Son of Yi Jin-sang; Confucian scholar and independence activist who opposed the 1905 treaty, took part in the national debt repayment movement and founded the Hanheung-dong settlement in Manchuria; pen name Daegye; Order of Merit for National Foundation, Presidential Citation
| Life | 1847 ~ 1916 |
| Era | 조선 말·일제강점기 |
| Clan | 성산 이씨 |
Yi Seung-hui (李承熙, 1847-1916) was a late-Joseon Confucian scholar and independence activist from Seongsan. Born in Hangae village, Seongju, as the only son of Hanju Yi Jin-sang, his courtesy name was Gyedo and his pen names Daegye, Gangjae and Hangye. He studied Neo-Confucianism with his father, and in 1890, when criticism arose that his father's simjeuk-ri theory resembled Wang Yangming's, he rebutted it with Gwak Jong-seok and Jang Seok-yeong. He presented a reform plan to Heungseon Daewongun in 1867 and in 1881 strongly criticised the Joseon chaengnyak.
After the 1905 Eulsa Treaty he led a memorial campaign demanding punishment of the five traitors and annulment of the treaty, was arrested at Daegu Police Station on 25 December and imprisoned until April 1906. In 1907 he became head of the Seongju national debt repayment association, resigned when Japanese obstruction defeated it, and appealed to the Hague peace conference and foreign governments about Japanese aggression and the invalidity of the treaty. Soon after going into exile he is said to have written the Mangukdaedong uisa ui.
In April 1908 he went into exile in Vladivostok, and in winter 1909 founded the Korean settlement Hanheung-dong beneath Mt. Bongmil in Mishan and planned the Hanheung School. Around 1913 he handed over management and moved to Andong-hyeon, setting up a Confucian association branch and trying to reclaim wasteland at Deokheungbo, but floods and robbery thwarted the effort. He died of illness on 27 February 1916 at Shenyang, aged 69. In 1977 the government of the Republic of Korea conferred on him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Presidential Citation. His collected remains are the Hangye yugo. This account follows Namu Wiki, so please check the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs records as well.
He led a memorial campaign in 1905, was arrested and imprisoned until April 1906.
In winter 1909 he founded a Korean settlement beneath Mt. Bongmil in Mishan and planned the Hanheung School.
He died in Shenyang, China; the location of his tomb was not confirmed.
Father Yi Jin-sang and mother a Heungyang Yi; he is said to have been the only son among six children (Namu Wiki).