Yi Se-eung (李世應, 1473 – 26 August 1528) was a civil official and politician of mid-Joseon, as well as a Neo-Confucian scholar. During the reign of King Jungjong he was named a Jeongguk merit subject and enfeoffed as Haman County (咸安君). His courtesy names were Gongbo (公輔) or Gukbo (國輔), his art names were Anjae (安齋) and Suong (睡翁), and his posthumous name was Yanggan (襄簡). His family seat was Haman (咸安).
He was the son of Yi Gye-tong (李季通), who was posthumously honored as Vice Minister of the Board of Personnel and as Ha Seongun (咸城君). In 1506 he joined the Jungjong Restoration and was registered as a fourth-rank Bunui Jeongguk merit subject (奮義靖國功臣), after which he was promoted to Deputy Director of the Naejasi (內資寺). In 1507, appointed Senior Censor of the Office of Remonstrance, he impeached the powerful Yu Ja-gwang and had him exiled.1 As magistrate of Miryang he governed well, and he was praised for eliminating the abuses of local powerholders. After 1510 he became Vice Director of the Board of War with the rank of Tongjeong daebu, and subsequently served as Deputy Director of the Eastern Office of the Royal Secretariat concurrently Lecturer-Assistant of the Gyeongyeon and Compiler of the Chunchugwan, Magistrate of Miryang, Judge of the Jangnyewon, Gangwon Governor, Deputy Minister of the Board of War, and Right Vice Secretary. Promoted to Gaseon daebu, he received the title of Haman County (originally Hamyang County (咸陽君)), which was later changed to Haman County. He then served as Governor of Chungcheong Province and Governor of Pyeongan Province.1 While serving as Governor of Pyeongan Province, he died of illness.
Biography
Early life
He was the sixth-generation descendant of Yi Bang-sil (李芳實), the loyal official Goryeo who defeated the Red Turbans at the end of Goryeo, and the great-grandson of Yi Jin (李稹), who served as Junior Secretary of the Board of Revenue and was posthumously honored as Tongjeong daebu and Junior Director of the Sabokshi (司僕寺正). His grandfather Yi Heung-son (李興孫) served as Deputy Director of the Sajaegam (司宰監) and was posthumously honored as Tongjeong daebu and Vice Minister of the Board of War. His father, Yi Gye-tong, served as Deputy Director of the Sabokshi, Tongjeong daebu and Deputy Director of the Sajaegam, and Magistrate of Iksan; he was posthumously honored as純忠補祚功臣 Gaseon daebu, Vice Minister of the Board of Personnel, concurrently Director of the Hongmun-gwan and Vice Commissioner of the Uigeumbu, and enfeoffed as Ha Seongun (咸城君). His mother was of the Jeonju Yu clan (全州柳氏), daughter of Yu Maeng-geun (柳孟近), Tongjeong daebu and Magistrate of Gwaksan.
Originally his ancestors lived in Haman County, Gyeongsang Province, but his father Yi Gye-tong moved from Anin (安仁) in Haman County to Hanyang.
In 1491 (the 20th year of King Seongjong), his father Yi Gye-tong, while serving as magistrate of Iksan, was accused of accepting a bribe from Choe Gwan (崔灌) and giving it to a servant of his elder brother Yi Suk-tong; he was dismissed from office. In the same year Yi Se-eung submitted a memorial protesting his father's unjust treatment.
In 1496 (the 2nd year of King Yeonsangun) he passed the Saengwon examination. In 1501 (the 7th year of Yeonsangun) he passed the regular civil service examination in third place and became Secretary of the Bongsangsi (奉常寺主簿). He was subsequently appointed Junior Director of the Jangakwon (掌樂院直長) and again Secretary of the Bongsangsi, after which he was recruited as Junior Censor of the Office of Remonstrance and, on recommendation, became Junior Secretary of the Board of Personnel. He then served as Senior Secretary of the Board of Personnel, Senior Secretary of the Board of War concurrently Recording Official of the Chunchugwan (春秋館記注官), and in the Uijeongbu as Gumsang (議政府檢詳) and Secretary (舍人).
In 1504 he took part in deliberations on punishing Jo Seo-ri (趙之瑞), Gu Seong (具誠), Choe Suk-geun (崔叔謹), and others at the order of Yeonsangun.
In 1504 (the 10th year of Yeonsangun) he became Junior Censor, and in May of that year he took part in the punishment of Jeong In-in, in June the punishment of Yu Heon and Kim Yang-bo and others, and in September the investigation of Kang I-on's violation of the seal-pass. While serving as Junior Censor of the Office of Remonstrance he petitioned for the life of Shim Sun-mun (沈順門) and handled affairs fairly and without fault. He then served as Senior Secretary of the Board of Personnel and the Board of War while concurrently serving as Recording Official of the Chunchugwan. He again became Gumsang of the Uijeongbu (議政府檢詳), and while serving as Gumsang, in September 1506 he joined the Jungjong Restoration led by Park Won-jong, Seong Hui-an, and others, and was registered as a fourth-rank Bunui Jeongguk merit subject (奮義靖國功臣四等), after which he was promoted to Deputy Director of the Naejasi (內資寺副正). In the same year he became Secretary of the Uijeongbu. At that time the abuses of the powerful minister Yu Ja-gwang (柳子光) were severe; the following year, when he became Senior Censor of the Office of Remonstrance, the Saheonbu opposed his recommendation on the grounds that he had been recommended alone, but King Jungjong did not permit the objection. In April of that year, as Senior Censor, he proposed to Jungjong the abolition of the Naesusa, but was refused. In that same year, together with his colleagues, he impeached the powerful minister Yu Ja-gwang and had him exiled.
After the Jungjong Restoration
In 1507 (the 2nd year of King Jungjong) he was promoted to Tongjeong daebu and, after serving as Senior Secretary of the Board of War, became Royal Secretary of the Royal Secretariat; however, due to a mistake at the Gyeongyeon, he received repeated censure from the Saheonbu and was reassigned. He then served as Deputy Director of the Eastern Office of the Royal Secretariat concurrently Lecturer-Assistant of the Gyeongyeon and Compiler of the Chunchugwan. In 1507 he was sent to Miryang as Magistrate of Miryang (密陽都護府使) and Joint Commander of Daegu Jinkwan Military Forces (大丘鎭管兵馬同僉節制使), where he governed well, did not allow himself to be deceived by local officials in handling affairs, and strictly prohibited the abuses of local powerholders, earning praise. However, on his return at the end of his term as magistrate of Miryang, he was criticized by public opinion for seizing another person's house site.
In 1507 he served as Deputy Director of the Eastern Office of the Royal Secretariat, then as Judge of the Jangnyewon, and in 1513 (the 8th year of Jungjong) he was sent out as Governor of Gangwon Province (江原道觀察使) concurrently Military Commander of Gangwon Province (兵馬水軍節度使). While serving as Governor and Military Commander, he evaluated fairly and strictly the performance reviews and promotions and demotions of the county magistrates, prefects, and district magistrates within Gangwon Province; he did not fear the family or lineage influence of those he judged and did not waver in his principles. At that time there was a local official who, as the son-in-law of a senior high minister, neglected his duties; Yi Se-eung was the first to criticize that official and eventually had him dismissed. However, in February of that year, because of his earlier mistake while serving as Secretary, he was subjected to impeachment by the Saheonbu requesting his reassignment, and was also attacked by the censors, but King Jungjong did not heed them. In September of that year he submitted a report recommending the dismissal of Yun Seo (尹諝), magistrate of Geumhwa (金化縣監), on the grounds that he was too old and muddled to govern the people; the king accepted this. In 1510 (the 5th year of Jungjong) he became Tongjeong daebu and Vice Minister of the Board of War.
In February 1515 (the 10th year of Jungjong) he became Vice Minister of the Board of War, and in July of that year he became Vice Director of the Board of War. In February 1517, when he was appointed Right Deputy Secretary of the Royal Secretariat (右副承旨), he was attacked by the Saheonbu on the grounds that he was unsuitable as a secretary; the king appeased the matter, and although he requested to resign himself, the king did not heed him. After serving as Right Deputy Secretary, three months later he was appointed Left Deputy Secretary (左副承旨).
Local administrative service
In January 1518 (the 13th year of Jungjong) he was promoted to the rank of Gaseon daebu (嘉善大夫) and enfeoffed as Hamyang County (咸陽君), and in the same January he took up his post as Governor of Chungcheong Province. When he was appointed Governor of Chungcheong in January 1518, the censors attacked him, but Jungjong rebutted them, saying that he was a capable man for use in times of border unrest. Pak Ho (朴壕), Senior Censor of the Saheonbu, and Jeong Chung-ryang (鄭忠樑), Senior Censor of the Office of Remonstrance, criticized him; Kwon Beol (權橃), Junior Censor of the Saheonbu, and Yi Cheong (李淸), Presenter, raised his case in a morning audience where they requested that the king keep away from women, but Jungjong did not heed them. He did not actually assume the post of Governor of Chungcheong until 11 February of that year.
Upon arriving as Governor of Chungcheong Province, he was enfeoffed as Hamyang County, and in the spring of 1518 his title was changed to Haman County (咸安君). While serving as Governor of Chungcheong, he quickly and fairly resolved lawsuits, and he lamented that Chungcheong and Gyeongsang Province had no place to store the tax grain of each province and strongly urged the court to act. Because Chungju, the collection and distribution center for tax grain from Chungcheong and Gyeongsang, had no warehouse, the tax grain piled up along the road, creating serious difficulties in the storage and transport of the grain; he consulted with the Governor of Gyeongsang Province Kim An-guk (金安國) and newly built the Gahung Granary (可興倉) in Chungju. On 6 June of that year he submitted a report requesting the commendation of Yi Jon-o (李存吾), who had been Junior Censor (正言) in late Goryeo and had opposed Sin Don; the court historians wrote that it was a matter that Do-sa (都事) Park Se-hui (朴世憙) wished to do and that he could not refuse. On 20 June he was impeached by the Office of Remonstrance for changing public works decided by the previous governor, but Jungjong rejected it; after repeated impeachments for dismissal, Jungjong said it was excessive, and on 23 June he was dismissed from office.
In October of that year he was appointed Regular Envoy (正朝使) to be sent to the Ming court and returned from Yanjing at the end of the year. When he traveled as an envoy to the Ming dynasty in China, upon reaching Liaodong he uncovered and burned goods that members of his delegation had traded privately. Immediately after his return, due to a petition filed by merchants who had suffered losses at the time the Gahung Granary was established, he was dismissed and transferred to the post of Sanghogun.
In April 1519 he was recalled and appointed Judge of the Jangnyewon, and in July 1519 Jungjong named him to manage prisoners in jail, but no one agreed, and An Dang evaded the answer, saying that he was skilled at adjudicating lawsuits but did not know how to suppress and subdue public sentiment. In the same year he was appointed Military Commander of the Left Gyeongsang Province (慶尙左道兵馬節度使), where he abolished all taxes collected outside the law. The following year, when he resigned due to illness, it is said that the soldiers wept and held onto him. On 11 May 1520 (the 15th year of Jungjong) he was appointed Governor of Jeolla Province, and the Office of Remonstrance objected that he had committed many faults while serving as Governor of Chungcheong, but the king did not heed them.
Later life
In August 1521 (the 16th year of Jungjong) he was appointed Vice Commissioner of the Uigeumbu (同知義禁府事), and the censors objected that he was rash and frivolous and often committed errors, and that the Uigeumbu was an important office for which he could not be employed, but Jungjong did not heed them. While serving as Vice Commissioner of the Uigeumbu, from 23 September the censors mentioned his affairs every day, and on 29 October Jungjong himself declared his innocence. However, on 1 November the Saheonbu raised his case, and thereafter the Saheonbu and the Office of Remonstrance took turns attacking him, but the king repeatedly did not heed them. Due to the repeated attacks of the censors, on 19 November 1521 the censors recommended his dismissal, which Jungjong accepted. However, on 20 November, Senior Secretary Pyo Bin (表憑) and Junior Censor Jang Gye-mun (張季文) and others impeached him, saying that because of Yi Se-eung's affair the channels for remonstrance had been blocked.
In 1523 (the 18th year of Jungjong) he was at one point considered for the post of Governor of Hwanghae Province, and in June of that year, when he was appointed Vice Mayor of Hanseong (漢城府右尹), the censors criticized him for the fact that when Japanese troops came to Chungcheong, the Surveillance Commissioner and Deputy Commander sent only military officers; Jungjong did not heed them. Afterward the censors continued to mention his affairs, but Jungjong did not heed them. Thereafter he served as Vice Mayor of the Hanseong concurrently Deputy Commander of the Dochongbu, Vice Minister of the Board of Revenue, and so on; in 1526 (the 21st year of Jungjong) he became a Special Advisor (特進官), and in 1527 (the 22nd year of Jungjong) he became Vice Minister of the Board of Personnel. He then became Vice Minister of the Board of Revenue in May of that year, and on 15 December he was appointed Governor of Pyeongan Province concurrently Magistrate of Pyongyang (平壤府尹). Immediately, he was impeached by the Saheonbu, and citing public criticism and famine he requested to resign, but Jungjong kept him in office. On 21 January 1528 he took up his post after receiving the royal order.
While he was serving as Governor of Pyeongan Province, at Manpo the Commander Shim Sa-son (沈思遜) was killed by the Jurchens (野人). He arrested the Jurchens who had killed Shim Sa-son, interrogated them, and submitted a report on 15 April; in June, the Jurchen Im Sa-i-du (林沙伊豆) and 25 others captured Sa-bang-gae (舍方介), father of Nang-so-eul-go-dae (浪所乙古大), who had killed Shim Sa-son, and each was given one bolt of cloth (cotton); Jungjong pointed out that the punishment was too light. After taking up his post at the border region of Gwanseo, he was so occupied with planning countermeasures for the disturbances caused by the Jurchens that he forgot to eat and sleep, and as a result he fell ill.
It is said that he was filial and incorruptible. His writings include Anjae Yeoseol (安齋易說), in which he synthesized the Principle school and the Numerology school of the Book of Changes and set forth commentaries on the hexagram and line statements of each hexagram of the Changes. On 29 August 1528 he died in the line of duty while serving as Governor of Pyeongan Province, from illness and overwork. King Jungjong mourned him and granted a funeral gift (賻儀). After his death, Heo Goeng (許硡), who had taken up the post of the next Governor of Pyeongan Province, also died after only a year, on 7 September 1529.
Posthumous honors
He was immediately posthumously honored as Posthumous Jaheon daebu, Minister of the Board of Personnel (贈資憲大夫吏曹判書), concurrently Grand Secretary of the Gyeongyeon, Chunchugwan, and Hongmungwan (知經筵春秋館事弘文館大提學藝文館大提學義禁知府事), and Left Guest of the Crown Prince (世子左賓客), and his posthumous name was Yanggan.
By royal command, funeral and stone monument expenses were granted, and in October 1528 he was buried with a ceremonial funeral (禮葬) at Yeongjangsan (靈長山) in Gyeongan-myeon, Gwangju County, Gyeonggi Province (present-day Jungdae-dong, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Mountain 11-1), facing the grave of his father Yi Gye-tong to the west, in a sitting direction of south-north (子坐午向). King Jungjong bestowed upon his descendants 20 gyeol of ancestral sacrificial land and a mountain circumference of 15 ri, and ordered the establishment of an ancestral shrine that would never be moved, by granting him the status of Bulcheonjiwi (不遷之位). The epitaph for his stele (神道碑銘) was written by Kim An-guk (慕齋金安國).
Family
- Grandfather: Yi Heung-son (李興孫)
- Father: Yi Gye-tong (李季通, 1439 – 2 October 1491)
- Mother: Lady of the Jeonju Yu clan (全州柳氏, ? – 25 August 1501), daughter of Yu Maeng-gi (柳孟沂), Tongjeong daebu and Magistrate of Gwaksan
- Younger brother: Yi Si-eung (李時應, 1476 – 1538)
- Wife: Lady of the Gyeongju Kim clan (慶州金氏), daughter of Kim Mi (金楣), Senior Censor of the Saheonbu
- Daughter: Lady of the Haman Yi clan (咸安李氏)
- Son-in-law: Jeong Hong-pil (鄭弘弼, 1493 – ?)
- Daughter: Lady of the Haman Yi clan (咸安李氏, 1 December 1492 – 7 October 1536)
- Son-in-law: Yi Gwang-sik (李光軾, 7 November 1493 – 15 December 1563)
- Daughter: Lady of the Haman Yi clan (咸安李氏)
- Son-in-law: Ryu Sa-gi (柳思琦)
- Daughter: Lady of the Haman Yi clan (咸安李氏)
- Son-in-law: Seong Su-yeong (成守瑛)
- Son (eldest): Yi Jin (李震, 17 March 1500 – 1 June 1573)
- Daughter-in-law: Lady of the Jeonju Yi clan, daughter of Yi Tan (李坦), Deputy Director of Gyerim (鷄林副正); no children
- Daughter-in-law: Lady of the Miryang Park clan, daughter of Park Mun-no (朴文璐), Magistrate; second wife of Yi Jin
- Son: Yi Rim (李霖, 1501 – 1546)
- Daughter-in-law: Lady of the Gwangsan Kim clan (光山金氏, 1505 – 30 December 1564), daughter of Kim Geuk-pip, Left Councilor of the Uijeongbu
- Son: Yi Je (李霽, 1507 – 1543)
- Daughter-in-law: Lady of the Deoksu Yi clan, daughter of Yi Mi (李薇), Minister of Rites
Works
Miscellaneous
There is an assessment that he was criticized by public opinion for seizing another person's house site. Additionally, there is an assessment that his punishments were excessively severe, and that, being fond of luxury, his clothing and house decorations were excessively grand and ornate, lacking the bearing of a sajunja (士君子).
On Mountain 11-6 in Jungdae-dong, Gwangju City, near his tomb, there is also the grave of his grandson Yi Seok-hyeong (1534 – ?), son of Yi Jin.
Notes