Min Am

Min Am (閔黯, 1636 – 1694) was a civil official and politician of late Joseon. His family seat was Yeoheung (驪興). His courtesy name was Jangyu (長孺), and his pen name was Chaho (叉湖).

Life

In 1672, during the reign of King Hyeonjong, he passed the civil service examination, became Gyeomchunchu, and was appointed Jipyeong. He contributed to the defeat of the Westerners in the Gapin Rites Controversy and was active within the Southern faction. However, as a member of the Tak-nam faction, he opposed the execution of Song Si-yeol together with Chief State Councillor Heo Jeok and Right State Councillor Kwon Dae-un. Afterward, in the early reign of King Sukjong, during the period when the Southerners held power, he served as Jangnyeong, Sagan, Gyori, Eungyo, Jibui, and Sain, and at that time helped bring about the downfall of Westerners such as Song Si-yeol and Kim Su-hang. Subsequently, owing to King Sukjong's favor, he was appointed Seungji and promoted to Chief Royal Secretary, but he was then sent out to a provincial post as Governor of Hamgyong Province. In 1679 he served as Minister of Rites, Chief Censor, and Mayor of Hanseong, and held concurrent posts as Jiyeongyeonsa. However, in 1680 he was exiled due to the Gyeongsin Purge. In 1689, upon his return through the Gisa Purge, he strongly argued, unlike before, that Queen Inhyeon should be deposed, and he submitted a petition calling for the execution of Song Si-yeol, Kim Su-hang, and others, which he had not done previously. He then served as Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers, Left Assistant State Councillor, Minister of Rites, , , and , and held concurrent posts as Jiseonggyungwansa, Jigyeongyeonsa, and Jichunchugwansa. He also formed ties with his son, the Jibui of the Saheonbu, Min Jang-do, and with , of the and a relative of . He further allied with Yi Ui-jing, the commander of the Training Corps, and Yu Myeong-hyeon, Director of the Royal Court of Justice. Afterward he rose to , became a real power in the court, and enjoyed authority while also serving as Yakbang Dojejo. In 1694, at the time of the denunciation by Ham I-wan, he took part as a chief investigator and attempted to expand the purge, but he was ultimately dismissed in the Gapsul Purge. He was soon reinstated and became . However, he was soon sent into exile and then executed.