Grand Remonstrator and Inspector-General, incorruptible official; vice-minister of Justice
| Life | 1450 ~ 1520 |
| Era | 조선 전기 |
| Clan | 광주 안씨 |
An Yun-son (1450-1520) was an early-Joseon civil official from Gwangju, courtesy name Hongjo. A great-grandson of the councillor An Seong, he was the grandson of An Cheol-san (the founder of the Seoryeong-gong branch) and the son of the magistrate An Geuk-byeon.
He passed the licentiate and metropolitan exams in 1474 and the civil examination in 1476. As a Hall of Literature official he defended the independent scholars Nam Hyo-on and others when Han Myeong-hoe wished to impeach them, called for an end to the abuses of royal hunting and for wider channels of remonstrance, and in 1482 proposed abolishing the Naesusa's usury.
As a censor he reported misconduct of officials, and in 1494 as magistrate of Hoeryeong he earned praise. He was dismissed in 1499 for failing to stop pirates as naval commander of Jeolla but returned to become Grand Remonstrator in 1502, and was famed as an incorruptible official. After the 1506 coup he was inspector-general in 1507 and vice-minister of Justice in 1512, but was dismissed over his son An Ja-mun's misconduct.
Han Myeong-hoe was a powerful merit subject of Sejo's reign, and Nam Hyo-on was an independent scholar who honored the loyal martyrs for King Danjong. That An defended such scholars against Han shows he stood firm before the powerful. His proposal to abolish the Naesusa's usury (royal-house lending) at the royal lecture fits the same pattern.
He served at Hoeryeong in 1494, as Jeolla naval commander in 1499 and as Hamgyeong northern commander under Jungjong. His dismissal for failing to stop pirates and quick return, and the late dismissal over his son's misconduct, are notable points in the career of a man called incorruptible.
The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture calls him a great-grandson of An Seong, while Wikipedia's Gwangju An entry says grandson. Following the Encyclopedia's line (An Seong - An Cheol-san - An Geuk-byeon - An Yun-son) he is a great-grandson, which is used here. His grandson An Sa-ung also kept the family tradition.
The location of his grave was not confirmed.
His grandson An Sa-ung passed the civil examination and kept the family tradition.