Late-Goryeo official from a Yeongwol clerk family who rose to Assistant Privy Councillor (posthumous title Chungryeol)
| Life | 1298 |
| Era | 고려 후기 |
| Clan | 영월 엄씨 |
Eom Su-an (?-1298) was an official active under Wonjong and Chungnyeol of Goryeo, of the Yeongwol clan, with the posthumous title Chungryeol (忠烈). Born into a family of Yeongwol local clerks, he is said to have been bold; under the rule allowing one son of a clerk family to take office he became a Jungbang clerk, passed the examination under Wonjong and became a Dobyeongma recorder. His final post was Assistant Privy Councillor.
He took part in several events in the confusion at the end of the military regime. In 1268, after Kim Jun was removed, he opposed a plot to kill a Mongol envoy, and when Kim Ju gathered troops that year he is said to have knocked at the palace gate to report it, leading to his arrest. In 1270 he advised imprisoning the Yabyeolcho sent by Im Yu-mu at Geumju and calmed local feeling, and in 1271 he joined in suppressing the Milseong rebellion.
As deputy governor of Namgyeong in 1285 he was criticized for harsh exactions from the people, yet he urged King Chungnyeol to visit the Munsu cave on Samgaksan and the king, recognizing his ability, granted him a third-rank grade. He retired late in life, staying at the rank of Assistant Privy Councillor, and died in September 1298. His sons were Eom Chan, Eom Jeong and Eom Sin; Eom Chan is said to have served at the Yuan court.
Under Wonjong he was praised for supplying what the king's visits to Namgyeong required. Under Chungnyeol he drew criticism for harshness toward the people and for controversy over lavish events and road building, yet earned a reputation as a capable local official. It is a case where opposite assessments survive for one man.
Among the Yeongwol Eom, Eom Su-an rose to Assistant Privy Councillor and Eom Gong-geun to Pan Jeonuisa and Academician of the Bomun Hall in Goryeo. As a case of a Yeongwol clerk family reaching central office, it is read as showing that the house began as a local power.
His tomb could not be confirmed.
His sons Eom Chan (who served at the Yuan court), Eom Jeong and Eom Sin are recorded.