Early Joseon military official and Minister of Taxation, a Jeokgae and Jwari merit subject who helped suppress Yi Si-ae's rebellion (Prince of Yeonan, posthumous title Jeongyang)
| Life | 1429 ~ 1489 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 연안 이씨 |
Yi Suk-gi (1429-1489) was an early Joseon military official of the Yeonan clan, with courtesy name Gonggeun and posthumous title Jeongyang. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture names his great-grandfather Yi Yang, grandfather Yi Baek-gyeom and father Yi Mal-jeong, and his mother as a daughter of Han Ong. He held posts as Minister of Punishments and Minister of Taxation.
He passed the military examination in 1453, was chosen as a royal attendant instructor under King Sejo in 1455, and passed the mid-career military examination in 1456. In 1467, serving under Gang Sun against Yi Si-ae's rebellion, he was specially promoted and named a first-class Jeokgae merit subject; he also joined expeditions against the Jurchen of Geonju in 1467 and 1479.
He later served as vice minister, provincial commander and governor, was named a fourth-class Jwari merit subject in 1471 (a photo caption gives 1472 for the charter, so dates differ) and was enfeoffed Prince of Yeonan. He became Minister of Taxation in 1489 and died that year. He is described as upright, and is enshrined at Dodongsa in Jirye.
When Yi Si-ae rebelled in Hamgyeong in 1467, Yi Suk-gi fought as a fierce deputy commander under Gang Sun. He was specially promoted for this, and after the suppression was named a first-class Jeokgae merit subject.
He moved between frontier and provincial posts, including southern Hamgil commander, Bukcheong magistrate, Hwanghae governor and Jeolla army commander, and took part in the Geonju Jurchen expeditions in the winter of 1467 and in 1479.
An encyclopedia caption says his merit-subject charter is held by the Yeonan Yi Jeongyang-gong branch association. Jeongyang-gong is his posthumous title, and the lineage gathered around him appears to be called the Jeongyang-gong branch.
The tomb location was not confirmed here. He is enshrined at Dodongsa in Jirye (present-day Gimcheon).
His great-grandson Yi Ho-min became Minister of Rites and chief academician; his merit-subject charter is introduced as held by the Yeonan Yi Jeongyang-gong branch association.