| Yi Do-jae | |
| Birth Date: | 1848 |
| Birth Place: | Hamgyong Province, Joseon Dynasty |
| Caption: | Yi in traditional official uniform of Korea |
| Death Place: | Russian Empire |
| Profession: | Official |
| Serviceyears: | 1895–1907 |
| Rank: | Lieutenant General |
Yi Do-jae (1848–1909) was a politician and career soldier of Imperial Korea.
Yi passed the military examination in 1882,[1] and was appointed as Vice administrator of the Hongmungwan.[2] Yi was appointed as Secret royal inspector to the Gyeongsang Left Province, and reported that people in the Gyeongsang Left Province were being embezzled.[3] On 25 June 1884 (Lunar Calendar), Yi was appointed as Mayor of the Uiju County.[4] However, on 13 April 1886 (Lunar Calendar), Yi was sent to Gogumdo as a punishment,[5] and returned to office on 22 June 1894 (Lunar Calendar).[6] On 7 August 1894 (Lunar Calendar), Yi was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry.[7]
During the Donghak Peasant Revolution, Yi was ordered to reside in Jeolla Province.[8] On 12 December 1894 (Lunar Calendar), Yi arrested Jeon Bongjun.[9] On 29 May 1895 (Lunar Calendar), Yi was appointed as the observer of the Jeonju.[10] Yi arrested Gim Gae nam, a Donghak leader, and executed him in 1895.[11] On 10 October 1895 (Lunar Calendar), Yi was appointed as Lieutenant General, Chikiimgwan first class, and the Minister of Military.[12] On 30 March 1896, Yi was appointed as First class member of the Jungchuwon.[13] He was appointed as Minister of Education in the same year.[14] However, resisting short cut order, he resigned his office of Minister of Education on 16 November 1896.[15] [16] On 27 February 1897, Yi was appointed as Special Official of the Gungnaebu.[17]
On 1 February 1898, Yi was appointed as the Minister of the Foreign Affairs,[18] but because of disease, Min Jong-mok served as the acting Minister from 17 February 1898.[19] He returned on 27 February.[20] On 25 March 1898, Yi became Minister of Agriculture and Industry.[21] Yi and Minister of Interior Bak Jeongyang proposed the land ownership of people to the State Council of Korean Empire,[22] and following the request, he was made one of the presidents of Land ownership section.[23] In 1903, Yi was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his term as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Korea tried to become a neutral state. He firmly declared that troubles of Russia and Japan would cause a trample in Korea, which makes them to remain neutral.[24]
Yi opposed the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, making him to ask the Emperor to punish the Five Eulsa Traitors.[25] [26] When Gojong was abdicated and Sunjong replaced him, Yi tried to invalidate the abdication with Park Yung-hyo. Yi was arrested with Bak.[27] Yi was removed from post and Ye Wanyong succeeded his office on 22 July 1907.[28]
Yi died in 1909. Sunjong gave of Munjeong as the posthumous name on 5 October 1909.[29]