Nam Gu-man

Nam Gu-man (南九萬, 1629 – 1711) was a civil official and politician of Joseon. He was the leader of the Soron faction during the reign of King Sukjong. His family seat was Uiryeong (宜寧), his courtesy name was Unro (雲路), his pen names were Yakcheon (藥泉) and Mijae (美齋), and his posthumous name was Munchung (文忠).¹² His tenth-generation ancestor Nam Jae was a meritorious subject of the founding of the dynasty, and his eighth-generation ancestor Nam Ji was Left State Councillor during the reign of King Munjong. He was the maternal nephew of Oh Dal-je. The comedian and broadcaster Nam Hui-seok is his direct descendant in the eleventh generation. Nam Gu-man excelled in literature, calligraphy and painting.

In 1680 (6th year of Sukjong's reign), he was registered as a First-Class Original Meritorious Subject of Bosa (保社原從功臣一等). He was a disciple of Kim Ik-hee, Yi Kyeong-yeo and Song Jun-gil.

Life

He lived in Gyeolseong (結城) of Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, and later moved to Seoul, where he studied under Kim Ik-hee, Yi Kyeong-yeo, Song Jun-gil and others.³⁴ During the reign of King Hyojong, he passed the civil service examination and became Jeongeon (正言) in 1657.⁵ In 1664, he impeached Kim Jwa-myeong, the paternal uncle of , who was then queen consort of King Hyeonjong, and was dismissed from office; three years later, in 1667, he was reinstated as Seungji (承旨). He then served successively as Vice Minister of Personnel, Vice Minister of Justice, and others. Afterwards he served as Minister of Justice, Chief Royal Secretary and Vice Head of the Special Advisory Office (副提學). In 1679 (5th year of Sukjong), he served as Left Magistrate of . At that time, he memorialized the throne denouncing the abuses of the , such as , who held power and had privately felled pine trees to build his house, and the corruption of 's illegitimate son ; however, he was instead exiled to and Namhae. In 1680, after the Namin fell in the , he returned to court as Chief Royal Secretary, and then served as , Minister of War and others. In 1680 (6th year of Sukjong), he was registered as a First-Class Original Meritorious Subject of Bosa (保社原從功臣一等). He later served as and , and finally as .