(李人稙, July 27, 1862 – November 1, 1916) was a prominent figure during the Japanese colonial period, known for his work as a journalist, novelist, and playwright. He was born in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, with the pen name Gukcho (菊初), and his ancestral home was Hansan.
In 1900, Lee traveled to Japan to study at the Tokyo School of Politics, where he was influenced by Japanese ideologies and political movements. He spent about three years there, which profoundly shaped his pro-Japanese stance. In 1904, when the Russo-Japanese War broke out, he was appointed as an interpreter for the Imperial Japanese Army, further deepening his ties with Japan.
Lee began his journalistic career in 1906, serving as the editor-in-chief of **Gukmin Sinbo** (National News) and **Mansebo** (Ten Thousand Years News). That same year, he made his mark on Korean literature by writing **”Tears of Blood”** (혈의 누), considered the first modern novel in Korea. In 1907, Lee became the president of **Daehan Sinmun** (Korean Daily News), through which he wielded significant influence in both the media and literary fields.
His involvement in the arts extended beyond literature. In 1908, he became a key figure in Korea’s modern theater movement, taking over the state-run **Hyeorwulsa** theater and transforming it into a private theater named **Wongaksa**. Here, he produced and performed his play **”Silver World”** (은세계), introducing new theatrical forms and modern dramas to Korean audiences.
One of the most controversial aspects of Lee’s life was his role in facilitating the **Japan-Korea Annexation**. On August 4, 1910, he traveled to Japan on behalf of Lee Wan-yong, who lacked proficiency in Japanese, to negotiate with Komatsu Midori, the Chief of Foreign Affairs at the Residency-General. His intermediary role proved crucial in the annexation process, which culminated on August 22, 1910, when the treaty was signed.
Following the annexation, Lee became a prominent collaborator with the Japanese colonial government. He was deeply involved with the **Kyung-hakwon** (Academy of Confucian Studies), where he edited **Kyung-hakwon Magazine** to promote ideologies that justified the annexation. Furthermore, when Emperor Taisho ascended to the throne, Lee composed a tribute to the Japanese emperor, further solidifying his loyalty to Japan. Upon his death in 1916, the Japanese Governor-General’s Office recognized his contributions by providing his family with a funeral subsidy, acknowledging his significant role in supporting Japan’s imperial ambitions.
In the years following his death, Lee In-jik’s legacy became the subject of much debate. He was listed among prominent pro-Japanese collaborators, appearing on the **2002 list of 708 Pro-Japanese Figures**, the **2008 list of pro-Japanese figures for inclusion in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators**, and the **2006 list of 106 pro-Japanese collaborators** compiled by the **Investigation Committee for Pro-Japanese and Anti-National Activities**.
Today, Lee’s name is remembered primarily for his active involvement in the Japan-Korea annexation and his intellectual support of Japanese imperialism. Despite his contributions to modern Korean literature and theater, his legacy remains tainted by his collaboration with the colonial government, positioning him as a symbol of Korea’s painful history of colonization.
