Yi Sanhae

At 70 years old, Yi Sanhae physical status not available right now. We will update Yi Sanhae's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

In 1562, he was recommended to the Hongmungwan. He would then go on to hold various ranks until becoming Jikjehak in 1567. In 1570, he became one of the six royal secretaries, part of the Sueunjungwon. He resigned from his post in 1574 after his father's death but returned 3 years later and was appointed to Daesagan.

In 1578, he was put in charge of a corruption investigation involving Yun Doo Su and Yun Geun Su, leaders of the Westerners faction. Yi, who was part of the Easterners, viciously attacked the brothers and had them removed from their positions. Later that year when he was appointed Daejehak and Doseungji, the Westerners, holding a grudge for his previous actions, opposed this. However, the king Seonjo trusted in Yi's talents and ignored the complaints.

In 1579, he was promoted to Minister of Law. In 1583, he went through the posts of Chief of the Uigeumbu, Minister of Personnel, Rites and Military Affairs in a single year. Attacks against Yi from the Westerners intensified in 1585 and Kim Yu Yung and Yi San Bo reported this to Seonjo. The king assured the two, saying his trust in Yi would not be shaken by false rumours. In 1585, Yi tried to resign from his post after the mass death of the horses meant to be sent as tribute but the King refused to accept his resignation. He attempted to resign again in 1586 after being attacked by the Westerner Jo Heon, but Seonjo once again persuaded him to stay.

In 1588, Yi was appointed as the Right State Councilor (Uuijeong) despite resistance from the Westerners and he was promoted to the Left State Councilor (Jwauijeong) a year later in 1589.

Also in 1589, Jeong Yeo Rip, a former Westerner who had switched factions to the more dominant Easterners, was accused of treason. Seonjo made the Westerner Jeong Chol the Right State Councilor and put him in charge of the investigation. The Westerners took this opportunity to launch a purge and killed many prominent Easterners including, Jeon Yon Sin, Jeong Gae Chung, Yi Bal and more. There were attempts to implicate Yi in the rebellion as well but failed due to Seonjo's deep trust in him. When Jeong Am Su and 50 others requested that Yi San Hae and Ryu Seong Ryong be punished for connections to Jeong Yeo Rip, Seonjo became angered and instead ordered for the punishment of those who had made the request. He then personally met Yi and Ryu and reassured them.

In 1590, he promoted to the Chief State Councilor (Yeonguijeong), the highest position in court.

When it became time to appoint an heir to the king, Yi decided to take the opportunity to regain dominance for the Easterners and take revenge for the purge of 1589. The consensus in court was that Prince Gwanghae would be best suited to become the Seja (Crown Prince), but Yi knew that Seonjo preferred Prince Sinseong. In 1591, when Jeong Chol, Ryu Seong Ryong, Yi Hae Su, Yi Seong Jung and others came to Yi discuss the matter of succession, he pretended to agree with the others and agreed to recommend Prince Gwanghae be made Seja to the King. Yi San Hae was very close with the Kim Gong Ryang, brother of Lady In, Prince Sinseongs mother and Concubine of Seonjo and informed him that Jeong Chol and the Westerners were trying harm the Lady and Prince Sinseong. Kim then informed his sister who went to the King weeping with the news. Then Yi led all of the ministers to Seonjo and asked him to name a successor. When the King asked the ministers who should become the Seja, Jeong Cheol and the Westerners recommended Prince Gwanghae while the Easterners Yi San Hae and Ryu Seong Ryong remained silent. This greatly angered Seonjo, who immediately dismissed Jeong Chol and the others who had agreed with him from their positions.

A fracture emerged within the Easterners faction on how to deal with Jeong Cheol. The Northerners such as Jeon In Hong who were mostly students of Jo Sik who were the more aggressive wing of the Easterners had suffered greatly in Jeong Yeo Rib's Purge pushed for Jeong's execution and stronger persecution against the Westerners. Meanwhile, the more conservative Easterners led by Ryu Seong Ryong were mostly students of Yi Hwang and suffered less during the purge so just wanted to settle for exile. Yi San Hae was part of the Northerners and fearing that one day Jeong Chol would seek revenge, argued strongly for his execution.

The Northerners won the struggle and became the dominant faction just before the outbreak of the Imjin War in 1592. After the fall of the Westerners, Yi had them all dismissed from court and replaced them by recalling the Easterners who had been removed during the purge.

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