Yi Ŭi-min (Korean: 이의민; Hanja: 李義旼; died 7 May 1196) was a military general who dominated the Goryeo government prior to the Mongol Invasions.
When his rival, Commander Kyŏng Tae-sŭng, died, Yi Ŭi-min rose to power in the supreme military council, Jungbang.
[3] Yi entered the capital defense command (경군; 京軍), where his outstanding Subak technique was noticed by King Uijong and he was promoted to the byeoljang (별장; 別將).
As a result, Yi had been ordered to return Uijong from his place of exile, Geoje, by rebel forces, only to kill him on his way back in Gyeongju.
[citation needed] He then made it to the top post, supreme general (상장군; 上將軍), for the credit of putting down the Revolt of Cho Wi-chong, Governor of Pyongyang in 1174.
Yi who was commissioned as a susagongjwabokya (수사공좌복야; 守司空左僕射) by Myeongjong had gotten a position of a dongjungseomunhapyeongjangsa panbyeongbusa (동중서문하평장사 판병부사; 同中書門下平章事判兵部事) in 1190 additionally.
Yi turns down King Myeongjong's request to accompany him to Bojesa temple (보제사; 普濟寺) by making an excuse about his ill physical condition and sneaks out to a Mita Mountain cottage.