Yong-ik Min's Historical Evaluation

Korean historians generally classify Yong-ik Min as a moderate civilization. But most books in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China call him an old school, which is inaccurate. Both the party headed by Jin (radical party) agree with the political system, economic system, science and technology in modern western countries and advocate modernization reform. Even with Kim, Hong Yingzhi and others have a good friendship. However, they chose different paths. Yong-ik Min chose to be pro-China and carry out gradual reform, while Jin and others chose the Japanese road, staged a coup, and finally parted ways, even incompatible. But we can't think that Yong-ik Min is an old school because of different roads.

At that time, many comments also pointed out that Yong-ik Min was loyal and capable. For example, Yuan Shikai wrote to his second sister that "Yong-ik Min is the first loyal minister here", and American consultant Irving Nixon Denny also called Yong-ik Min "one of the most capable and loyal North Korean subjects". Yin Zhihao commented: "Yuntai (referring to Yong-ik Min) has a lovely public interest, but there is no tolerance for people." In addition to his political talent, Yong-ik Min also has an economic mind. He has been in charge of business and management of ginseng for a long time. After fleeing to China, he started the red ginseng trade with his own internal funds, and his life was quite moist, instead of becoming a down-and-out resident.

However, Yong-ik Min's political integrity is very doubtful, and he often shows opportunism. A prominent example is that after the second secret agreement with Russia, Yong-ik Min reported to Yuan Shikai and Emperor Gaozong successively. This contradictory approach made him lose their trust and had to flee to China, which reflected his capricious double-dealing style. Yuan Baoling, Yuan Shikai's uncle, commented that Yong-ik Min was "cunning" and Yong-ik Min was "repeatedly suspicious and despicable" in the impression of North Koreans. 1887 When he returned to China for the last time, he put forward the suggestion of using Dayuanjun, but Dayuanjun reacted indifferently, thinking that he had made friends with Jin and Hongying in his early years, but eventually he became enemies. After plotting with Yuan Shikai * * *, he changed his mind halfway and was having sex, which was not enough to rely on.

Yong-ik Min has great attainments in calligraphy and painting. Wu Changshuo, his friend from China, once praised him in a poem: "Beggars also paint blue bamboo, but they are bald without painting soil. Qian Qiu does not let Nan Weng (Zheng Sixiao), and the empty valley is lonely. " His Plum Orchid is as famous as Xing Xuan Dayuanjun's Broken Orchid, and his friendship with Wu Changshuo is also a witness to the cultural exchange between China and South Korea.