Goryeo general who escorted King Chungnyeol to the Yuan court; distant founder of the Naju Lim clan
| Life | 미상 ~ 미상 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 나주 임씨 |
Im Bi (林庇) was a Goryeo general under Kings Wonjong and Chungnyeol and is the "distant founder" (wonjo) whom the Naju Lim clan counts as its first generation. His dates are unknown. The clan calls him not "founder" but "distant ancestor", explaining that earlier forebears existed whose lines were not recorded.
According to the Goryeo-sa he escorted the crown prince Wang Sim (later King Chungnyeol) when he visited the Mongol court, and in 1282 was named a second-class merit subject for accompanying him. He later became military commander of Chungcheong.
His ninth-generation descendant Im Tak served as magistrate of Haenam and, after Joseon's founding, retired to Hoejin, which made Hoejin (later Naju) the clan seat. The tombs from Im Bi to the 8th generation are lost.
As a general under Wonjong, Im Bi escorted the crown prince Wang Sim to the Mongol court. In 1269, hearing on the way home that Im Yeon had deposed Wonjong and set up Prince Wang Chang, he stayed in Yanjing with the prince.
He was honored in 1282 for escorting the prince. That year the monk Hongtan of Yeongtongsa falsely accused him and he was questioned, but cleared. In 1289, as military commander of Chungcheong, he was dismissed for failing to deliver grain on time to Gaizhou in the Yuan.
Some claim a common root with the Pyeongtaek Lim line of Im Pal-geup (林八及), but the Naju Lim side rejects this and no genealogy record confirms it. The tradition linking all Lim to Bi Gan of Shang and the hypothesis of descent from the Baekje Mok clan should be read as tradition or hypothesis.
His tomb is lost (one account guesses near Gaeseong); descendants hold rites at the tomb of Im Tak.
His ninth-generation descendant Im Tak settled at Hoejin; the Naju Lim clan divided into branches from Im Tak's grandson onward.