
Fourth illegitimate daughter: Yi Mal-seon (李唜善, 1608 – ?)
Second illegitimate son: Yi Je-jeon (李悌傳, 1611 – ?)
Daughter-in-law: Seonsan Kim clan – daughter of Kim Eung-nam (金應男), Cheomji (僉知)
Grandson: Yi Su-myeong (李守命, 1627 – ?)
Grandson: Yi Su-tae (李守泰, 1630 – ?)
Grandson: Yi Su-hang (李守恒, 1633 – ?)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1648 – ?) – wife of Yun Chu (尹抽)
Grandson: Yi Su-gyeong (李守經, 1653 – ?)
Through one of his illegitimate daughters born to a concubine, he came to form marriage ties with Yun Hyu, Yi Sun-sin, and others. He was related by marriage to Yun Hyu, Heo Mok, and Yi Sun-sin: the stepmother of Yun Hyu and concubine of Yun Hyo-jeon was an illegitimate daughter of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and Yun Yeong, the maternal grandson of the illegitimate line, married an illegitimate daughter of Yi Won-ik, making them in-laws. Heo Mok was his granddaughter's husband, being the husband of a legitimate granddaughter.
He was a model official, a civil servant, and also a scholar. In terms of scholarship, he inherited the lineage of Yi Hwang and trained Heo Mok, Yun Hyu, and others as his disciples.
Free of any desire for wealth, he was so upright that he twisted straw sandals for himself to wear and used straw for his roof.
Relations with Yi Sun-sin and Yun Hyu
One of the illegitimate daughters of Yi Sun-sin became the concubine of Yun Hyo-jeon, a civil official of the reign of Gwanghaegun, and gave birth to Yun Yeong (尹鍈). Yun Hyo-jeon received a title, and his enfeoffed title was Lord Daewon (帶原君).5 Yun Yeong, the illegitimate maternal grandson of Yi Sun-sin, later married an illegitimate daughter born to a concubine of Yi Won-ik, forming a marriage relationship.
Physique
Yi Won-ik was 3 chi 3 cun tall, which was extremely small by present standards and also by the standards of his time. For this reason, his nickname became "the short minister." By today's standards he was about 130–150 cm tall, extremely short; he is estimated to have been about 137 cm.
Portraits
Portraits painted during his lifetime that survive include a copy of a formal-dress portrait made in 1580 (an 18th-century work)6, a portrait painted around 1590 that was looted by the Japanese army during the Imjin War, and the portrait painted for the meritorious subjects in 1604 when the portraits of the Ho-seong merit subjects were made. The portrait of the meritorious subjects painted in 1604 was designated a national cultural property by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on 5 July 2005 and designated Treasure No. 1435.
Street names
A central road in Gwangmyeong, his hometown's current administrative district, was named Oriro after his art name, Ori.
The 5th-generation maternal descendant of Sosuk Ongju, the 13th daughter of Taejong * * * Sosuk Ongju → wife of An Gwan, Lady Yun → wife of Eo Suk-pyeong, Lady An → Eo Gye-ho → wife of Jeong Chu, Lady Eo → Lady Jeong ↩
This is a different meaning unrelated to Daewongun, the title given to a king's father; "Daewon" is a place name. ↩
Yi Won-ik (Korean: 이원익; 15 December 1547 (24th day of the 10th lunar month), Julian calendar 5 December 1547 – 26 February 1634) was a civil official of Joseon. His ancestral seat was Jeonju (全州), his courtesy name was Gongryeo (功勵), and his art name was Ori (梧里). He was a 4th-generation descendant of Prince Ikyeong (益寧君) Chi (袳), a son of Taejong, and a maternal descendant of Jeong Chang-son, who served as Chief State Councillor.
In 1569 (Seonjo 2), he passed the civil service examination and was appointed to office, eventually serving as Minister of Justice, Minister of Revenue, Minister of Rites, and Minister of Personnel, as well as Left State Councillor in the State Council, and he rose to Chief State Councillor of the State Council. During the Imjin War, he accompanied King Seonjo in his flight to Uiju and was registered as a second-class Ho-seong Merit Subject (忠勤貞亮効節協策扈聖功臣二等) and enfeoffed as Wanpyeong Buwongun (完平府院君). He was also registered as a second-class Wonjong Merit Subject of the Seonmu order (宣武原從功臣二等) for his services during the Imjin War. He was known for diligence, frugality, and integrity, and was selected as one of the Model Officials (清白吏). His posthumous name is Munchung (文忠).
Originally a member of the Easterners (東人) faction, he became a Southerner when the Easterners split into the Southern and Northern factions following the . Under , he opposed the proposal to depose . After the , although the (西人) controlled the government, he was appointed Chief State Councillor and formed a coalition government of Westerners and Southerners. He also opposed the opinion of the meritorious subjects that Gwanghaegun should be put to death. In terms of scholarship, he inherited the scholarly lineage of and passed it on to the Southerners. Because he was short in stature, he was also nicknamed the "short minister" and the "short Chief Minister."
Yi Won-ik was born on 15 December 1547 (24th day of the 10th lunar month) as the son of Yi Eok-jae (李億載), Magistrate of Hamcheon (咸川都正), and his wife, Lady Jeong (鄭氏), the daughter of Jeong Chi (鄭錙), an inspector (監察) of the Office of the Inspector General (사헌부). He was a great-grandson of Prince Ikyeong Yi Chi (益寧君 李袳), a son of Taejong Yi Bang-won and a half-brother of Sejong the Great.
His great-grandfather was Yi Jeong-eun (李貞恩), Lord Sucheon (秀泉君), and his grandfather was Yi Pyo (李彪), Lord Cheonggi (靑杞君). His uncles were Yi Eok-sun (李億舜) and Yi Eok-su (李億壽). His uncle Yi Eok-su, at an advanced age during the reign of Gwanghaegun, opposed the proposal to depose Queen Inmok; when the proposal emerged, he led activists opposing the deposition in an appeal and suffered disadvantages as a result. His father, Yi Eok-jae, married Lady Woo (禹氏) but had no children; later he married the daughter of Jeong Chi, an inspector, and had two sons and one daughter, of whom the second son was Yi Won-ik. The royal privileges granted to the family ended with his father's generation, but he diligently pursued learning. He was short in stature, and for this reason he was called the "short minister."
On his maternal side, he was a descendant of Jeong Chang-son and Kim Jil, who were close associates of Sejo, assisted in the Gyeyu Incident and the Sejo coup, and served as Chief State Councillor during the reigns of Sejo, Yejong, and Seongjong, respectively.
Youth and early adulthood
In 1564 (Myeongjong 19), he took and passed the Saengwon examination (生員試) and became a Saengwon scholar. Afterward, he entered government service early through the protective appointment (蔭補) and rose to the rank of Seungeuirang. He later passed the Jinsa examination.
Official career
In 1569 (Seonjo 2), he passed the civil service examination and became a junior official (正字) of the Seungmun Office. Afterward he remained at the Seungmun Office. Because his character was upright and he disliked unnecessary socializing, he came out only for official business, so few people knew him; however, Yu Seong-ryong (Seoae), Jeong Gu (Hangang), and Yi I (Yulgok) alone recognized his character and respected his wisdom. In 1573 (Seonjo 6), as a Seonggyungwan Jeonjeok (成均館 典籍), he served as a secretary (書狀官) to the Sijeolsa, the envoy for the Emperor's birthday, and accompanied the envoy Gwon Deok-yeo to Beijing in the Ming dynasty. There, in the presence of Ming officials who tested his literary talent, he displayed his fluent calligraphy, literary skill, and poetic ability, making his name known before returning.
The following year, he was selected from the Ministry of Rites and became governor (都事) of Hwanghae, gaining great esteem. In particular, at a time when Yi I served as Governor of Hwanghae Province, he handled affairs well under Yi I, and on Yi I's recommendation he became a Junior Minister (正言) in 1576 and advanced to central government office. Afterward, he held important posts in the Three Offices and served as Judge (判官) of the Gunginsi, Director (司諫) of the Saganwon, Lecturer (校理), and other posts. In 1578 he entered the Hongmun Office, and in 1583 he became Vice Chief Secretary (右副承旨). However, when the tutor to the royal princes, Ha Nak, memorialized that the Royal Secretariat clouded the king's wisdom, he took responsibility and was dismissed. In 1587 (Seonjo 20), he was appointed Magistrate of Anju. While serving as Magistrate of Anju, he used more than 10,000 seok of grain to relieve the starving people. Initially a member of the Easterners, in 1590, following the issue of Jeong Cheol's proposal regarding the designation of the crown prince, the Easterners split into the Southerners and Northerners, and he followed Yu Seong-ryong and Woo Seong-jeon to become a Southerner.
Political activities
Before and after the Imjin War
Afterward, he became Daesaheon (Grand Minister of Justice) but resigned (on the 23rd day of the 6th lunar month, 1591)1. When the Imjin War broke out in 1592 (Seonjo 25), he served as Minister of Personnel while concurrently serving as Governor-General for Pyeongan Province, taking the lead on the king's flight route and gathering scattered troops to fight the enemy. The following year, he contributed to the operation to recapture Pyongyang and became Chief State Councillor, but he was removed from office after defending Yu Seong-ryong, who had been dismissed for advocating peace negotiations with Japan.
In 1592 (Seonjo 25), he became Right State Councillor, and when the Imjin War broke out, he accompanied the king's royal carriage. He then concurrently served as Governor-General for Pyeongan Province and Chief Inspector-General (都體察使) of Sado, and fought against Japanese forces that had advanced as far as South Hamgyong Province and South Pyongan Province, achieving many merits. Afterward, as Left Minister (左相), he repeatedly presented memorials on state affairs, but he was excluded by the Westerners. He admonished King Seonjo, which earned him disfavor, and for a time he left the ministry and retired to the countryside. However, in 1600 he was recalled and succeeded Yi Hang-bok as Left State Councillor, and after again serving as Chief State Councillor, in 1604 he was finally registered as a second-class Ho-seong Merit Subject (忠勤貞亮効節協策扈聖功臣二等) and enfeoffed as Wanpyeong Buwongun (完平府院君).
Meanwhile, Heo Mok came to his tutelage. Afterward, Heo Mok became one of his disciples, and Yi Won-ik, who could read physiognomy, recognized the extraordinary talent of Heo Mok and gave him his granddaughter, making him his granddaughter's husband.
Among the commanders during the Imjin War, he highly valued the achievements of Yi Sun-sin, and even when Yu Seong-ryong, a friend of Yi Sun-sin, criticized him, he alone supported Yi Sun-sin, saying, "Among the many commanders of Gyeongsang Province, Yi Sun-sin is the most outstanding." Later, through his illegitimate daughter, he became related by marriage to Yi Sun-sin.
In 1604 (Seonjo 34), when rewarding officials involved in the Imjin War, he was registered as a first-class Wonjong Merit Subject of the Seonmu order (宣武原從功臣一等).
Therefore, when Gwanghaegun ascended the throne, he was appointed Chief State Councillor despite belonging to the Southerners. Early in his term as Chief State Councillor, in 1608 he proposed the Daedong Law and had it implemented nationwide, reformed unreasonable tax systems, and reformed the military system. The reform-minded Northerners strongly supported his views, while some Southerners viewed him negatively for serving as chief minister under the Northern regime.
However, when Prince Imhae was executed, he argued for lenient treatment, which put him out of favor with the Northerners, and he also opposed the plot to put Grand Prince Yeongchang to death. In 1615, when Yi I-cheom and others raised the proposal to depose Queen Inmok, he strongly opposed the deposition proposal. Despite the defense and appeals of Gi Ja-heon, Jeong Gu, and others, he was exiled to Hongcheon in Gangwon Province, and he was released in 1619.
Later life
The Injo Restoration
In early 1623 (Gwanghaegun 15), when he relocated the tomb of his maternal ancestor Jeong Chang-son, Yi Won-ik rebuilt the stele of his tomb, had Seo Geo-jeong's calligraphy supplemented by Han Baek-gyeom and restored with the calligraphy of Sim Yeol.
In the spring of 1623, when the Injo Restoration broke out under the leadership of Prince Neungyang, a secondary son of Seonjo, and the Westerners, he was specially appointed Chief State Councillor despite being a Southerner, in accordance with the policy of respecting scholars in the mountains, and formed a coalition government of Westerners and Southerners. Afterward, because the Injo Restoration had not received the support of the common people and the scholar-officials, he made great contributions to calming public sentiment while serving as Chief State Councillor. However, the coalition government effectively collapsed within a year.
In 1624 (Injo 1), a meritorious subject dissatisfied with the distribution of rewards led Yi Gwal's Rebellion, and he attended the king, who fled to Gongju. At that time, he opposed and dissuaded the reckless execution of 49 political prisoners held in the prison of Hanseong, but the Westerner court ignored his advice. Moreover, Queen Inmok (仁穆大妃) was determined to kill Gwanghaegun, and all the meritorious subjects agreed, but Yi Won-ik earnestly appealed to the queen and prevented it. In addition, anticipating an assassination attempt on Gwanghaegun, he sent people to protect Gwanghaegun in secret. He implemented the Daedong Law (大同法) and unified the tribute and taxes (貢賦).
Support for the Daedong Law
In 1624 (Injo 2), during Yi Gwal's Rebellion, he strongly opposed the execution of 49 political prisoners held in the prison of Hanseong, but his objection was not accepted. In his later years, he was enfeoffed as Wanpyeong Buwongun (完平府院君). He strongly supported Kim Yuk's Daedong Law and tried to expand it nationwide, but he met opposition from the Westerners.
On 10 January 1631 (Injo 9), Injo sent Secretary Kang Hong-jung to inquire after Yi Won-ik and asked, "What kind of house does he live in?"2 Kang Hong-jung reported, "It is a two-room thatched house, barely able to fit one's knees, so low and narrow that it does not take proper shape, and so dilapidated that it cannot shelter one from wind and rain." Hearing this, the king said, "He has been a minister for forty years, yet he lives in a thatched house of only a couple of rooms that cannot shelter him from wind and rain. Being honest, upright, and content with poverty is unmatched in past and present. What I respect and admire in him throughout my life is not only his merit and virtue. Lord Yi's integrity and simplicity are something all officials should take as a model." He then granted Yi Won-ik a house of five rooms. However, Yi Won-ik reportedly declined it repeatedly, saying, "If a house is built for me, it will also become one more reason for the people to resent me."2
Among the Southerners, Kim Yuk was ignored or opposed the Daedong Law because he was a Westerner, but Yi Won-ik transcended factional allegiance and actively supported Kim Yuk's Daedong Law.
Death
Afterward, he retired from office (致仕) to the Gwangamdang (觀感堂) and spent his remaining years in scholarly research and cultivating younger scholars. From his school came Heo Mok, Yun Hyu, and others. In particular, Heo Mok, one of his favorite disciples, was also his granddaughter's husband. Because Yi Won-ik lived in a thatched house during his forty-odd years as a minister, Injo, moved by his frugality, personally built the Gwangamjeong pavilion and granted him a house and land. Examples of a Joseon king personally building a house for a subject include the Yeongdang of Hwang Hui and the Euidang of Yi Won-ik, and the Eundang of his disciple and granddaughter's husband Heo Mok.
Near the Gwangamdang, where he lived in his later years, a shrine and portrait dedicated to him were enshrined. The place where his portrait was enshrined later gave rise to the name of the natural village "Yeongdangmal," meaning "the village with the portrait hall." He died on 26 February 1634 (29th day of the 1st lunar month), at the age of 88. After his death, he was enshrined together in the sanctuary of Injo's tomb.
After death
He was selected as one of the Model Officials and belonged to the Southerners, but because of his gentle character, he was also liked by his opponents. Many anecdotes have been transmitted under the name "the Ori Minister," and his writings include the Oriji (《오리집》).
As the corruption and arbitrary power of the meritorious subjects continued, in 1658 (Hyojong 9), in honor of his integrity and selflessness, a shrine called Samhyeonsa was built in Soha-ri, Siheung County, Gyeonggi Province (present-day Soha 2-dong, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province), where local Confucian scholars jointly honored him. Later, Samhyeonsa was renamed Chunghyeonsa (忠賢祠), and in 1676 (Sukjong 2), Sukjong personally granted it a royal plaque, calling it Chunghyeon Seowon (忠賢書院).
Modern times
His portrait faced the crisis of theft in the 1970s. Although the portrait of Yi Won-ik had long been kept in the shrine at Yeongdangmal, Siheung County, it was briefly stolen in the late 1970s, but the thieves abandoned the portrait outside the Yeongdang and fled, and it was recovered by his 13th-generation head of the main lineage, Yi Seung-gyu, and others.
His 13th-generation descendant, Yi Seung-gyu, a professor at the College of Medicine of Yonsei University, donated his own private funds to establish the Chunghyeon Museum, a memorial museum for Yi Won-ik.
Evaluation
There is an assessment that he was upright and free of selfish motives. During the reign of Seonjo, he was selected as a Model Official, and he was also respected by political rivals for his outstanding literary talent and gentle character.
Daughter-in-law: Sunheung An clan – daughter of An Gwaeng (安宏), Jangsarang (將仕郞)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi clan (全州 李氏, 5 December 1597 – February 1653) – wife of Heo Mok (許穆) of the Yangcheon Heo clan
Grandson: Yi Su-yak (李守約, 1530? – ?)
Eldest daughter: Yi Gyeong-seon (李敬善, 1574 – ?)
Son-in-law: Yi Jeong-hyeok (李廷赫), county magistrate (郡守) of the Hansan Yi clan
Concubine: Mo-ro-gae (模老介) – commoner origin
Eldest illegitimate daughter: Yi Gi-seon (李箕善, 1594 – ?)
Second illegitimate daughter: Yi Ui-seon (李儀善, 1598 – ?)
Third illegitimate daughter: Yi In-seon (李仁善, 1602 – ?)
Eldest illegitimate son: Yi Hyo-jeon (李孝傳, 1604 – ?)
Daughter-in-law: Hanyang Jo clan – daughter of Jo Won-ryang (趙元良), instructor (敎官)
Grandson: Yi Su-gyeom (李守謙, 1621 – ?)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1625 – ?) – wife of Kim Yeon (金沇)
Daughter-in-law: Cheongju Han clan – daughter of Han Hwang (韓滉), Tongjeong (通政)
Grandson: Yi Su-rim (李守臨, 1639 – ?)
Grandson: Yi Su-i (李守頤, 1657 – ?)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1641 – ?) – wife of Gwon Gyeong (權璟)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1643 – ?) – wife of Baek Gwang-seok (白光錫)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1646 – ?) – wife of Won Sang-hun (元尙勲)
Granddaughter: wife of Jeong Hwan (鄭環)
Fourth illegitimate daughter: Yi Mal-seon (李唜善, 1608 – ?)
Second illegitimate son: Yi Je-jeon (李悌傳, 1611 – ?)
Daughter-in-law: Seonsan Kim clan – daughter of Kim Eung-nam (金應男), Cheomji (僉知)
Grandson: Yi Su-myeong (李守命, 1627 – ?)
Grandson: Yi Su-tae (李守泰, 1630 – ?)
Grandson: Yi Su-hang (李守恒, 1633 – ?)
Granddaughter: Jeonju Yi (1648 – ?) – wife of Yun Chu (尹抽)
Grandson: Yi Su-gyeong (李守經, 1653 – ?)
Through one of his illegitimate daughters born to a concubine, he came to form marriage ties with Yun Hyu, Yi Sun-sin, and others. He was related by marriage to Yun Hyu, Heo Mok, and Yi Sun-sin: the stepmother of Yun Hyu and concubine of Yun Hyo-jeon was an illegitimate daughter of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and Yun Yeong, the maternal grandson of the illegitimate line, married an illegitimate daughter of Yi Won-ik, making them in-laws. Heo Mok was his granddaughter's husband, being the husband of a legitimate granddaughter.
He was a model official, a civil servant, and also a scholar. In terms of scholarship, he inherited the lineage of Yi Hwang and trained Heo Mok, Yun Hyu, and others as his disciples.
Free of any desire for wealth, he was so upright that he twisted straw sandals for himself to wear and used straw for his roof.
Relations with Yi Sun-sin and Yun Hyu
One of the illegitimate daughters of Yi Sun-sin became the concubine of Yun Hyo-jeon, a civil official of the reign of Gwanghaegun, and gave birth to Yun Yeong (尹鍈). Yun Hyo-jeon received a title, and his enfeoffed title was Lord Daewon (帶原君).5 Yun Yeong, the illegitimate maternal grandson of Yi Sun-sin, later married an illegitimate daughter born to a concubine of Yi Won-ik, forming a marriage relationship.
Physique
Yi Won-ik was 3 chi 3 cun tall, which was extremely small by present standards and also by the standards of his time. For this reason, his nickname became "the short minister." By today's standards he was about 130–150 cm tall, extremely short; he is estimated to have been about 137 cm.
Portraits
Portraits painted during his lifetime that survive include a copy of a formal-dress portrait made in 1580 (an 18th-century work)6, a portrait painted around 1590 that was looted by the Japanese army during the Imjin War, and the portrait painted for the meritorious subjects in 1604 when the portraits of the Ho-seong merit subjects were made. The portrait of the meritorious subjects painted in 1604 was designated a national cultural property by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on 5 July 2005 and designated Treasure No. 1435.
Street names
A central road in Gwangmyeong, his hometown's current administrative district, was named Oriro after his art name, Ori.
The 5th-generation maternal descendant of Sosuk Ongju, the 13th daughter of Taejong * * * Sosuk Ongju → wife of An Gwan, Lady Yun → wife of Eo Suk-pyeong, Lady An → Eo Gye-ho → wife of Jeong Chu, Lady Eo → Lady Jeong ↩
This is a different meaning unrelated to Daewongun, the title given to a king's father; "Daewon" is a place name. ↩