An Chang-nam

An Chang-nam (19 March 1901 – 2 April 1930) was the first Korean aviator to fly a plane within the Korean peninsula.

Early life Born on 19 March 1901 and raised in Seoul, he is believed to have been inspired to learn to fly after having seen an aerobatics demonstration by American pilot Art Smith in 1916 or 1917. However, his beginnings was quite unorthodox: after stealing his stepmother's money, he ran away from home. Using the stolen money, he traveled to Japan at which he attended a driving school and graduated successfully.

Career In 1920, he graduated from Japan's Okuri Aviation School in Susaki (present-day Kōtō, Tokyo). He passed his examinations to obtain a basic pilot's permit the following year. Donga Ilbo, a major Korean newspaper at the time, sponsored An's flights and documented his aviations and achievements. He returned to Japan after his flights over Korea in late December of the same year.

In 1925, An was forced to evacuate to China after facing oppression in Japan. Tokyo earthquake of 1923 and the subsequent anti-Korean riots may have played a major factor in his decision. After few years of residing at China (in which Korean nationalism prospered), he began to advocate for Korean independence movement. Despite his newfound activities, An's involvement in aviation did not end here. He established a flying school in response to an offer from Chinese warlords. He died while on a flight that crashed in April 1930. Although the cause of the accident was not supported by evidence, some historians speculate that foul play by Japanese officials may have been involved.

He was posthumously awarded South Korea's Order of Merit for National Foundation in 2003.