One of the seven founding officers of the ROK Air Force and first superintendent of the Air Force Academy; killed in action in the Korean War as a brigadier general (Taeguk Order of Military Merit)
| Life | 1917 ~ 1950 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 이씨 |
Yi Geun-seok (1917-1950) was a military officer from Pyeongwon County, South Pyeongan Province, and one of the early officers who built the Republic of Korea Air Force. After graduating from Pyongyang Higher Common School he entered the Kumagaya Army Flying School in Japan and became a pilot, reputed for exceptional flying skill. He is said to have been shot down over the Burma front during the Pacific War and taken prisoner.
After liberation he worked with Choe Yong-deok, Kim Jeong-ryeol, Yi Yeong-mu, Jang Deok-chang, Bak Beom-jip and Kim Yeong-hwan as one of the seven founding air force officers, taking part in setting up the first aviation unit within the Korean Constabulary in 1946. He graduated in the first class of the Constabulary Officer Academy in 1948, and when the air force became independent of the army in October 1949 he was appointed the first superintendent of the Air Force Academy.
When the Korean War broke out in 1950 he went to Japan as head of the team receiving F-51 fighters and brought back ten Mustangs, then led the air force's first fighter sortie on 3 July. The next day, 4 July, he crashed while attacking a ground target over Anyang and was killed. In September 1951 he was posthumously awarded the Taeguk Order of Military Merit and promoted to brigadier general; he lies in the General Officers' Section 1 of the Seoul National Cemetery.
Right after liberation Yi Geun-seok joined the seven founding officers who set up the air arm, and the first aviation unit was established within the Korean Constabulary in April 1946. He became an army colonel in July 1949, and when the air force became independent that October he was named the first superintendent of the Air Force Academy, laying the groundwork for officer training.
Appointed wing commander in May 1950, Yi went to Japan as head of the F-51 receiving team when the Korean War began and took over ten fighters handed over by the US Far East Air Force. He led the first sortie on 3 July and died on 4 July when his aircraft failed to pull out of a dive attack over Anyang; unfamiliarity with the heavier F-51 is cited as a cause. A bust of him is said to stand at Daegu K2 Air Base.
Seoul National Cemetery, General Officers' Section 1, No. 2
Records of his descendants and family line could not be confirmed, and his clan seat is not given in Wikipedia or Namuwiki; this will be added once verified.