Second State Councillor in late Yeongjo's reign and uncle of Lady Hyegyeong; opposed the crown grandson's regency and was put to death in 1776
| Life | 1722 ~ 1776 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 풍산 홍씨 |
Hong In-han (洪麟漢, 1722-1776) was an official under Yeongjo of the Pungsan Hong clan, with the courtesy name Jeongyeo. Wikipedia gives his birth as 1722, though its infobox says 30 November 1721, so sources differ. His father was Hong Hyeon-bo, minister of rites, and his elder half-brother was Chief State Councillor Hong Bong-han, which made him uncle of Lady Hyegyeong (Lady Hyegyeong). His brother-in-law was Jo Eom, who brought the sweet potato to Korea. He passed the regular civil examination in 1753 in second place in the Byeong class, served in prestigious posts such as Gajuseo, Jeongeon and Gyori, and in 1754 went out as Gyeonggi secret royal inspector.
He became governor of Jeolla in 1757 and later served as royal secretary, Inspector-General, chief royal secretary, Honam pacification commissioner and governor of Gyeonggi, passing through the Six Ministries as minister of personnel, military affairs and works. He was governor of Pyeongan in 1773, Third State Councillor in 1774 and Second State Councillor in 1775. An anecdote that as governor of Jeolla he flogged gisaeng at will over their dancing and singing is criticized in Seong Dae-jung's Cheongseong japgi; the Annals carry a rumor of extortion in Jeolla but give no concrete facts.
When Yeongjo ordered the crown grandson, the future Jeongjo, to act as regent in 1775, he objected even to the king's face, and the argument known as "the three things he need not know" is said to belong to this episode. He worked with Jeong Hu-gyeom to stir opinion against the grandson and submitted memorials accusing Hong Guk-yeong and others, but the plan was reversed by Seo Myeong-seon's counter-impeachment. Lady Hyegyeong wrote asking him not to block the regency, but he reportedly did not listen. After Jeongjo's accession in 1776 a purge began; impeached by Seo Myeong-seon and others, he was struck from the roll and expelled, confined in Yeosan and Gogeumdo, and put to death by poison. He was buried at Bonggokmasan in Gaepung, and Lady Hyegyeong is said not to have prevented the sentence. His grandson Hong Baek-yeong's plea was refused in 1832; Cheoljong ordered his rehabilitation in 1855 but it was cancelled after opposition, and he was restored again in 1858. He and Hong Guk-yeong are said to have been on bad terms, and after his death Hong Guk-yeong took the reins of power.
He passed the civil examination in 1753 and, after governing Jeolla and Pyeongan and serving as Six Ministries minister, became Second State Councillor in 1775. Cheongseong japgi records an anecdote that as governor of Jeolla he flogged people at will.
For opposing the grandson's regency he was impeached after Jeongjo's accession, exiled to Yeosan and Gogeumdo and put to death. He was rehabilitated in 1858.
He is said to have been buried at Bonggokmasan in Gaepung, Gyeonggi.
Accounts of his sons differ (Hong Nak-yun and others) and are unconfirmed; a grandson was Hong Baek-yeong.