Yi Jeong-am

Yi Jeong-am (1541 – September 10, 1600) was a Korean military official of the mid-Joseon Period.

Birth and Early career
Yi Jeomg-am was born in Banseokbang, Hanyang in 18 August 1541. His father was Yi Tang (李宕) and his mother was Lady Kim of Uiseong clan. Yi Jeong-am passed the licentiate examination in the fall of 1558 and passed the regular literary examination in 1561 as one of the third-tier passers. Starting his career with the Third Copyist of Diplomatic Documents Bureau, he served in various internal affairs and assistant section chiefs of several ministries.

Seonjo period (1567–1601)
In March 1567, he served as an auditor of Jeolla Province, and then returned to the court to serve as assistant section chief of Ministry of Justice. In 1569, he moved to Gyeonggi Provincial Government and became a drafter of the Chunchugwan. The following year, he was reappointed to the assistant section chief of Ministry of Justice to serve as a King's Editor. Then, he was moved to Section Chief of Ministry of Military and dispatched to Gangwon Province as a secret royal inspector to inspect the disaster area. In 1571, he participated in the compilation of the Veritable Records of Myeongjong. In 1572, he was appointed to Second Assistant Master of Sungkyunkwan and observed the Chundangdae examination. In June of the same year, he became a prefect of Yonan and organized his military service.

After serving as prefect of Yonan, Jangdan and Pyongsan, he was appointed to the magistrate of Yangju in 1579. As the magistrate of Yangju, he reconstructed Dobong Seowon and county schools. He also reformed the rice field plans and implemented Uniform Land-Tax Law in the entire area of Yangju. In 1583, he was selected as Jangnyeong, Saseong , and Jangakjeong when Yi I recruited scholars and founded Chansucheong. In 1587, he was designated as prefect of Dongnae to defend against the invasion of Japanese invaders. In 1591, he served as royal secretary and Councilor of Ministries of Public Works and Military affairs.

Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)
In January 1592, Yi became the Councilor of Ministry of Personnel. King Seonjo proclaimed Gwanghaegun a crown prince and took refuge to Pyongan Province due to a news that Sin Rip had defeated at Battle of Chungju. Since they fled at the middle of night, many of bureaucrats including Yi Jeong-am failed following. Yi attempted to follow Seonjo anyway. On 2 May, he departed for Kaesong with his family, hearing from his younger brother, Yi Jeong-hyeong that Seonjo was staying there. On the same day, When Seonjo awarded new government posts to whom followd him, Yi lost his post as the councilor because he was not there. When Seonjo planed to leave Kaesong, Yi intended to defend Kaesong with Yi Jeong-hyeong rather than following Seonjo. However, the plan failed due to the collapse of the Imjin River defense line and Yi departed Kaesong.

Yi decided to flee for Yonan County to seek boats or to go to his younger brother's house in Haeju. On 2 June, Yi arrived at Yonan, however, all fishermen had already fled for sea. Yi had no choice but to depart Yonan for Haeju. In July when he was hiding at a temple in a mountain, he heard that Seonjo left for Uiju, Japanese armies was staying in Pyongyang, and that people in Hwanghae Province organized righteous army, but they got no commander. After several people requested to raise the righteous army, he accepted and recruited army. In early August, while he had military organization and made plans and strategies, Gwanghaegun granted him a Suppressor, a public post that had authority to command local governmental officials and armed forced in Hwanghae province.

On 22 August, Yi entered the Yonan Fortress with his militia. When Japanese Army led by Kuroda Nagamasa invaded, he defeated the Japanese enemy and firmly defended the castle. With the credit, he became an Governor of Hwanghae Province. In 1593, he served as Second Minister of Military, governor of Jeolla Province. However, after successfully defending the Yonan fortress, Yi proposed reinforcement negotiations to Seonjo, insisting on a quick end to the war, but was impeached and lost his official post. However, he was appointed to Deputy Magistrate of Jeonju in July of the same year In 1596, he became the governor of Chungcheong Province and contributed to the repression of the Yi Mong-hak’s Rebellion. However, he was dismissed under the charge of arbitrarily punishing prisoners, and in December of that year, he concurrently served as the Fourth Minister of the Office of Ministers-without-Portfolio and governor of Hwanghae Province. In 1597, when the Second Japanese Invasion broke out, he protected Suyang Fortress of Haeju as a Suppressor of Hwanghae Province. After the Japanese invasions of Korea, he resigned from his official post and spent his last years writing several works in Jeongjujeongsa Temple in Pungdeok. He died on September 10, 1600.

After death
After his death, various honors were bestowed upon him, including the title of Wolcheon Buwongun, an enrollment as the second rank of Seonmu Merit Subjects , and a posthumous offices, Jwauijeong.

Writings

 * Seojeongillok