He was born in Seoul into the powerful Yeoheung Min clan which Heungseon Daewongun hated, and committed suicide as an act of resistance against the Eulsa Treaty imposed by Japan on Korea.

He is remembered today for his efforts on behalf of Korean independence in the waning days of the Joseon period.

Min Young-hwan passed the Gwageo literary examination in 1878 and thereupon entered into government service as a junior librarian in the Royal Library (Gyujanggak).

[1] Min continued to rise through the ranks of Joseon officialdom, holding a succession of posts including a position in the Office of Special Advisors (Hongmungwan 弘文館) and tutor to the Crown Prince.

[2] In 1884, Min reentered public service and was appointed an official of the Board of Personnel (Ijo 吏曹).

[8] During the Donghak Peasant Revolution, Min was appointed as Byeol Ip-jik on 14 September 1894 (Lunar Calendar).

[2] In his Korean travel memoirs published in 1895, the artist A. Henry Savage-Landor records an interview and sketch portrait sitting by Min, known (in English) as Prince Min-Young-Hwan.

[12] On 3 April 1896, Min was appointed as special minister to Russia to participate in the coronation of Czar Nicholas II.

[13] Min received 20,000 Dollars from the Korean government for journey and embarked on ship named Empress on 11 April in Incheon.

[26] On 13 June, Min, as promised, received answers, from Lobanov which said that providing guards for the Korean King will not be possible because of predictable conflicts with English or German, but agreed with sending an economy instructor for paying off debt, establishing telephone lines and sending military inspectors.

[33] The newspaper noted that Min had three accomplishments: strengthening amicable relationship with Russia, advertising independence of Korea, and bringing Russian instructors.

Despite all that, Min himself was regretting for not completely getting consent for the other three rejected request (advisors, telegraphic connections, and loans), according to Yun Chi-ho who accompanied through all the journey.

[39] Furthermore, Min's excessively radical reforms such as requiring short hairstyle made him unpopular among conservatives and the emperor himself.

On 11 January 1897, Min was again sent to Europe as Korean minister plenipotentiary to the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria[41] and received 40,000 Dollars from the Government as the expense for his trip.

[42] Another order that Min received from the government was to sign a secrete treaty with France and Germany for the protection of Korean autonomy.

Even worse, Min failed to sign treaties with France and Germany, bringing no diplomatic success from the trip.

[43] Without finishing his duty, Min abruptly left Europe on 17 July 1897[10] and traveled to America, which delayed deployment of Russian instructors in Korea.

[48] After Bak Jeongyang cabinet was formed, Min returned to the Korean politics as a Special official of Gungnaebu.

[2][69][70] As the prime minister, Min restrict the prevalent usage of illegal shamanism by implementing police forces to do so.

Min recommended Han Kyu-seol as the next prime minister in order to prevent Korea being Japanese protectorship.

[76] Even though the emperor made the appealing the punishments for the five traitors illegal, Min did not follow the order and asked again on 29 November 1905.

[78] The Japanese military police imprisoned Min and Jo in Pyeong-li won, the supreme court of Imperial Korea.

After this death, in his pockets were found five identical messages on the back of his calling cards to the representatives of China, Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany in which he pleaded with those powers to recognize the true situation within Korea.

He also left a final message directed towards the people of Korea (see below), in which he promised to help his fellow countrymen "from the nether world" if they would strengthen their collective will and spirit and exercise their learning in an all out effort to "restore our [Korean] freedom and independence.

"[83] Some officials, including Jo Byeongse,[84] and his rickshaw puller, committed suicide following Min's death.

[86] Gojong gave him posthumous name "Chung mun",[87] and Order of the Golden Ruler for his honour to the country.

[91] According to a survey done to Korean students in 1952, Min was one of the most respected historical figures along with Sejong the Great, and Yi Sun-sin.

As a result of these efforts of Min, Bak, and members of the Independence Club, a proper parliament, Jungchuwon was established.

[103] One year after Min's death, it was widely reported that a bamboo plant appeared where his bloody clothes had been laid.

[106] A statue to his memory now stands on a traffic island near Chungjeongno Intersection,[107] his namesake, after having previously been located at Anguk Intersection in 1957, before being moved due to road widening to near Donhwa Gate of Changdeok Palace in 1970 where it was criticized for not matching the surroundings, and then near the General Post Office next to Jogye Temple in 2003, where it was reportedly neglected until 2022.