Official and volunteer leader, magistrate of Namyang, martyred in the Manchu invasion of 1636
| Life | 1583년 ~ 1636년 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 남원 윤씨 |
Yun Gye (尹棨, 1583-1636) was a late-Joseon official and volunteer leader whose courtesy name was Sinbaek, pen name Singok, posthumous title Chung-gan, and seat Namwon. He was born to Yun Hyeong-gap, a county magistrate, and a daughter of Hwang Chi-gyeong of Changwon. His grandfather was Yun Seom, killed in the Imjin War, and Yun Jip, one of the Three Scholars, was his brother.
He passed the saryeo examination in 1624 and, when the first Manchu invasion came in 1627, submitted a memorial urging resistance rather than peace. He passed the civil examination in the same year and served in the Office of Diplomatic Documents, as compiler of the Hongmungwan and in the Seonggyungwan; he became a personnel official in 1629 and magistrate of Namyang in 1636.
When the Qing invaded in the winter of 1636 he urged resistance; as Namhansanseong was surrounded he raised troops to relieve the king and was captured by Qing soldiers while trying to reach the fortress. Urged to surrender, he refused and is said to have been cut to pieces. He was posthumously made Vice Minister of Personnel, an honor gate was raised, and later he was raised to Minister of Personnel. He was buried at Giheung in Yongin and his memorial gate stands near the grave.
In 1668 (9th year of Hyeonjong) a memorial stele for Yun Gye was raised at Namyang in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. Song Si-yeol, then Right State Councillor, composed the text, Song Jun-gil wrote it, and Min Yu-jung, father of Queen Inhyeon, wrote the name on the front. It was designated Gyeonggi Tangible Cultural Property No. 85.
Later generations long honored the grandfather Yun Seom, killed at Sangju in the Imjin War, his brother Yun Jip, executed at Shenyang in the Manchu invasion, and Yun Gye, killed while raising troops, as three loyal retainers of one house. Wikipedia records Yun Jip as his half-brother by a different mother.
Buried at Cheongdeok-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin, with his honor gate near the grave (Wikipedia).
Sons Yun I-heum and Yun I-myeong (a county magistrate).