Min Sang-ho (, 1870–1933) was a Korean official and soldier of the

Korean Empire The Korean Empire, officially the Empire of Korea or Imperial Korea, was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by King Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire lasted until the Japanese annexation of Korea in August 1910. Dur ...

. He was part of the

Chinilpa From the late 19th century and until 1945, a number of ethnic Koreans worked with the Empire of Japan. Some of these figures contributed to or benefitted from Japan's colonization of Korea, and some actively worked to counter the Korean independe ...

because he was ennobled as baron after annexation.

Life

Min Sang-ho was born in 1870 as the son of Min Chi-uk as a member of

Yeoheung Min clan The Yeoheung Min clan () is a Korean clan that traces its origin to Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The 2015 Korean census counted 167,124 members of the Yeoheung Min clan. Origin The progenitor of the Yeoheung Min clan was long thought to be Min C ...

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

. He was educated in his home then, Dongmun-hak. In 1885, he went to

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

for studying and received education at the Maryland University. By recommendation of Bak Jeongyang, Min returned to Korea and was posted in Naemubu. After passing the

Gwageo The () or ''kwagŏ'' were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo (918–1392) and Joseon (1392–1897) periods of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' ability of writing composition and knowledge ...

literary exam, Min entered the officialdom as Suchan (修撰). In 1894, Min became Waemu Cham-ui. During the

Donghak Peasant Revolution The Donghak Peasant Revolution () was a peasant revolt that took place between 11 January 1894 and 25 December 1895 in Korea. The peasants were primarily followers of Donghak, a Neo-Confucian movement that rejected Western technology and i ...

, Min was sent to stop the Japanese army, under the command of

Ōtori Keisuke Baron was a Japanese military leader and diplomat.Perez, Louis G. (2013)"Ōtori Keisuke"in ''Japan at War: An Encyclopedia,'' p. 304. Biography Early life and education Ōtori Keisuke was born in Akamatsu Village, in the Akō domain of Harim ...

, from entering Seoul. However, the Japanese army left Incheon even before Min arrived. Form 1897 for 19 months, Min was sent to

United Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain, also known as the Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in Western Europe from 1707 to the end of 1800. The state was created by the 1706 Treaty of Union and ratified by the Acts of Union 1707, which united the Kingd ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, and

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

as an ambassador. Along with

Min Young-hwan Min Yeong-hwan (; 7 August 1861 – 30 November 1905) was a politician, diplomat, and general of the Korean Empire and known as a conservative proponent for reform. He was born in Seoul into the powerful Yeoheung Min clan which Heungseon Dae ...

, Yun Chi-ho, and Yi Sang-jae, Min was recognized as one of the Pro-American politicians. In October 1898, Min was appointed as Vice minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When Prince Henry of Prussia visited Incheon, Min was one of the Korean officials who greeted him in Incheon and, he was the translator for banquet. On 21 March 1900, Min became Vice Minister of Nongsanggongbu. And on 26 March 1900, Min was appointed as Chongpan of Imperial Department of Communications. On 16 September 1902, Min was appointed as Major General. On 9 March 1904, Min replaced Lee Hak-gyun as the chief of military court. He served as Observer of Gangwon Province, then President of Jaedoguk, then Observer of

Gyeonggi Province Gyeonggi Province (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level ''special city'' since 1946. Incheon, ...

, then special official of Gungnaebu in the year of 1906. In 1907, Min was Jihugak of Gyujanggak and Principle of Suhakwon. Min Sang-ho with officers of post office

Min Sang-ho with officers of post office

From 1908, Min became a pro Japanese official, that he joined Dongyang organization which supported the colonization of

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

and

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

, and donated 50 Won to the organization. When Ernest Bethell died, Min donated 100 Won to build his statue. On 1 October 1910, Min was appointed as a member of Junchuwon. He was entitled as Baron on 10 October 1910, and received 25,000 Won in January 1911 for his merit of colonization. In 1912 he received Decoration for Colonization of Korea. He died in 1933 in Korea. Min was recorded as one of the Korean collaborators to the Imperial Japanese colonization in 2004 according to the presidential decree no. 18571.

Honours

Order of the Taegeuk Order of the Taegeuk was an order of chivalry of the Korean Empire that was given to military or civil officials. It was divided into eight classes. It was part of the establishments of orders on 17 April 1897. From 22 April 1897, order of the taege ...

3rd Class in 1901 *

2nd Class in 1904 * Decoration for Colonization of Korea in 1912 *

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...

2nd Class in June 1927

References

{{Authority control 1870 births 1933 deaths Government officials of the Korean Empire Imperial Korean military personnel Major generals of Korean Empire Yeoheung Min clan Joseon Kazoku