Yi Sung-in

Yi Sung-in (李崇仁, 1347 – 10 September 1392 (23rd day of the 8th lunar month)) was a late Goryeo poet and great scholar who served as Sukongbuseung. His pen name was Doeun (陶隱), his courtesy name was Jaan (子安), and his family seat was Seongju. He is sometimes listed as one of the Sam-eun in place of Gil Jae.¹ He was a disciple of Jeong Mong-ju. He was a nephew, seven degrees removed, of the powerful minister Yi In-im.

Life

In 1360, during the reign of Gongmin of Goryeo, he passed the Seonggyungsi (成均試) examination. In 1362 he passed the Yehwisi (禮闈試) examination, placing second in the third (bingwa) rank.² After passing the civil service examination, he was appointed Sukongbuseung, then served as Jangheunggo sa (長興庫使) while concurrently holding the title of Jindeok Baksa (進德博士). Later he served in posts such as Yegui Sanrang (禮儀散郞), Yemun Eungyo (藝文應敎), and Munha Sain (門下舍人).³ After King Gongmin re-founded Sungkyunkwan, he served concurrently as a teacher there together with Jeong Mong-ju and others. When Goryeo literati were selected and sent to the Ming, he was ranked first, but he was too young and did not go. Together with Jeong Do-jeon and others, he requested that the envoy of the Yuan be sent back, and for this he was once exiled. Afterward he compiled the veritable records together with Jeong Mong-ju, and in 1386 (12th year of U) he returned from a mission to the Ming; he was exiled on the grounds that he was a marriage relative of Yi In-im. He also went to the Ming as an envoy during the reign of King Chang in 1389. After that, amid continued turmoil, he was exiled and confined several times. In 1392 (4th year of Gongyang), after had Jeong Mong-ju executed, he was accused of being part of Jeong's faction and exiled.