Author of the new novel Assembly of Beasts, writer on politics and law, and colonial-era magistrate of Cheongdo
| Life | 1878 ~ 1926 |
| Era | 대한제국~일제강점기 |
| Clan | 죽산 안씨 |
An Guk-seon (安國善, 1878-1926) was an author and writer on politics and law, best known for the new novel Assembly of Beasts (Geumsu hoeuirok), of the Juksan An clan. He was born on 5 December 1878 in Gosam, Anseong, Gyeonggi; his grandfather is given as An Gwang-muk, his birth father An Jik-su and his adoptive father An Gyeong-su. His eldest son was the novelist An Hoe-nam (formerly An Pil-seung); he also had an adopted son, An Jang-geun, and Wikipedia lists An Mak and the dancer Choe Seung-hui as relatives.
He graduated in law from Keio University and earned an associate degree from Tokyo Political School. After returning he published works introducing politics and law such as Oegyo tongui, Jeongchi weollon and Yeonseol bangbeop, and in 1908 the new novel Assembly of Beasts, known as an allegory in which animals hold a meeting to rebuke the corruption of the human world. He also published the short-story collection Gongjinhoe.
From 31 January 1911 to 30 April 1913 he served as magistrate of Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang, under the Government-General. For this reason Wikipedia says he was included in the official category of the 2008 list of those slated for the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators released by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities. Since no official government judgment was confirmed here, this page attaches no pro-Japanese label and records only the fact of his service. He died in Seoul on 8 July 1926, aged 47. He is a figure whose achievements as a writer and record as an official should be viewed together. Footnotes in Wikipedia give long accounts of his family history, many of them difficult to verify, which are left out here.
A new novel published in 1908, in the form of an allegory that satirizes corruption in the human world through the voices of various animals. Wikipedia also lists Oegyo tongui, Jeongchi weollon and Yeonseol bangbeop among his writings.
He served as magistrate of Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang, from January 1911 to April 1913.
His eldest son was the novelist An Hoe-nam, and an adopted son An Jang-geun is given.