Founding merit subject of Goryeo who fell at the Battle of Gongsan in 927; introduced as a mid-founder of the Jeongseon Jeon
| Life | 927 |
| Era | 고려 초(후삼국시대) |
| Clan | 정선 전씨 |
Jeon I-gap (全以甲, d. 927) was a founding merit subject who helped Wang Geon (Taejo of Goryeo) unify the Later Three Kingdoms. With his younger brother Jeon Ui-gap and cousin Jeon Rak he is honored as one of the Three Loyal Lords (Samchunggong). He is introduced as a mid-founder of the Jeongseon Jeon, and with his brother was ranked as a merit subject of the founding of Goryeo.
He is said to have fallen in 927 at the Battle of Gongsan (today's Palgongsan) while fighting beside Sin Sung-gyeom and Kim Rak to cover Wang Geon's escape from Gyeon Hwon's Later Baekje army. A 1685 royal order cited by the clan association says the brothers were made first-rank merit subjects for backing Wang Geon against Gungye, and that after their deaths I-gap received the posthumous name Chungnyeol and Ui-gap Chunggang.
When Wang Geon's army was crushed by Gyeon Hwon around Palgongsan in 927, Sin Sung-gyeom and several other commanders died. The Jeongseon Jeon association says Jeon I-gap, Jeon Ui-gap and Jeon Rak were among those who drew the enemy away, as Sin Sung-gyeom did. A popular tale holds that Palgongsan ("eight lords") took its name from the eight commanders who fell, though the lists of names differ.
Jeon Rak's descendants are described as splitting off as the Cheonan Jeon (Cheonan Jeon), while the I-gap line continued as the core of the Jeongseon Jeon. Sources disagree on whether Jeon Rak belongs to Jeongseon or Cheonan, and generation counts from first ancestor Jeon Seop vary by lineage.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed. Dogye Seowon in Hapcheon (1692) and Hancheon Seowon in Daegu (1838) were reportedly founded to honor the brothers (Namuwiki); the latter was restored in 1989.
His son Jeon Bo-in (d. 1019) is said to have been rewarded as a classics doctor under Seongjong and risen to Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Personnel under Hyeonjong (Wikipedia). The father-son link appears only in some sources.