Goryeo founding-merit subject who held Byeokjin district and backed Wang Geon; founder of the Byeokjin Yi clan
| Life | 858 ~ 938 |
| Era | 후삼국·고려 초 |
| Clan | 벽진 이씨 |
Yi Chong-eon (李悤言, 858-938) was a local strongman who defended Byeokjin district (around today's Seongju, North Gyeongsang) against bandits in late Silla and stabilized the people. He is the founder of the Byeokjin Yi clan.
When King Taejo Wang Geon founded Goryeo and proposed joining forces to end the turmoil, he gladly sent his son Yi Yeong (李永) with troops to help in the war against Later Baekje. Yi Yeong was eighteen, and Taejo gave him the daughter of Daegwang Sa Do-gwi as wife. For storing wealth and provisions that contributed to the unification of the Later Three Kingdoms he was named General of Byeokjin, and is said to have been enfeoffed as Count of Byeokjin.
He died in 938 (21st year of Taejo) at 81. His tomb was said to be at Suchon in Seongju but was lost; a memorial brick was later found and the tomb was restored. His descendants took Byeokjin as their clan seat and became the Byeokjin Yi.
Byeokjin was an old district covering the area of today's Byeokjin-myeon in Seongju. When Taejo renamed the five Gaya polities he is said to have given it the name Byeokjin Gaya or Seongsan Gaya, which was later mistaken for one of six Gaya states. Yi Chong-eon's base was this district.
His tomb at Suchon in Seongju was lost and later restored, it is said.
His son Yi Yeong served with Wang Geon against Later Baekje. Descendants include Yi Maeng-jeon, Yi Jang-gon and Yi Hang-ro. See also the Byeokjin Yi clan page.