Im Yumu

Im Yumu (林惟茂, 1248–1270) was a military officer, powerful minister, and politician of late Goryeo, and the last ruler of the military regime.¹ With his death, the military regime came to an end, and Goryeo afterward surrendered to the Mongols and came under the rule of the Yuan dynasty.

From 1270 to 1270, for three months, he held the de facto power of the Goryeo dynasty.

He died a hero for carrying out resistance against the Mongols, but when Joseon was founded and the Goryeosa was compiled, he was recorded as a traitor.

Life

He is known to have been the second son of Im Yeon and the younger brother of Im Yugan, but according to one theory, Im Yumu was the eldest son of Im Yeon and the elder brother of Im Yugan.

In the second lunar month of 1270, when his father Im Yeon died of a back abscess, he succeeded to his position.

In the fifth lunar month of 1270, Wonjong, who had returned from the Yuan dynasty, ordered the return to Kaesong from Ganghwa Island, to which the capital had been moved after Choe U's time.¹ However, Wonjong's diplomacy meant that Goryeo would be subordinated to the Mongol Empire.

Im Yumu refused Wonjong's order, and then he was executed by the palace guard Sambyeolcho¹, who had been won over by Wonjong, as well as , (洪奎), and others.