개성 이씨 family tree

개성 이씨(開城 李氏) — A Yi clan whose founder is Yi Cha-gam, a magistrate of Gaeseong in Goryeo, and whose first-generation ancestor is Yi Deok-si, a Joseon founding merit subject.

About the 개성 이씨 clan

A Yi clan whose founder is Yi Cha-gam, a magistrate of Gaeseong in Goryeo, and whose first-generation ancestor is Yi Deok-si, a Joseon founding merit subject. In the 2015 Census the 개성 이씨 clan numbered about 4,283 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 이, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 개성) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.

Roots and History of the Gaeseong Yi Clan

The Gaeseong Yi (開城 李氏) take Gaeseong as their ancestral seat and are a relatively small seat, counted at 4,283 in the 2015 census. They are a separate house from other Yi seats such as the Jeonju Yi, with a different founder and lineage, so they should not be mixed up merely because the surname is the same.

Founder Yi Cha-gam and First-Generation Ancestor Yi Deok-si

The founder is Yi Cha-gam (李次瑊), who is said to have served as nok-sa-ryeong and dongjeong under King Chungsuk of Goryeo and as magistrate of Gaeseong, and whose family lived there for generations. His given name is also written 次憾 or 次域 in some sources, and even Wikipedia's rendering is inconsistent. The Digital Dobong Encyclopedia and some other sources say the line split off from the Cheongju Yi. His grandson Yi Deok-si (Yi Gae) rose to tonghun daebu in Goryeo and was named a founding merit subject for helping establish Joseon; his descendants took him as first-generation ancestor and fixed Gaeseong as the seat.

Royal Son-in-Law Yi Deung and the Painter Yi Myeong-gi

Yi Deok-si's son Yi Deung married Princess Uiryeong, an illegitimate daughter of Taejo Yi Seong-gye, was enfeoffed Gaeseong-gun and Gyecheon-gun and became Gyecheon-wi. His tomb is in Dobong-dong, Seoul. In late Joseon the clan produced Yi Myeong-gi, a Dohwaseo painter who took part in the royal portrait under Jeongjo. Unity News also names Yi Seon (minister), Yi Gwang-se (magistrate) and Yi Jeong (vice-minister).

Branches and Clan Villages

Eight branches are recorded: Ganghwa, Gaeseong, Geumseong, Nampyeong, Boseong, Anbyeon, Yonggang and Tongcheon. In the 1930 census the main concentrations in the South were Inhwa-ri and Gyosan-ri in Yangsa-myeon, Ganghwa; Jinmok-ri in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon; Jinbong-ri in Bokne-myeon, Boseong; Sinwol-ri in Yuchi-myeon, Jangheung; and the Sanpo-myeon and Seji-myeon area of Naju. In the North the clan lived around Hwangju and Jangyeon in Hwanghae and Haecheon-ri and Dongdae-ri in Baehwa-myeon, Anbyeon, South Hamgyeong. One count gives 9 Joseon examination graduates (6 military, 2 saryeo, 1 medical).

The founder's hanja, the relation to the Cheongju Yi and the first-generation ancestor's offices differ by source, so check your own genealogy.

Main branches (派)

Ganghwa-pa, Gaeseong-pa, Geumseong-pa, Nampyeong-pa, Boseong-pa, Anbyeon-pa, Yonggang-pa, Tongcheon-pa

Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.

Notable figures

이차감(founder of the Gaeseong Yi clan), 이덕시(first-generation ancestor, founding merit subject), 이등(Taejo's son-in-law, Gyecheon-wi), 이명기(Dohwaseo court painter and portraitist under Jeongjo), 이선(minister), 이광세(county magistrate)

Tap a name for the full profile (life, career, grave, descendants).

Population

The 2015 census counted 4,283. Unity News gives 7,212 for 1985 and 5,473 for 2000, noting the 2000 figure was probably affected by a survey error; another profile gives 1,683 households and 5,473 people for 2000. In 2000 the largest regional counts were Seoul 1,393, Gyeonggi 1,333, Gwangju 432, Incheon 423 and South Jeolla 375.

Ancestors' Stele and Tombs

At Musu-gol in Dobong-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul stands a stele to the Gaeseong Yi ancestors erected in 1978, with the tombs of Yi Deung and Princess Uiryeong behind it. Check the location before visiting.

Generation Names

Generation characters are given as 鉉 (17th), 洙 (18th), 炳 (19th), 魯/爀 (20th), 敬/基 (21st), 鎬/鎰 (22nd), 洪/永 (23rd), 植/東 (24th), 炯/忠 (25th), 圭/坤 (26th) and 鍾/鎭 (27th); the 19th is written 柄 in some profiles. Actual use varies by lineage, so check against your genealogy.

Clan Association

The name and contact details of a clan association were not confirmed here. The Gaeseong Yi Daedongbo (1987) is cited as a reference genealogy.

How to build your 개성 이씨 tree

1. Start with yourself — sign in to get your own tree. Enter your name, birth year and clan seat (개성).
2. Add older generations — add parents and grandparents. For accuracy see tracing ancestors with jejeok records (usually to about 5 generations).
3. Link siblings & children — sort by generational name (hangnyeol) to see each generation at a glance.
4. Export & share — save the finished tree as a PDF and invite family to manage it together.

Related reading

개성 이씨 clan association

The 개성 이씨 clan association can be found in the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.