Younger brother of Yi Bal who rose to Eungyo of the Office of Special Advisors and died in the 1589 purge; courtesy name Gyeongyeon, pen name Namgye
| Life | 1547 ~ 1589 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 광산 이씨 |
Yi Gil (李洁) was a mid-Joseon official of the Gwangsan seat, courtesy name Gyeongyeon (景淵), pen name Namgye (南溪). The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives his birth as 1547 (Myeongjong 2), Wikipedia's Gwangsan Yi article as 1550 (Myeongjong 5); both agree he died in 1589 (Seonjo 22). His great-grandfather was Yi Dal-seon, his grandfather Yi Gong-in and his father Jehak Yi Jung-ho; his mother was a daughter of Yun Gu, and he was the younger brother of Yi Bal.
He passed the saengwon exam and in 1577 (Seonjo 10) the Taemyo special civil examination in the second class. The Encyclopedia says he served as Saein and reached Eungyo, while Wikipedia lists Jeongeon of the Office of the Inspector-General, Suchan, Gangwon inspector, Saein of the State Council and Jikjehak of the Office of Special Advisors, so the highest post is recorded differently. When Yi Bal fell out with Yi I and Seong Hon and earned Western hatred, he realized he could not take part in affairs and withdrew to his hometown with Yi Bal.
In 1589, when the Jeong Yeo-rip affair brought the Westerners to power and persecution of the Easterners began, his brothers Yi Bal and Yi Geup were beaten to death after harsh torture, and Yi Gil was exiled to Huicheon, recalled and executed. Wikipedia's entry on Yi Bal notes a Revised Seonjo Annals record that Jeong Cheol privately reported to the king to stop Yi Gil's execution but failed, while also noting doubts about his sincerity.
According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture he was cleared in 1694 (Sukjong 20) and posthumously made Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisors; Wikipedia's Gwangsan Yi article says he was cleared in 1624 and given the posthumous rank in 1691, so the years differ. His son Yi Won-seop fled to Jindo and settled at Wonpo in Gogun-myeon, and his descendants are said to have formed the Jindo Dongoe line.
Sources agree he passed the Taemyo special civil examination in the second class in 1577. Wikipedia calls him second-place and the Encyclopedia says that after Saein he reached Eungyo.
After his brother Yi Bal died, Yi Gil is said to have been exiled to Huicheon, then recalled and executed. Both brothers were caught up in the Jeong Yeo-rip treason case.
Wikipedia relays that Yi Gil's son Yi Won-seop came to Wonpo in Gogun-myeon, Jindo, by way of Daliseom off Mokpo, together with Yi Geun, son of Yi Bal's sixth cousin Yi Yun. They are the roots of the Jindo Dongoe line, and in 2002 Gyeongmosa, enshrining 500 clan tablets, was built in Namsan-ri, Jindo-eup.
The location of his tomb could not be confirmed.
His son Yi Won-seop is said to have gone to Jindo and settled at Wonpo in Gogun-myeon, his descendants forming the Jindo Dongoe line.