Yi Mong-hak

Yi Mong-hak (李夢鶴, ? – 1596) was a figure who led the Yi Mong-hak's Rebellion during the reign of King Seonjo of Joseon.¹

Life

He was born of a royal lineage through a secondary (illegitimate) branch and was a native of Guryong in Hongsan Hyeon.² He lived in Seoul, but because of his bad character and poor conduct he was driven out by his father and wandered the regions of Chungcheong and Jeolla. He lodged at Muryangsa (無量寺) in Hongsan, Chungcheong Province, where he formed friendships with the vanguard commander Han Hyeon (韓絢) and others, and became one of his subordinates.¹

During the Imjin War, he entered service under Han Hyeon and, together with him, plotted a rebellion. He concealed the fact that he was of secondary (illegitimate) birth, emphasized only that he was a member of the royal family, and under the pretext of gathering righteous army volunteers, organized a secret society called Donggapwoe and recruited able-bodied men. In 1596, he launched a rebellion known as the Yi Mong-hak's Rebellion in Hongsan, Chungcheong Province. For a time he took Hongsan, Cheongyang, and Daeheung in succession and advanced as far as Hongju (present-day Hongseong), but owing to the swift response of Hong Ga-sin, magistrate of Hongju and of Manjeondang, and because government troops responded quickly and many of the rebel forces went over to the government side, the tide of battle turned against him. Then his subordinates Kim Gyeong-chang, Im Eok-myeong, and others cut off Yi Mong-hak's head and surrendered.

Because of the Yi Mong-hak's Rebellion, Hong Ga-sin of Manjeondang became a First-Class Merit Subject for the pacification. Kim Gyeong-chang and Im Eok-myeong, who had cut off Yi Mong-hak's head, received from the court the title of Gashan Daebu (嘉善大夫), a rank of senior second grade and a dangbanggwan-level position, in recognition of this merit.

Related works

• Film "" (2010, role: )