Yi Hak-gyun explained

Yi Hak-gyun
Native Name:이학균
Birth Date:?
Death Date:April 1909
Death Place:Shanghai, Qing Dynasty
Allegiance:
Branch:Imperial Korean Army
Serviceyears:1895–1907
Rank:Major General
Commands:1st Battalion of Joseon Army

Yi Hak-gyun (; ? – April 1909) was a general and an official of Korean Empire. He was one of the Pro-Russian and American politicians of the Korean Empire like Yi Yong-ik.

Biography

In 1888, Yi was appointed as Aide-de-camp to William McEntyre Dye, the headmaster of the Yunmu Military Academy.

In May 1895, Yi was appointed as the commander of the 1st battalion,[1] and in July of the same year Yi became Jong 2 Poom.[2] The night that Empress Myeongseong was assassinated by the Japanese ronins and soldiers, Yi reported the conspicuous circumstance of Gyeongbokgung to William McEntyre Dye, and Afanasy Seredin-Sabatin.[3] By 4 A.M., Yi ascertained something abnormal was going on the palace; therefore, he woke General Dye and an English Diplomat. As the conspicuous sounds of bullets came closer to him, Yi wore a civilian garment and fled.[4] As the Japanese gained much more control over Korea, with Yi Bum-jin, he refuged to Russian Legation in Korea.[5] In 1896, Minister of Gungnaebu Yi Jae-soon appointed him as a translator of Gungnaebu.[6] In July 1897, Yi was appointed as a chief of ambassador (영선사 장) to Qing dynasty.[7] In July 1897, Yi was again appointed as translator of Gungnaebu.[8] He became a first class member of Jungchuwon.[9] In November 1897, Yi became the commander of 2nd Siwidae battalion.[10]

On 7 October 1898, Yi was appointed as the headmaster of Military Academy of Korean Empire.[11] As a nationalist headmaster, Yi influenced many students, including Park Seung-hwan, to become a nationalist soldiers opposing Japanese attempts to colonize Korea.[12] On 30 December 1898, Yi was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.[13] When Prince Henry of Prussia visited Korea, Yi was ordered to guard the prince.[14] On 25 July 1899, Yi was appointed as Director of Prosecute Section of the Board of Marshals.[15] On 21 August 1899, Yi was appointed as major general.[16] On 19 February 1900, Yi became Director of Recording Section of the Board of Marshals.[17] On 19 March 1901, Yi was appointed as the headmaster of Military Academy of Korean Empire.[18] On 11 October 1901, Yi was appointed as the chief of the Military court.[19] In October 1902, Yi visited Japan to watch Fall training of the Imperial Japanese Army.[20] Before the Russo-Japanese War, Yi with Yi Yong-ik and other Pro-Russian and American politicians persuaded who Gojong to claim the neutrality of the war. It was supposed to keep the secrets from other countries.[21]

After Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904 was signed, the Japanese government attempted to minimize the influence of Yi and his faction in the Korean politics, by imprisoning Yi, Hyeon Sang-geon, and Gil Young-su. Even though Japan was able to minimize his political power, they were not able to neither imprison nor kidnap him.[22] On 9 March 1904, Yi was removed from the position of judge of military court.[23] When he thought that the Empire of Japan was trying to kidnap him, Yi hided in the French legation then refuged to Shanghai.[24] Japanese discerned that Yi was refuging to Shanghai, but failed to apprehend Yi.[25] After the signing of Japan–Korea Agreement of August 1904, Yi went to Russia and brought secrete message of Pavlov, Russian ambassador to Korea, that Russia will assure Korea's independence and stop Japan from interrupting Korea to Emperor Gojong.[26] On 3 September 1907, Yi was removed from the army.[27] He died in Shanghai in April 1909.[28]

Assessment

Horace Newton Allen wrote, 'Ye Hak Kiun. A bright military man. Did well and always kept out of trouble until he got scared and took refuge at Sontag's with Hyen Sang Kun, and was suspected and had to flee to China where he was injured by a fall from his horse and became an opium fiend. He might have been a useful man.'[29]

William Franklin Sands wrote, 'Another member of the circle was Ye Hak Kiun, General Dye's assistant and now head of the military academy. He too was a good friend.'[30]

Award

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 군부가 김석윤 등에게 관직을 제수하였다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  2. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  3. Web site: 2004-11-09 . "일본인 폭도가 가슴을 세 번 짓밟고 일본도로 난자했다" . 2022-03-15 . 신동아 . ko.
  4. Web site: 사료 고종시대사 . 영국총영사 힐리어, 러시아 건축기사 사바틴의 을비사변 목격담을 보고함 . 2022-06-04 . db.history.go.kr.
  5. Web site: 신편한국사 . 2) 제3차 개혁의 추진세력 .
  6. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 궁내부 참리관에 이학균을 임용하겠다는 궁내부 대신의 계 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  7. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 영선사 장에 이학균을 임용하였다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  8. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 영선사 장에 장봉환을 임용하였다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  9. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 중추원 일등의관에 정2품 홍규 등을 제수하라는 조령 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  10. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 삼등감독에 장기렴을 임용하였다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  11. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 시위 제1연대 2대대 대대장에 참령 윤철규를 보하였다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  12. Web site: 공훈전자사료관 . 박승환 . 2022-10-16 . e-gonghun.mpva.go.kr.
  13. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 부령에 참령 신태휴 등을 임용하였다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  14. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  15. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  16. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  17. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  18. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  19. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  20. Web site: 근대사연표 . 1902년 10월 . 2022-03-31 . db.history.go.kr.
  21. Web site: 한민족독립운동사 . 1) 영세중립화의 좌절과 전시중립 선언 . 2022-03-14 . db.history.go.kr.
  22. Web site: 국사관논총 . III. 전쟁의 전개와 강화 .
  23. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 한국고전종합DB . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  24. Web site: 이학균(李學均) . 2022-03-14 . Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
  25. Web site: Records of the Japanese Legation in Korea . (26) [玄尙健과 李學均의 행동을 주시하도록 요청] ]. 2022-03-14 . db.history.go.kr.
  26. Web site: 신편 한국사 . 1) 밀사파견 외교의 전개 . 2022-04-10 . contents.history.go.kr.
  27. Web site: Seungjeongwon ilgi . 군부 대신 이병무가 황족 이외에 보직이 없는 무관의 관직을 해임 하라는 조칙에 따라 명단을 별지에 갖추어 아뢰었다 . 2022-03-14 . db.itkc.or.kr.
  28. Web site: Records of the Japanese Legation in Korea . (162) [前 陸軍參將 李學均 上海에서의 病死 통보] ].
  29. Web site: Allen . Horace Newton . 알렌이 스티븐스에게 주기 위하여 한국 주요 인물들의 명단을 작성한 건 . 2022-09-14 .
  30. Book: Sands, William Franklin . Undiplomatic Memories . 1930 . 128–129 . en.
  31. Web site: 조선·대한제국 관보 . 曰本國 勳二等瑞寶章 등 佩用準許 .