Upright Joseon minister who served as Right and Chief State Councillor under King Seonjo
| Life | 1509 ~ 1576 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 전의 이씨 |
Yi Tak (李鐸, 1509-1576) was a mid-Joseon civil official of the Jeonui Yi clan. His courtesy name was Seonmyeong, his pen name Yakbong, and his posthumous name Jeongsuk (some sources write it with different characters). He was the great-grandson of magistrate Yi Goeng-sik and grandson of magistrate Yi Maeng-hui; his father was county magistrate Yi Chang-hyeong and his mother a daughter of Bak Yu.
He passed the licentiate examination in 1531 and the special civil examination in 1535, then served as censor. Under King Myeongjong he became a personnel official and in 1548 impeached the powerful minister Yi Gi, and in 1550 helped compile the Annals of King Jungjong. He went to Ming China as an envoy in 1553, held posts including chief royal secretary and deputy magistrate of Hanseong, and in 1559, when Im Kkeok-jeong's bandits were rampant, was sent out as governor of Hwanghae Province to restore order.
Appointed inspector-general in 1564, he went on to serve as minister of works, revenue and rites, and according to Korean Wikipedia joined Bak Sun and others in repeatedly impeaching the powerful Yun Won-hyeong. In 1567 he again became inspector-general and helped compile the Annals of King Myeongjong. Under King Seonjo he became Right State Councillor in 1571 and then Chief State Councillor (sources give 1572 or 1573). After repeatedly asking to resign he stepped down, and died in 1576 while serving in the Privy Council.
The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes him as a scholar and writer of great virtue and integrity. His obituary in the Annals of King Seonjo says he handled appointments fairly and won the trust of scholars, did not add to his wealth beyond his salary even as a minister, and in over thirty years of service never once called at the gates of the powerful. His sons were Yi Hae-su, who became chief royal secretary, Yi Hoe-su, naval commander of Chungcheong, and Yi Myeong-su.