Yi Su-gwang

Yi Su-gwang ( scholar and a military officer who lived during the Joseon Dynasty .

EARLY LIFE

He was born to a wealthy, aristocratic family in 1563, and was offered the finest education his parents could afford. In 1585, he passed the Civil Service exam and became a military officer.

MILITARY CAREER

Following the wake of Seven-Year War , he was stationed in Jogyeong , Gyeongsang province, where he was given command of a small army contingent. He encountered a Japanese expeditionary contingent in Yongin , Gyeonggi province, and lost. His superiors restationed him in Eiju , Hamgyong province, where he encountered several more Japanese forces. However, he was able to emerge victorious and was promoted.

CAREER AS AN EMISSARY

After the war, he worked temporarily as an emissary to the , Vietnam , and Thailand . It also contained basic information on the Western world, including the geography and weather of England, western food, and western weapons. He also wrote about the knowledge on Astronomy he acquired from an Italian priest staying China at the time. He visited China several times, and even met Thai (known then to Koreans as ''Seomra'' people) emissaries in China. Taking a great interest to the Thais, he closely recorded the mannerism of the Thai people. He also had contact with emissaries from Vietnam and the Okinawan Islands.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

When he came back to Korea, he became a high-ranking government official, the ''Ijo Panseo'' ( Hangul :이조판서).

In his later works - ''Jibong jib'' (.

He died in 1628. He was given the posthumous title (and office) ''Yeong Eu-Jeong'' ( Hangul :영의정).

EXTERNAL LINKS

이수광 (In Korean)

Yi Su-gwang and his era (In Korean)

Naver on Yi Su-gwang (In Korean)

Yi-Su Gwang

Information About

Yi Su-gwang