Yi Jong-jang (; 1544 – 1592) was a Korean magistrate and military official who fought at the

Battle of Chungju The Battle of Chungju or the Battle of Tangeumdae was the last battle of the Chungju Campaign fought between the Koreans and Japanese during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. Chungju is located just south of the Han River and Seoul, Korea ...

during the first of the

Japanese Invasions of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

in 1592.

Life

Yi Jong-jang was born in 1544. His family, the Hongju Lee clan, has its ancestral seat in present-day

Hongseong Hongseong (''Hongseong-gun'') is a county in South Korea, and the capital of South Chungcheong Province. The current governor is Yeoung Lock Lee. The original name of the city is ''Hongju''. Symbols * The flag represents the Joyang Gate along wi ...

South Chungcheong South Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청남도, ''Chungcheongnam-do''), also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi) located in ...

Province. His father was Yi Han (). From early childhood, Yi Jong-jang was known for his

filial piety In Confucianism, Chinese Buddhism, and Daoist ethics, filial piety (, ''xiào'') (Latin: pietas) is a virtue of respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors. The Confucian ''Classic of Filial Piety'', thought to be written around the late W ...

. After passing the military service examination (무과; 武科) in 1569 (

Seonjo Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, politi ...

Year 2), he was recommended by Chief State Councillor

Yi Sanhae Yi Sanhae (; 20 July 1539 – 1609) was a Korean politician, scholar, writer and poet of the Joseon period who came from the Hansan Yi clan. He served as the Chief State Councilor of Joseon from 1590 to 1592 and 1600. Yi was a member of the polit ...

() for higher military service in 1589. In 1591, he was charged by the Office of the Censors () to

Sinchon Sinchon () is a region of South Korea surrounding Sinchon-dong, Changcheon-dong, Nogosan-dong and Daeheung-dong. It is known for its numerous universities including Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Sogang University, Hongik Universit ...

County (). The following year, at the onset of the invasion, he was appointed the

Chungju Chungju (충주시) is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Uamsan is a mountain located within the outskirts of the city. The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, former UN Secretary-G ...

District Magistrate and Auxiliary Defense Commander (Hangul: 충주목사 겸 조방장; Hanja: 忠州牧使兼助防將) in

Chungcheong Province Chungcheong (''Chungcheong-do''; ) was one of the Eight Provinces (Korea), eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Chungcheong was located in the southwest of Korea. The provincial capital was located at Gongju, which had been the ...

. There, he aided General

Sin Rip Sin Rip (sometimes romanized as Shin Rip or Shin Rib) (Hangul: 신립, Hanja: 申砬; 16 November 1546 – 7 June 1592) was a Korean general and a member of the Pyeongsan Sin clan. He passed the Korean national military examinations at the age of ...

(), General

Yi Il Yi Il (; 1538 – 1601) was a Korean military official of the mid-Joseon Period. During the reign of Seonjo of Joseon, he made a great contribution to the conquest of the Jurchen people in the north. When Imjin War occurred, he was appointed Mob ...

(), and others in the effort to stop the advance of

Konishi Yukinaga Konishi Yukinaga (小西行長, baptized under the personal name Agostinho (Portuguese for Augustine); 1558 – November 6, 1600) was a Kirishitan daimyō under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is notable for his role as the vanguard of the Japanes ...

’s First Division to Seoul. During Konishi's rapid movement from

Sangju Sangju () is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, central South Korea. Although Sangju is rather rural, it is very old and was once a key city. Along with Gyeongju, it gives rise to half of the name of the Gyeongsang provinces. Sangju is nickna ...

toward Chungju, General Sin made the decision to fight a battle on the plains before Chungju Castle rather than at the

Joryeong Mungyeong Saejae (Hangul: 문경새재) is a mountain pass in central South Korea. It lies on Joryeong Mountain between the main peak (1017 m) and Sinseon Peak (967 m). The pass itself rises to above sea level. Mungyeong Saejae con ...

Pass. The Korean forces were arrayed on and around a hill known as Tangeumdae at the confluence of the Dalcheon and Han Rivers. On June 5 (1592.4.27 Lunar) Magistrate Yi and General Yi sent scouts to reconnoiter the Japanese forces blocking the road at the Danwol Post Station. On June 6 (1592.4.28 Lunar), Konishi's First Division assaulted the Korean positions. In the ensuing battle, Yi Jong-jang died along with his son, Yi Hui-rip (). Yi Jong-jang was posthumously named ''Mugang'' ().

Popular culture

Portrayed by Song Hoseop in the 2004-2005 television series

Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin ''Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin'' (; lit. "The Immortal Yi Sun-sin") is a South Korean television series based on the life of Yi Sun-sin, starring Kim Myung-min in the title role. It aired on KBS1 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 from September 4 ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yi, Jong-jang 1544 births 1592 deaths Korean military personnel People of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598) 16th-century Korean people