임연

Im Yeon (林衍, 1215–1270) was a military official, powerful minister, and politician of late Goryeo. His family seat was Jincheon (鎭川).

For two years, from 1268 to 1270, he held the real power of the Goryeo dynasty.

Life

In 1231, during the First Goryeo–Mongol War, Im Yeon was playing at war with children when Song Eon-sang, a general of Goryeo, came to Jincheon, his home town. Im was commanding the game as if it were a real battle. Seeing this, General Song considered him extraordinary and took him to Gaegyeong, where he became Song's servant. There he also studied literature and martial arts. When Song died of illness, Im returned to his home town and continued to study literature and martial arts on his own.

In 1234, for his merit in repelling the Mongol soldiers, he became a daejeong (隊正). Later, Im Yeon, together with Kim Jun, served Choe U and Choe Hang. While following Kim Jun, he was sometimes called Kim's adopted son.

In 1258 (45th year of King Gojong), he and Ryu Gyeong, Kim Jun, and others killed Choe Ui and restored royal authority. For this merit he was made a Meritorious Subject of Protecting the State (衛社功臣).

In 1268, he killed Kim Jun, deposed King Wonjong, and enthroned King Yeongjong. At the same time he became Gyojeong byeolgam and seized all real power. The deposition of King Wonjong led to a clash with Kublai Khan, the Shizu emperor of the Yuan dynasty, and King Wonjong was restored to the throne. However, he refused the Yuan's demand that the king personally pay court (親朝).