Yi Ŏnjŏk (; 25 November 1491 – 23 November 1553), sometimes known by his art name Hoejae, was a Korean philosopher and politician during the Joseon dynasty. He was a public official and intellectual of the middle era of the Joseon period of Korea. He was born and died in Gyeongju, then the capital of Gyeongsang province. Like most intellectuals from Gyeongsang in this period, he was a member of the Sarim faction. He contributed to the without ultimate-supreme ultimate (mugŭk-t'aegŭk) debate in classical Korean Confucianism.

A scion of the Yeoju Yi clan, he passed the literary section of the kwagŏ in 1514 and entered government service. He was twice expelled from service and then re-hired due to factional strife. He was exiled after Fourth Literati Purge of 1545. He spent the intervening periods teaching on Jaok Mountain in Gyeongju. After his death, the Oksan Seowon was erected on Jaok Mountain to venerate his memory. It still stands today in Angang-eup, Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang, South Korea.

Through his adoptive son, Yi eventually became the maternal adoptive great-great-great-great-grandfather of Queen Inhyeon, the second wife of King Sukjong.

Family

  • Father
  • Yi Pŏn (; 1463 – February 1500)
  • Mother
  • Lady Son of the Gyeongju Son clan (; 1469 – June 1548)
  • Wife
  • Lady Pak of the Hamyang Pak clan (; 1493 – ?); daughter of Pak Sungbu (박숭부, 朴崇阜; 1476-?)
  • Issue
  • Adoptive son - Yi Ŭng-in (; 1535–1593); son of Yi T'ong () and Lady Yi ()
  • Concubine and issue
  • Lady Sŏk of the Yangju Sŏk clan (; 1495 – ?); daughter of Sŏk Kwidong ()
  • Son - Yi Chŏn-in (; 1516–1568)

See also

  • Korean philosophy
  • History of Korea

References

  • Yi Ŏnjŏk on Naver Encyclopedia
  • Yi Ŏnjŏk on Nate
  • 을사사화와 회재 이언적