Min Yeong-chan (3 December 1873 – 16 November 1950), was scion of the powerful Min clan of the late

Joseon Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

period in Korea. Along with his elder brother Min Yeong-hwan, Yeong-chan served in a number of official positions towards the end of the Joseon dynasty. In 1900, he served as a Korean commissioner to the Paris Universal Exposition.

Early life and education

Min Yeong-chan was born on 3 December 1873 into the

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 ...

to Min Gyeom-ho and Lady Seo. He was the younger brother of Min Yeong-hwan. The Min clan rose to great prominence and power with its royal alliance. As such, Min Yeong-chan received the best education studying alongside the future

Emperor Sunjong Sunjong (; 25 March 1874 – 24 April 1926), personal name Yi Cheok (), also known as the Yunghui Emperor (), was the last Korean monarch. He ruled from 1907 to 1910 as the second and last emperor of the Korean Empire. Sunjong was elevated to ...

. For the

Independence Club The Independence Club (), alternate name Independence Association, was an organization that advocated for Korean independence. It operated between July 2, 1896 and December 25, 1898, and was founded and led by the prominent Korean independen ...

, Min was a favored politician. When he was appointed as the Vice Minister of Education,

Philip Jaisohn Seo Jae-pil (; January 7, 1864 – January 5, 1951), better known by his English name Philip Jaisohn, was a Korean American politician, physician, and Korean independence activist. He was the first Korean to become a naturalized citizen of t ...

assessed him as a helpful official with valuable experiences abroad.

Career

In 1889, Min passed the national civil service exam and was then named to an official position in the Hongmungwan (홍문관, 弘文館), of Office of Special Advisors. In 1897, he was named vice-president of the Hanseong Bank Corporation. In 1900, Min served as royal commissioner to the Paris Universal Exposition. He was promoted to Major General on 16 July 1904. In April to May of 1910, Min visited Japan for 20 days.

Assessment

Min is characterized as one of the

Korean collaborators with Imperial Japan 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 ...

for his activity serving for Japanese during the colonial age.

Family

* Father ** Min Gyeom-ho (민겸호, 閔謙鎬; 1838 - 10 June 1882) *** Aunt - Grand Internal Princess Consort Sunmok of the Yeoheung Min clan (순목대원비) (3 February 1818 - 8 January 1898) **** Uncle - Grand Internal Prince Heungseon (흥선대원군) (24 January 1820 - 22 February 1898) ***** Cousin - Yi Jae-myeon, Prince Imperial Heung (흥친왕 이재면, 興親王李載冕) (22 August 1845 - 9 September 1912) ***** Cousin -

Emperor Gojong of Korea Gojong (; 8 September 1852 – 21 January 1919), personal name Yi Myeongbok (), later Yi Hui (), also known as the Gwangmu Emperor (), was the penultimate Korean monarch. He ruled Korea for 43 years, from 1864 to 1907, first as the last king ...

(대한제국 고종) (8 September 1852 - 21 January 1919) * Mother ** Lady Seo of the Dalseong Seo clan (정경부인 달성 서씨; 徐氏; 1837–1885) * Sibling(s) ** Older brother - Min Yeong-hwan (민영환, 閔泳煥; 7 August 1861 - 30 November 1905) ** Younger sister - Lady Min (민씨; 1876 - ?) *Wives and issue(s): ** Lady Kang of the Geumcheon Kang clan (금천 강씨, 衿川姜氏); from Korea *** Son - Min Jun-sik (민준식; 1893–1933) **** Daughter-in-law - Lady Yun (윤씨; 1892 - 1947) ***** Adoptive Grandson - Min Byeong-ik (민병익; 1917 - ?); son of Min Hong-sik *** Son - Min Hong-sik (민홍식, 閔弘植; 1895–1956) **** Daughter-in-law - Lady Hwang of the

Changwon Hwang clan Changwon Hwang clan () is a Korean clan. With its bon-gwan in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, it remains the largest Hwang clan in South Korea. Origins Hwang Rak (), a minister in the Han dynasty, began the clan in Korea after being cast as ...

(창원 황씨, 昌原黃氏; 5 December 1894 – 22 May 1914); Min Hong-sik's first wife **** Daughter-in-law - Lady Yi (이씨) (1897 - ?) ***** Grandson - Min Byeong-ik (민병익) (1917 - ?) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Min (민씨) (1920 - ?) *** Daughter - Lady Min (민씨; 1901 - ?) **** Son-in-law - Seo Jeong-ik (서정식; 1901–?) ***** Granddaughter - Lady Seo (서씨) ** Lady Meiri of the Hu clan (후메이리, 胡美梨); from China

References

External links

Min Yeong-chan
on

Encykorea The ''Encyclopedia of Korean Culture'' () is a Korean-language encyclopedia published by the Academy of Korean Studies and DongBang Media Co. It was originally published as physical books from 1991 to 2001. There is now an online version of the ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Min, Yeong-chan 19th-century Korean politicians 1873 births Year of death missing Yeoheung Min clan Imperial Korean military personnel Major generals of Korean Empire Government officials of the Korean Empire