Early Joseon scholar-official from the Jiphyeonjeon who served as Magistrate of Hanseong and Minister without Portfolio under Sejo and Seongjong (pen name Jeoheon; posthumous title Mungang)
| Life | 1415 ~ 1477 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 연안 이씨 |
Yi Seok-hyeong (1415-1477) was an early Joseon civil official of the Yeonan clan, with courtesy name Baegok, pen name Jeoheon and posthumous title Mungang. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture lists his great-grandfather as Yi Jang, his grandfather as Yi Jong-mu, his father as Yi Hoe-rim and his mother as a daughter of Bak Eon, and calls him a disciple of Kim Ban.
In 1441 he passed the licentiate examinations and then topped the regular civil examination, beginning as a remonstrator. He served some fourteen years as a Jiphyeonjeon scholar, passed the mid-career examination in 1447 and took the reading leave at Jingwansa temple. He took part in compiling the Chipyeong Yoram and the Goryeosa, and directed the vernacular reading marks for the Analects under King Sejo.
Under Sejo he held many governorships and ministries, served seven years as Magistrate of Hanseong, and in 1466 reorganized the identity-tag system as Commander of the Eight Provinces. Under Seongjong he became Minister without Portfolio, and in 1471 was named a fourth-class Jwari merit subject and Prince of Yeonseong. His works include the Daehak Yeonui Jipyak and the Jeoheonjip.
After topping the 1441 civil examination, Yi Seok-hyeong began as a Jiphyeonjeon vice-editor and rose through senior posts. Over about fourteen years he helped compile the Chipyeong Yoram and the Goryeosa. His 1447 mid-career success and the reading leave at Jingwansa belong to these years.
During the 1456 affair of the six martyred ministers he is said to have left a poem at the Iksan magistrate's office alluding to their loyalty. Censors urged punishment, but King Sejo ignored them and instead promoted him to Third Counselor of Rites. Details differ between sources, so only the encyclopedia's account is given here.
As Hwanghae governor in 1460 he assisted King Sejo's tour of the western provinces, and Sejo is said to have called him the master of the western road. He served seven years as Magistrate of Hanseong, reorganized the identity-tag system in 1466, and in 1471 was made Prince of Yeonseong as a fourth-class merit subject.
A tomb and spirit-way stele of Yi Seok-hyeong are said to stand in Yongin, Gyeonggi; the exact site was not confirmed here.
He is introduced as an ancestor of Yi Jeong-gwi (Wikipedia says fifth generation, while some sources say great-great-grandson, so the count differs); descendants of the Sobugam Pansa-gong branch are said to have produced state councillors and chief academicians into late Joseon.