One of the Six Surviving Subjects who gave up office after the Gyeyu Coup and lived in seclusion; pen name Gyeongeun, posthumous title Jeonggan
| Life | 1392 ~ 1480 |
| Era | 조선 초기 |
| Clan | 벽진 이씨 |
Yi Maeng-jeon (李孟專, 1392-1480) was a civil official under Danjong and Sejo of Joseon and one of the Six Surviving Subjects. His courtesy name was Baeksun (伯純), pen name Gyeongeun (耕隱), posthumous title Jeonggan (靖簡), and his clan seat Byeokjin. His father Yi Sim-ji is recorded as Minister of War and his grandfather Yi Hui-gyeong as Gyeongsang military commander.
He passed the special civil examination in 1427 (9th year of Sejong) and served as Seungmunwon Jeongja, Left Remonstrator, and Sogyeokseo Yeong, among others; foreseeing hard times, he asked for provincial duty and became magistrate of Geochang, where his good rule earned him the name of an incorruptible official.
When Prince Suyang seized power in the Gyeyu Coup of 1453, he is presumed to have resigned the next year citing failing sight and hearing, and went to Mangjang village in Seonsan (now Oro-ri, Goa-eup, Gumi) to devote himself to study with Kim Suk-ja and his son Kim Jong-jik. He never answered repeated summons, and in the reign of Jeongjo was posthumously made Minister of Personnel and Daejehak. With Ha Wi-ji of Seonsan, one of the Six Martyred Ministers, he is revered as a model of loyalty.
Yi Maeng-jeon is renowned for refusing office after the deposition of Danjong. His career is recorded in biographical sources such as Choe Hyeon's Injaejip and the epitaph in Yi Sang-jeong's Daesanjip.
He had sons Yi Sun (Daegu instructor), Yi Chwe, Yi Don and Yi I; his brothers include Yi Gye-jeon (Vice Minister of Personnel). See also the Byeokjin Yi clan page.