이기조 李基祚
Minister of Rites under Injo who reduced the tribute-rice burden as envoy to Qing (pen name Hoam)
| Life | 1595 ~ 1653 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 한산 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Gi-jo (李基祚, 1595-1653) was a mid-Joseon civil official from Hansan, with courtesy name Jaseon (子善) and pen name Hoam (浩菴). He passed the civil examination in 1615 (Gwanghaegun 7), was employed as jwarang of Punishments after the 1623 Injo Restoration and went on to hold key posts such as jipyeong, jeongeon, heonnap, gyori, jwarang of Personnel, eungyo and dongbu seungji.
He served as governor of Gyeongsang, chief royal secretary, councillor of Personnel, chief remonstrator, vice-director of the Hongmungwan and chief censor, reaching vice-minister of Personnel, then held the head of the Seonggyun-gwan, chief censor and vice-director again before going out as magistrate of Samcheok and becoming vice-minister of War. In 1645 (Injo 23) he went to Qing China as envoy and succeeded in reducing the excessive tribute-rice burden, remembered as a diplomatic result that eased the people's load in the years after the Manchu invasion.
He later served as Minister of Revenue and right consultant and as magistrate of Jinju, rising to Minister of Rites, but was pushed out to governor of Hamgyeong by the impeachment of Kim Yuk and others. In 1653 (Hyojong 4) he was appointed Minister of Works and died of illness at Gimhwa on the way back. His tomb was originally in Sanbon-dong, Gunpo, Gyeonggi, but was moved in 1992 to its present location because of the Sanbon housing development, and was designated Gyeonggi-do Monument No. 121, 'Tomb of Yi Gi-jo', in 1990. A spirit-path stele erected in 1705 (Sukjong 31) stands in front of the tomb.
His mission took place in a period when the tribute burden to Qing after the Manchu invasion was heavy. The tomb site was moved after an excavation survey during urban development, which showed that the tomb had been moved and laid out in 1728 (Yeongjo 4). The site is thus preserved and handed down as local cultural heritage.
High Posts after the Injo Restoration
Employed as jwarang of Punishments after the 1623 Restoration, he went on to serve as jipyeong, jeongeon, gyori and seungji.
Mission to Qing
In 1645 he went to Qing as envoy and succeeded in reducing the excessive tribute-rice burden.
Tomb
The 'Tomb of Yi Gi-jo' in Gunpo is Gyeonggi-do Monument No. 121. The photo is a CC BY-SA 4.0 image uploaded by Wikimedia Commons user Jangg8962.
Grave
His tomb is in Gunpo, Gyeonggi; it was moved to its present site in 1992 because of the Sanbon housing development and is designated Gyeonggi-do Monument No. 121.
Descendants
Descendant relations were not confirmed here.