Late Joseon and Korean Empire official who served as Minister of Home Affairs; received a baron's title from Japan in 1910 and appears on lists of pro-Japanese collaborators
| Life | 1840 ~ 1916 |
| Era | 조선 말~일제강점기 |
| Clan | 의령 남씨 |
Nam Jeong-cheol (1840-1916) was of the Uiryeong Nam clan; his son was Nam Jang-hui. A disciple of Yu Sin-hwan, he studied Confucianism, began his career in the Office of Special Advisers and the Office of the Inspector-General, and served as vice-minister of Works. He later held posts including Governor of Pyeongan, Inspector-General, chief royal secretary, minister of Punishments and Rites, Mayor of Hanseong and Minister of Home Affairs.
He is introduced as a conservative official close to Heungseon Daewongun who, at the 1884 Gapsin Coup, was involved in calling for Qing troops, which helped defeat the reformists' coup. At the Royal Refuge at the Russian Legation he is said to have led negotiations for King Gojong's return to the palace.
As a senior minister who cooperated with the 1910 annexation treaty, he received a baron's title from the Japanese government on 16 October 1910, and his son Nam Jang-hui inherited it. Wikipedia notes he is on the 708-person list of pro-Japanese collaborators published in 2002, the 106-person list of early colonial-period collaborators published in 2006 by the Presidential Committee for the Inquiry into Pro-Japanese Collaborators, and the 2008 list of planned entries compiled by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities for its Dictionary. This is one side of the clan's history; the same clan also included independence activists such as Nam Hyeong-u.
He was a senior official of the late Joseon era, serving as vice-minister of Works, Governor of Pyeongan, Inspector-General, minister of Punishments and Rites, Mayor of Hanseong and Minister of Home Affairs.
As a conservative official he was involved in blocking the Gapsin Coup, and at the Royal Refuge at the Russian Legation he is said to have led talks for Gojong's return.
As a senior minister who cooperated with the annexation treaty he received a baron's title that year, which is why he appears on the pro-Japanese lists Wikipedia mentions.
His son Nam Jang-hui inherited the baron's title.