Li Wanyong

A politician during the Korean Empire. Because of his strong involvement in the annexation of Korea, he is considered a representative of the "pro-Japanese" faction in Korea, meaning a collaborator with Japan.

Born in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, he worked at the American Embassy in 1887. In 1894, he served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kim Hong-jip cabinet, and in 1895, he served as Minister of Education in the Park Jeong-yang (1841-1904) cabinet, while also becoming close to pro-Russian forces.

In February 1896, Yi Wanyong and others moved Gojong to the Russian Legation (also known as Gakan Hassen or Rogwan Hassen) and the pro-Russian cabinet of Kim Byeong-si (1832-1898) was formed, after which he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1901, he retired from politics for a time, but returned in 1904, and after Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War, he adopted a cooperative stance toward Japan. In 1905, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Park Jae-sun (1858-1916), and in November of the same year, he supported the conclusion of the Second Japan-Korea Treaty (Eulsa Protectorate Treaty), which transferred Korea's diplomatic rights to Japan. In Korea today, Yi Wanyong and others who voted in favor of the treaty at that time are called the "Five Traitors of the Eulsi Era."

In May 1907, he became Minister of State (and Prime Minister from June). After the Hague Secret Emissary Incident, in which Gojong sent a secret emissary to The Hague in the Netherlands to protest the invalidity of the Second Japan-Korea Treaty, Gojong was forced to abdicate and passed the throne to Sunjong (1874-1926). In July 1907, the Third Japan-Korea Treaty was signed, giving Japan control of the domestic political power in Korea, and in October of the same year he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, First Class, of Japan. However, his house was burned down by protesting citizens, and he was attacked and seriously injured by independence activist Yi Jae Myung (1890-1910).

In August 1910, he signed the Treaty of Annexation of Korea, and after the annexation he was made a count (and a marquis in 1920). He served as an adviser to the Central Council of the Government-General of Korea, an advisory body to the Government-General of Korea. In February 1926 (Taisho 15), it was decided that he would be awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum just before his death.

[Takei Hajime]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大韓帝国期の政治家。韓国併合に強く関与したために、韓国では対日協力者という意味の「親日派」の代表とされている。

　京畿道(けいきどう／キョンギド)広州(クァンジュ)生まれ。1887年、アメリカ公使館に勤務。1894年、金弘集(きんこうしゅう／キムホンジプ)内閣で外務協弁（外務次官）、1895年、朴定陽(ぼくていよう／パクチョンヤン)（1841―1904）内閣で学部大臣（文科大臣）を務めるとともに、親露勢力に接近した。

　1896年2月、李完用らが高宗をロシア公使館に移して（俄館播遷(がかんはせん)、露館播遷ともいう）、親露派内閣の金炳始(きんへいし／キムビョンシ)（1832―1898）内閣が成立すると、外部大臣になる。1901年、一時政界を引退するが、1904年に復帰し、日露戦争で日本が勝利して以後、対日協力姿勢に転じた。1905年、朴齊純(ぼくせいじゅん／パクチェスン)（1858―1916）内閣で学部大臣となり、同年11月、韓国の外交権を日本に移す第二次日韓(にっかん)協約（乙巳(いっし)保護条約）の締結に賛成した。韓国では現在、このとき条約に賛成した李完用らを「乙巳五賊(いっしごぞく)」とよぶ。

　1907年5月、参政大臣（6月より内閣総理大臣）となる。高宗が、第二次日韓協約の無効を訴えようとしてオランダのハーグに密使を派遣したハーグ密使事件が起こると、高宗に退位を迫って純宗（1874―1926）へ譲位させた。1907年7月、韓国の内政権を日本が掌握する第三次日韓協約に調印して、同年10月に日本国勲一等旭日大綬章を受章したが、これらに反発する民衆に自宅を焼かれ、独立運動家の李在明(りざいめい／イジェミョン)（1890―1910）に襲われ重傷を負った。

　1910年8月、韓国併合条約に調印し、併合後は伯爵となる（1920年より侯爵）。朝鮮総督府の諮問機関である朝鮮総督府中枢院顧問などを務める。1926年（大正15）2月、死のまぎわに、大勲位菊花大綬章叙勲が決定された。

［武井　一］

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