Min Gwang-hun

Min Gwang-hun (閔光勳, 1595 – 1659) was a civil official of mid-Joseon Korea. During the Second Manchu invasion of Korea, he took the Crown Prince's heir (Wonson) to a nearby island and escaped unharmed. For protecting the heir, he was promoted to Tongjeong daebu, and after his death he was posthumously appointed Chief State Councillor. In addition, on September 17, 1628 (the 5th year of Injo), he was registered as a First Class Sowu Wonjong Merit Subject (昭武元從功臣一等). His family seat was Yeoheung, and his courtesy name was Jungjip (仲集). He was the son of Min Gi, Magistrate of Gyeongju, and the father of the brothers Min Yu-jung, Min Jeong-jung, and Min Si-jung. He was also the grandfather of Queen Inhyeon, wife of King Sukjong, and of Min Jin-hu and Min Jin-won.

Life

In the reign of Gwanghaegun he became a Jinsa (licentiate), and in the early reign of Injo he entered government service through the eumbo system, serving as Byeolgeom (別檢), Chamgun (參軍), and other posts. In 1628 he passed the Alseongsi civil service examination with first place, and after serving in the Three Offices, including as Jeongeon and Jipyeong, he became Chamgun. On September 17, 1628 (the 5th year of Injo), he was registered as a First Class Sowu Wonjong Merit Subject (昭武元從功臣一等). While serving as Chamgun, he was registered as a First Class Yeongsa Wonjong Merit Subject (寧社原從功臣一等) for helping suppress Yu Hyo-rip's rebellion in 1628 (the 6th year of Injo). In 1635 he was appointed to the Hongmun Gwan. In 1644 he served as Gyori, and in 1645 as Sagan. During the Second Manchu invasion of Korea, observing that the defenses of were weak and realizing there was no chance of victory, he fled with the heir to a nearby island while serving as Jongmyoseo Ryeong (宗廟署令), and he escaped unharmed. For protecting the heir, he was promoted to and became Hojo Chamui (戶曹參議). However, there was an opinion that Min Gwang-hun, whose duty was to share the fate of the ancestral shrines and the state, had committed a grave offense by abandoning his post and leaving the fortress, and his reward was therefore revoked.