이상의 李尙毅
Official who served as Minister of Personnel and Left Vice Premier, great-grandfather of Yi Ik; pen name Soreung; posthumous title Ikheon
| Life | 1560 ~ 1624 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 여주 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Sang-ui (1560-1624) was a mid-Joseon official of the Yeoju Yi clan, courtesy name Iwon, pen names including Soreung, and posthumous title Ikheon. His father was Yi U-in, and his descendants include the Silhak scholar Yi Ik (great-grandson) and, as a great-grandson through a daughter, Yu Hyeong-won. The Soreung-gong branch under the Gyeongheon-gong line takes its name from his pen name, and many Namin Silhak scholars including Yi Ik came from it.
He passed the licentiate examination in 1585 and the special civil examination in 1586, served as Inspector and Military Secretary, and during the Imjin War escorted King Seonjo's flight as inspector. In 1597 he went to Beijing as secretary of an embassy, and as Magistrate of Seongcheon from 1603 he revived the local school and encouraged academies, so that the district reportedly produced its first lesser-examination graduate.
Under Gwanghaegun he was made a first-class merit subject in 1608 and Minister of Personnel in 1609, praised for hiring talent regardless of faction; in 1612 he was named Prince Yeoheung and in 1616 Buwongun, and in 1618 became Left Vice Premier. After the 1623 Restoration his merit honors were revoked and he was demoted, but his descendants were not penalized, and he was posthumously made Chief State Councillor. He was a fine calligrapher and left the Soreungjip.
Descendants
He had sons including Yi Ji-wan and Yi Ji-an; his grandson Yi Ha-jin was the father of Yi Ik.