Yi Wanyong

Long ago, a man lived in Korea.

His name was Yi Wanyong. He worked as a leader for Korea.

He helped Japan take control of the land. He signed papers that gave Japan power. This was very hard for the Korean people.

Some people were very angry with him. A man once tried to hurt him. This happened at a church.

Yi Wanyong lived for a long time. He died in the year 1926. He was given a big funeral.

Today, many people in Korea remember him. They think his choices were not good.

Yi Wanyong was a leader in Korea. He lived from 1858 to 1926. He was born into a poor family. Later, he became the Prime Minister of Korea.

Yi's choices changed his country. In 1905, he helped sign a treaty. This treaty gave Japan power over Korea. Many other leaders did not want to sign. But five leaders signed it under threat. Yi was one of them. In 1910, he signed another paper. This one let Japan take full control of Korea.

Because of this, many Koreans saw him as a traitor. A man named Lee Jae-myeong tried to hurt him in 1909. This happened at a church. The attack left Yi with a lung injury. He died many years later from lung disease.

Yi was given high titles by Japan. He even became a Count. He wanted to hide his grave. He chose a forest so no one could find it. But people found it anyway. Today, his name is used to talk about people who work against their own country.

Yi Wanyong was a very important politician in Korea. He lived from 1858 to 1926. His life changed a lot over many years. He was born into a poor aristocratic family. Later, he became the 7th Prime Minister of Korea. Many people remember him for his choices. He helped Japan take control of Korea. Because of this, his name is used in Korea to mean a traitor. He is a key figure in Korean history.

Yi's career involved many different shifts in power. He first studied English and theology at Yookyoung Park. He even lived in the United States as a diplomat. At first, he worked with Russian interests in Korea. Later, he joined the reform faction to modernize the country. This group wanted to open Korea to foreign trade. He was also a founding member of the Independence Club in 1896.

His most famous actions happened during two major treaties. In 1905, he helped sign the Eulsa Treaty. This treaty made Korea a protectorate of Japan. Most ministers were against it at first. However, five ministers signed it under threat of death. Yi was one of those five men. People later called these men the "Five Eulsa Thieves." In 1907, he supported a second treaty that gave Japan control over domestic affairs.

These actions led to a dangerous moment in 1909. On December 22, a man named Lee Jae-myeong attacked him. The attack happened at Jong-hyeon Catholic Church. Lee Jae-myeong was disguised as a chestnut vendor. He stabbed Yi three times while shouting for Korean independence. This attack damaged Yi's left lung. He suffered from lung diseases for the rest of his life. He eventually died in February 1926.

Japan gave Yi many high honors for his help. He was named a Count in 1910. Later, in 1921, he became a Marquis. He even received the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. Yi tried to hide his final resting place in a forest in Iksan. He even made fake graves to trick people. Still, his real grave was found and damaged. Today, his story is told in movies and TV shows.

Yi Wanyong was a prominent Korean politician who lived from 1858 to 1926. He served as the 7th Prime Minister of Korea during a period of massive change. He is most remembered for his role in helping Japan gain control over Korea. By signing major treaties, he facilitated the colonization of his own country. Today, his name is a common word in South Korea for a traitor. His life shows how political shifts can change the fate of a nation.

Yi's early life involved significant social changes. He was born into the Ubong Yi clan as part of a poor aristocratic family. His status changed when he became the adoptive son of Yi Ho-jun. This connection provided him with much support. He studied English and theology at Yookyoung Park. He also spent time in the United States serving as a diplomat. Initially, he worked as a pro-Russian politician in Korea.

As the power of Japan grew, Yi's political loyalties shifted. He joined the reform faction, which wanted to Westernize Korea. This group aimed to open the country to foreign trade. In 1896, he became a founding member of the Independence Club. However, he eventually moved toward a pro-Japanese stance. This transition led to his involvement in several critical historical events.

In 1905, Yi was a high-ranking government minister. He became the most outspoken supporter of the Eulsa Treaty. This treaty made the Korean Empire a protectorate of the Empire of Japan. The pact stripped Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty. Most ministers originally opposed the treaty. However, five ministers signed it under the threat of execution. Yi was among the first to change his position. These men were later called the "Five Eulsa Thieves."

Under the Japanese Resident-General Itō Hirobumi, Yi rose to become Prime Minister from 1906 to 1910. He helped force Emperor Gojong to abdicate in 1907. This happened after the Emperor tried to denounce the Eulsa Treaty in the Hague. In that same year, Yi supported the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907. This second treaty gave Japan control over Korea's domestic affairs. Because of this, he is also known as one of the "Seven Jeongmi Traitors."

His political actions led to a violent encounter in 1909. On December 22, an assassin named Lee Jae-myeong targeted Yi. The attack occurred at Jong-hyeon Catholic Church during a memorial service. Lee Jae-myeong disguised himself as a chestnut vendor to get close. He stabbed Yi three times while shouting for Korean independence. The attack damaged Yi's left lung. This injury caused him to suffer from pneumonia and lung diseases until his death.

In 1910, Yi signed the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty. This document gave Japan full control over the Korean peninsula. Emperor Sunjong refused to sign the treaty. Due to his cooperation, Japan rewarded Yi with high titles. He became a hakushaku, or Count, in 1910. In 1921, he was raised to the title of kōshaku, or Marquis. He also received the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.

Yi died in February 1926 and received a grand funeral. He had tried to hide his final resting place in the forests of Iksan. He even created decoy graves to prevent people from finding him. Despite these efforts, his true grave was eventually found and vandalized. After Korea's liberation in 1945, his grave was further damaged. In 1979, his descendants had his remains cremated and his ashes scattered. His legacy remains a subject of intense study in Korean history.