Yi Yong-gu

Yi Yong-gu (Korean: 이용구; 李容九, January 21, 1868 (lunar calendar) – May 22, 1912) was a politician of the Korean Empire. In the late Joseon period he served as president of the Iljinhoe and led public opinion in favor of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty. His courtesy name was Daeyu (大有), and his pen name was Haesan (海山).

Life

He was born in Jindu-ri, Sangju County, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1868, and at the age of 19 moved to Cheongju, and at 20 to Hwangsan-ri, Chungju County.¹ At age 23 he joined the Donghak movement, and under Choe Si-hyung, the second leader of the movement, he became a senior disciple together with Son Byong-hi. After the Donghak Peasant Revolution of 1894, when the movement's leaders were arrested and executed, he was active as an anti-Japanese righteous army leader,¹ and was imprisoned together with them, but was soon pardoned.

In March 1901, together with Son Byong-hi and Son Byong-heum, he fled to Japan due to the suppression of the Donghak movement carried out in the Korean Empire. He returned home on Son Byong-hi's instructions and engaged in missionary work, and when the Russo-Japanese War broke out, in September 1904 he organized and led the Jinbohoe (進步會), a society centered on Donghak followers.² In 1904, on the recommendation of Song Byung-jun, he merged it with the Iljinhoe.

During the Russo-Japanese War he actively cooperated with the Japanese army. In 1905, when Son Byong-hi, carrying on the tradition of Donghak, propagated Cheondogyo, which held anti-Japanese ideas, he founded Sicheongyo, which held pro-Japanese ideas, in opposition, and became its leader. He became the General Chairman and President of the Iljinhoe, and when the Japanese Residency-General was established in 1906, through connections with Uchida Ryohei, editor of the Kokuryukai, he resumed pro-Japanese activities. He advocated the annexation of Korea by Japan to the people, and at the same time carried out pro-Japanese activities such as submitting petitions for the annexation to , Prime Minister , and Resident-General .