Volunteer commander known as the 'White Horse General', chief of the Honam Righteous Army Alliance; recipient of the Independence Medal
| Life | 1851 ~ 1908 |
| Era | 조선 말기 |
| Clan | 행주 기씨 |
Gi Sam-yeon (奇參衍, 1851-1908) was a volunteer commander of the Haengju Gi, chief of the Honam Righteous Army Alliance. Known as the 'White Horse General', courtesy name Gyeongno, pen name Seongjae, he came from Jangseong and was a disciple of Gi Jeong-jin.
In 1896 he rose with Gi U-man but disbanded on a royal envoy's persuasion, and was imprisoned at Jeonju and then in Seoul for about a month. After the army's disbandment in 1907 he was chosen chief of the Honam alliance, issuing a manifesto against collaborators. He won a notable fight near Gochang on 23 September and further victories at Yeonggwang, Buan and Jeongeup. In December his men burned a police station at Beopseongpo and distributed seized grain to the people.
Switching to guerrilla tactics, his unit was surrounded at Chuwolsan fortress in Damyang on 27 December but escaped in fog, hid in Sunchang and was captured on New Year's Day. He was shot on 2 January 1908 on the riverbank below Seocheon Bridge in Gwangju. The Independence Medal was awarded in 1962, and a memorial stands in Jangseong Park.
Chosen chief in September 1907, he fought Japanese forces at Gochang, Yeonggwang, Buan and Jeongeup.
He escaped encirclement at Chuwolsan in Damyang, was captured in January 1908 and shot below Seocheon Bridge in Gwangju.
A memorial stands in Jangseong Park; the tomb location was not confirmed.
His grandnephew Gi San-do was also an independence activist who planned to assassinate the Five Eulsa Traitors.