[1] The course of his career shadowed closely that of his elder brother Yeon Namsaeng.
From an early age he was appointed Seonin (선인; 先人), and rising through the ranks of sohyeong (소형; 小兄), daehyeong (대형; 大兄) uidu daehyeong (위두대형; 位頭大兄) and junggun juhwal (중군주활; 中軍主活) (all obscure Goguryeo ranks whose exact nature is unknown.)
Following Yeon Gaesomun's death around 666 Namsan joined forces with his elder brother Yeon Namgeon against their oldest brother Namsaeng, who ultimately fled to Tang China to seek its aid.
In Tang Namsan was accorded the office of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments (Sizai shaoqing 司宰少卿).
His tomb stele was later discovered in the Tang eastern capital of Luoyang, along with that of Namsaeng.