Mid-Joseon civil official who rose to Left State Councillor under King Jungjong
| Life | 1459 ~ 1531 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 한산 이씨 |
Yi Yu-cheong (李惟淸, 1459-1531) was a mid-Joseon civil official from Hansan, with courtesy name Jikjae (直哉), eldest son of Yi Hun (李塤). He rose to Left State Councillor under King Jungjong.
He passed the sama examinations in 1480 (Seongjong 11) at 22 and the civil examination in 1486 (Seongjong 17), serving as Saheonbu jipyeong, munhak and janggyeong. Under Yeonsangun he served as Jeolla land-survey officer and then Saheonbu jibui, suffered in the Muo Literati Purge, and is said to have been reduced to slave status in the Gapja Purge. Released after the 1506 Jungjong Restoration, he was recalled as dongbu seungji and rose quickly to right seungji.
He then served as chief censor, vice-minister of Revenue, governor of Hwanghae and Gyeonggi, and minister of Punishments and of Works. In the Gimyo Purge he is recorded as joining the purge of Jo Gwang-jo's group, and afterwards rose through right and left consultant to Right State Councillor and finally Left State Councillor. He was close to Hungu ministers such as Sin Yong-gae, Seong Hui-an, Yu Sun-jeong, Nam Gon and Jeong Gwang-pil. He moved to Yeongjungchubu-sa in 1527 and died in 1531. His course contrasts with that of clan member Yi Ja, who fell in the Gimyo Purge, showing that even within one clan positions between Sarim and Hungu could differ.
Even within the Hansan Yi, Yi Ja took a Sarim path and Yi Yu-cheong one closer to Hungu. His suffering in the Muo and Gapja Purges may have helped his rapid rise after the Restoration, but assessments of his politics may differ by source. Details such as his posthumous title were not confirmed here.
He rose through Right State Councillor to Left State Councillor and moved to Yeongjungchubu-sa in 1527.
He is said to have suffered in the Muo Purge and been made a slave in the Gapja Purge, and was released after the Restoration. In the Gimyo Purge he is recorded as taking part in the purge of Jo Gwang-jo's group, a course that contrasts with that of clansman Yi Ja.
The tomb was not confirmed here.
His father was Yi Hun. Descendant relations were not confirmed here.