Yi Bum-jin

Yi Bum-jin (; 3 September 1852 – 13 January 1911) was a Korean diplomat, official, and politician during the reign of Gojong. He committed suicide after Korea was annexed by Japan in 1911.

Biography Yi was born in 1852 as the son of Yi Gyeung-ha, a prominent politician during the regency of Heungseon Daewongun.

Two years later, he returned to Korea, and led Gojong's internal exile to the Russian legation with other pro-Russian politicians. After the exile, Yi joined the pro-Russian cabinet as Minister of Law on 22 February 1896. In June 1896, Yi was appointed as the Envoy to America. Upon his arrival, he met the president Grover Cleveland and announced the replacement of Korean envoy on 11 September. While in America, Yi wrote a diary, which later became known as the Misi Diary.

As a Korean ambassador in Russia, Yi endeavored to preserve the autonomy and rights of the Korean Empire. When Russian envoy to Korea Nikolai G. Matiunine attempted to prolong logging rights, Yi showed his opposition to the contract. Furthermore, when Russian forces seized Yong-am Po, Yi opposed the seizure to protect Korean sovereignty. Upon the Japanese occupation of Korea by military force, Yi was ordered to return to Korea. However, he disobeyed the order of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and maintained his position as a minister to Russia until the end of Russo-Japanese War. He rather obeyed the order of the Emperor, which decreed him to ignore Japanese pressure to return to Korea and stay at Russia. The Russian government gave Yi 7,325 Ruble every three months as a message of opposing Japanese tyranny in Korea. This financial aid was given from February 1904 to December 1905. Although as an unofficial envoy, Yi served the emperor by delivering his diplomatic letters to Nicholas II.

Honours

Order of the Taegeuk 2nd class on 22 February 1901

Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky 1st Class