Min Yeong-chan
| Min Yeong-chan | |
 Min Yeong-chan, ca. 1900 | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 민영찬 |
| Hanja | 閔泳瓚 |
| Revised Romanization | Min Yeong-chan |
| McCune–Reischauer | Min Yŏng-ch'an |
| Courtesy name | |
| Hangul | 국보 |
| Hanja | 國寶 |
| Revised Romanization | Gukbo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kukbo |
Min Yeong-chan (1873–?), was scion of the powerful Min clan of the late Joseon 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 Korean commissioner to the Paris Universal Exposition.
Biography
Min Yeong-chan was born in 1873 into the Yeoheung (여흥) Min clan. He was the younger brother of Min Yeong-hwan and the cousin of Queen Min, the consort of King Gojong (Queen Min being the daughter of Min Yeong-chan's paternal uncle, Min Seung-ho). 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. 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.