Writer of the new-style novel Hyeol-ui nu and journalist, listed in the pro-Japanese collaborator dictionary (pen name Gukcho)
| Life | 1862 ~ 1916 |
| Era | 일제강점기 |
| Clan | 한산 이씨 |
Yi In-jik (李人稙, 1862-1916) was a journalist and novelist of the Japanese colonial period from Hansan, with pen name Gukcho (菊初), born in Icheon, Gyeonggi. He appears in literary history as the leading author of Korea's modern 'new novels', yet is also judged a pro-Japanese figure deeply involved in the annexation process. Both his literary achievements and his collaboration are recorded here as they are.
He studied in Japan from 1900, spending about three years at the Tokyo Political School, and when the Russo-Japanese War broke out in 1904 he was chosen as an interpreter for the Japanese army. In 1906 he served as chief editor of the Gungminsinbo and the Manseobo and published the new novel Hyeol-ui nu (Tears of Blood) the same year, and in 1907 became president of the Daehan Sinmun. In 1908 he took over the Hyeopryulsa theater, turned it into the private Wongaksa and staged Eun segye, leading a new-theater movement.
In August 1910 he is recorded as negotiating the annexation by meeting Komatsu Midori, head of the Residency-General's foreign affairs bureau, in place of Yi Wan-yong, who could not speak Japanese; after this Yi Wan-yong and Jo Jung-eung visited the Resident-General's residence and the annexation treaty was signed. Later, as saseong of the Gyeonghak-won he edited the Gyeonghak-won japji, which spread arguments supporting annexation, and he wrote a congratulatory address for the accession of the Taisho emperor. When he died in 1916 the Government-General paid 450 yen in funeral expenses as a reward for his service at the time of annexation. He is included in the 2002 list of 708 pro-Japanese figures, the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities' planned entries for the dictionary of pro-Japanese collaborators, and the 2006 list of 106 by the Presidential Committee.
While his Hyeol-ui nu is treated as standing at the start of the history of the modern Korean novel, discussion has continued over how to evaluate the author and the work in light of his involvement in annexation and his Gyeonghak-won activities. Apart from the positions of the clan and descendants, Jokbo World records his achievements and deeds together on the basis of published records.
He published Hyeol-ui nu in 1906 and staged Eun segye at Wongaksa in 1908, and is treated in literary history as a starting point of Korean modern new novels and new theater.
In August 1910 he is recorded as meeting Komatsu Midori, head of the Residency-General's foreign affairs bureau, in place of Yi Wan-yong to negotiate annexation.
He is included in the 2002 list of 708 pro-Japanese figures, the dictionary's planned entries compiled by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities, and the 2006 list of 106 by the Presidential Committee.
The tomb was not confirmed here.
Descendant relations were not confirmed here.