이위종 李瑋鍾
Patriot of Independence · Diplomacy · Presidential Medal (Daetongnyeong-jang) (1962)
| Life | 1884 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 전주 이씨 |
Life & career
Sent as a secret envoy to The Hague, he appealed to the international press about Korea's plight, then continued the independence struggle in the Russian Maritime Province.
Yi Wi-jong (1884–?), born in Hanseong (Seoul) on January 9, 1884, was the son of Korean Empire diplomat Yi Beom-jin. Fluent in English, Russian, and French — almost uniquely among Koreans of his time — he was appointed a Korean Empire diplomat in 1902. In 1907, under Emperor Gojong's secret order, he traveled with Yi Jun and Yi Sang-seol as a special envoy to the Hague Peace Conference; Japan blocked their official participation, but with the help of the international press corps he denounced Japan's aggression and appealed for Korea's cause. He then moved to Vladivostok, where he joined Choe Jae-hyeong, Yi Beom-yun, and An Jung-geun in founding the Dongeuihoe society to continue the anti-Japanese struggle, including armed incursions into Korea. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Grand Order, in 1962.