or () is a nickname or Korean honorific for an old man[News] OnKey In Jonghyun’s Birthday Fanacc (Update) in Korea. was historically an honorific title for second-level and third-level civil servants;[최용민의 좌충우돌] 국회의원, ‘머슴’과 ‘영감’의 역설 아시아투데이 2011-01-17 Vice-Ministers, or Assistant Secretaries 의전서열 한겨레 2005.07.25 of Goryeo and Joseon.
Over time the word became an honorific or nickname for a judge, county governor,이 대단한 분 중도일보 2004-03-22 head of a townshipkorean name is 'myeon'(면; 面) or old man. In recent years, has come to be used primarily as a nickname for elderly men.일상에 남은 옛말의 흔적 한국경제 2011/04/01 has been used in Korea for more than a thousand years.
History
was first used as an honorific for a lower level civil servants of the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon dynasties,[금요칼럼] 겉만 번지르르한 '실버 공약' Busanilbo 2007.12.14삼도수군통제사 이순신 조선시대 고위직 '종2품' hangyorye 2005.02.20 though the first instance of its use is unknown. (), was the first spelling used for this name, it was later changed to . The term comes after public office and peerage titles in a man's name. is a homograph. It is not only a title for elderly men, it means 'inspiration' in Korean.
In the Joseon dynasty, men over their 80th birthday were bestowed the honorary position Assistant Secretary. At their 90th birthday they were given the honorary position of Vice-Minister.
With the fall of Joseon, the position of (). Along with the change in the meaning of these positions, Korean patriarchal perspectives were added to the usages of , which became a common designation; 1. When judges refer to each other 2. When others who are not judges refer to judges 3. When people refer to the mayor 4. When people refer to their elders 5. When women refer to their husbands.
After the Joseon dynasty, the use of continued in Japan and Colonial Korea as an honorific for the position of country governor, judge, prosecutor, and district attorney.[한마당-염성덕] 영감과 영감탱이 2010.09.13
Modern usage After 1962, the Supreme Court of South Korea sought to eliminate the habit of using the term for judges since it was considered to be un-democratic. In modern Korea, is commonly used as a suffix that comes after the last name of elderly men.‘영감’에 깃든 우리말 변천사 한국경제 2011/03/25
During the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon dynasties followed one's title, in modern use is used by itself.
See also Goryeo Korean honorifics Seungji Yangban
References
External links 삼도수군통제사 이순신 조선시대 고위직 '종2품' hangyorye 2005.02.20 ‘영감’에 깃든 우리말 변천사 한국경제 2011/03/25 [한마당-염성덕] 영감과 영감탱이 국민일보 2010.09.13 [엽기인물 한국사] 5. 조선의 국제적 포주② 스포츠경향 2007년 09월 17일 일상에 남은 옛말의 흔적 한국경제 2011/04/01 국민을 봉취급 막말엘리트 판검사 영감님 브레이크뉴스 [한마당-염성덕] 영감과 영감탱이 2010.09.13 [성석제의 길위의 이야기] 대감과 마누라 한국일보