Moderate reformist official, minister of the army and police commissioner, first president of the Independence Club; courtesy name Seongjae, posthumous title Uimin
| Life | 1853 ~ 1900 |
| Era | 조선 말~대한제국 |
| Clan | 죽산 안씨 |
An Gyeong-su (安駉壽, 1853-1900) was a moderate reformist official of late Joseon and the early Korean Empire of the Juksan An clan, with courtesy name Seongjae and posthumous title Uimin. He was born on 3 August 1853 in Anseong, Gyeonggi. Wikipedia calls his father An Gwang-il (childhood name An Gwang-muk) a secondary-line son while a footnote says the name in the genealogy was altered, so his family background is not settled here. He is said to have adopted An Guk-seon as his son.
He made his name in 1887 as interpreter to the minister to Japan Min Yeong-jun, and in 1893 as director of the Mint he inspected Japanese coinage and led the new-style coinage project. In 1894 he took part in negotiations during the Donghak peasant uprising, and in the Gabo reforms served in the Kim Hong-jip cabinet as vice-minister of finance and then minister of the army; Wikipedia describes this period as one of a key pro-Japanese official. After the 1895 murder of the queen he was dismissed for involvement but reinstated, and after the Triple Intervention he shifted to the pro-monarchy side, serving as police commissioner and army minister.
Convicted for involvement in the Chunsaengmun incident, he was sentenced to three years and released, and was appointed police commissioner after the king's move to the Russian legation in 1896. In 1897 he became the first president of the Independence Club and head of a ramie company. In 1898 he was implicated in a plot to make the emperor abdicate and fled to Japan; after returning in 1900 he was tried and executed on 28 May (on a charge of overlooking the Yi Jun-yong conspiracy). He was rehabilitated in 1907. Wikipedia cites a study calling him a typical careerist, while noting that many claims in the article lack sources, so assessments should be checked in scholarly works. His shift from a pro-Japanese stance to a pro-American, Independence Club one is seen as characteristic of his life.
In 1893, as director of the Mint, he inspected Japanese coinage and led production of new-style currency; in the Gabo reform period he served as vice-minister of finance and army minister.
He became first president of the Independence Club in 1897 but was implicated in 1898 in a plot to make the emperor abdicate, fled to Japan and was executed in 1900.
His tomb was not confirmed.
His adopted son is given as An Guk-seon and his adoptive great-grandson An Hoe-nam (son of An Guk-seon).