Yi Ŭi-min

In this Korean name, the family name is Yi.

Yi Ŭi-min (Korean: 이의민; Hanja: 李義旼; died 7 May 1196) was a military general who dominated the Goryeo government prior to the Mongol Invasions. When his rival, Commander Kyŏng Tae-sŭng, died, Yi Ŭi-min rose to power in the supreme military council, Jungbang. His tyranny came to an end in 1196 on the 7th day of the 4th lunar month when he was assassinated by General Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn.

Yi Ŭi-min 이의민
Military Leader of Goryeo
In office 1183–1196
Monarch	Myeongjong of Goryeo
Preceded by	Kyŏng Tae-sŭng
Succeeded by	Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn
Personal details
Born	?
Died	7 May 1196
Spouse	Lady Ch'oe
Children	Yi Chi-yŏng Yi Chi-Sun Yi Chi-Gwang 2 unnamed daughters
Parent	Yi Sŏn (father)

Yi Ŭi-min
Hangul	이의민
Hanja	李義旼
Revised Romanization	I Uimin
McCune–Reischauer	I Ŭimin

Biography

Background

Yi Ŭi-min was born of slave status, and his father Yi Sŏn (이선; 李善) was a salt trader and his mother a temple servant of the cheonmin class. According to the History of Goryeo, he was as tall as 8 ch'ŏk or 1m 90 cm and possessed remarkable physical strength. Yi's bongwan was from Gyeongju.

Military

Yi entered the capital defense command (경군; 京軍), where his outstanding Subak technique was noticed by King Uijong and he was promoted to the byeoljang (별장; 別將). In 1170, he got a position of the jungrangjang (중랑장; 中郎將) by the reward of joining the Goryeo warrior rebellion (무신정변).

In 1173, Kim Po-dang had attempted to reinstate Uijong who had been dethroned against the grasping political power of Chŏng Chung-bu. As a result, Yi had been ordered to return Uijong from his place of exile, Geoje, by rebel forces, only to kill him on his way back in Gyeongju. Yi killed Uijong by snapping off his spine with his bare hands. He was said to have burst into a big laughter upon hearing the sound of Uijong's spine breaking. He then rolled up the dead body of Uijong in a blanket and dumped it in a lake. Afterwards, Yi Ŭi-min was promoted to general (장군; 將軍) in recognition for killing Uijong.

He then made it to the top post, supreme general (상장군; 上將軍), for the credit of putting down the Revolt of Cho Wi-chong, Governor of Pyongyang in 1174.

At 1179, when Kyŏng Tae-sŭng, who had an opposite political position against Chŏng Chung-bu took the government and pushed away Chŏng's people, Yi's power in the government significantly decreased, and his past murder of Uijong became the pretext that Kyŏng would use to eliminate him.

Yi had been in fear of an assassination attempt by Kyŏng, thus he had placed guards everywhere in around his house. One day, he heard a pleasing rumor that Kyŏng was killed. This rumor proved to be wrong though as in fact it had been Heo Seung, a close friend of Kyŏng, who had died, not Kyong himself. As a result of aware of it, Kyŏng gave warning of Yi still more, Yi who was seized with fear, ran away to Gyeongju on the pretext of illness.

Dictator

When Kyŏng died by disease in 1183, King Myeongjong called Yi in to Gaegyeong. Not believing the death of Kyŏng, Yi refused the king's request several times, but finally came to the Gaegyeong after realizing Kyŏng's death.

Yi who was commissioned as a susagongjwabokya (수사공좌복야; 守司空左僕射) by Myeongjong had gotten a position of a dongjungseomunhapyeongjangsa panbyeongbusa (동중서문하평장사 판병부사; 同中書門下平章事判兵部事) in 1190 additionally.

Yi who seized the political power, not only took bribes but also extorted private houses and lands. His family also committed many evil deeds. Especially his two sons, Yi Chi-yŏng and Yi Chi-gwang who were called as "ssangdoja" (쌍도자, 雙刀子; meaning 'twin swordsmans') by repute.

Yi Chi-yŏng committed all sorts of brutality, killing whoever was displaying disobedience to his authority and raping women, regardless of their marital statues. He also kidnapped and raped a royal concubine. Similarly, Ch'oe, Yi's wife, also had a tremendous sexual appetite, which eventually led to her demise after getting kicked out by Yi who had caught her red handed in adulterous intercourse with one of their house servants. Yi's daughter was equally as infamously arrogant and lecherous as to disregard her husband, take up a separate residency and fool around with countless men.

Death and family's downfall

In 1196, having his chickens snatched away by Yi Chi-yŏng, Yi's son, Ch'oe Ch'ung-su went to his brother Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn to seek help. Ch'oe Ch'ung-su persuaded Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn to carry out a plot to kill Yi together, to which he agreed after a momentary hesitation.

Yi turns down King Myeongjong's request to accompany him to Bojesa temple (보제사; 普濟寺) by making an excuse about his ill physical condition and sneaks out to a Mita Mountain cottage. Hearing it, the Ch'oe brothers make their way to the cottage and stakes out the place. They eventually killed Yi, ambushing him when he comes out of the cottage and is about to climb on a horse.

Having successfully carried out the assassination, the Ch'oe brothers immediately head to Gaegyeong, where they decapitated and exposed head of Yi on the street and call up troops with help from general Baek Jon-yoo. Hearing the news, the Myeongjong at the Bojesa temple hurries his way back to Gaegyeong.

Yi's sons Chi-sun and Chi-gwang battled against the Ch'oe brothers only to run away in the end after having struggled on the defensive.

As they flee, the Ch'oe brothers lead their troops to the palace to ask the Myeongjong to allow them to put down the remaining insurgents loyal to Yi. With their authority granted by the Myeongjong, the Ch'oe brothers close up the castle gates to deter fleeing and went on to detain Yi's followers one by one. Meanwhile, they have general Han Hu capture and kill Yi Chi-yŏng amid his frolick with Kisaengs.

Hearing the news that Yi Chi-yŏng had died, many people were said to be comforted and cheered. After then, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn killed all families and relatives of Yi Ŭi-min, and even sent people to every regions of the nation, wiping out all followers and slaves of Yi's. The two surviving sons of Yi Ŭi-min, Yi Chi-sun and Yi Chi-gwang, returned to Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn to beg for mercy and their pardon, but Ch'oe heedlessly killed both of them, eradicating the last of Yi's clan.

Family

• Father: Yi Sŏn (이선)
• Mother: Lady Sŏng (성씨)
• Wife: Lady Ch'oe (최씨)
  • Yi Chi-yŏng (이지영; ? – 1196), first son
  • Yi Chi-sun (이지순; ? – 1196), second son
  • Yi Chi-gwang (이지광; ? – 1196), third son
  • Lady Yi (이씨), first daughter
  • Lady Yi (이씨), second daughter

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Lee Deok-hwa in the 2003–2004 KBS1 TV series Age of Warriors.