Independence patriot · Righteous Army (uibyeong) · Order of Independence Merit (Dongnip-jang, 1962)
| Life | 1877 ~ 1914 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 전주 이씨 |
Lee Seok-yong (birth name Lee Gap-sul, 1877-1914), from Imsil in North Jeolla Province, organized the "Righteous Army Alliance" militia at Mount Maisan in Jinan in September 1907 and led it as a righteous-army commander. Issuing a proclamation denouncing Japanese abuses, he drew roughly a thousand fighters to his cause, executing collaborators from the pro-Japanese Iljinhoe and clashing repeatedly with Japanese forces, including an attack on Jinan town.
After disbanding his main force in October 1908 he continued smaller-scale resistance until finally ceasing activity in March 1909; he was later captured and executed at Daegu Prison. He is remembered for telling the Japanese judge at his trial that he "would rather be a dog or chicken of Korea than a subject of your country." He was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, in 1962.