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HERITAGE N A E R O K KOREAN HERITAGE

Reclaim VOL 42 AUTUMN 2018 AUTUMN 2018 Vol.42 Cultural Heritage Administration

Rediscovering ’s Early-modern History

ISSN 2005-0151 www.koreanheritage.kr Korean Legation Government Publications Registration Number : 11-1550000-000639-08 Quarterly Magazine of the Cultural Heritage Administration KOREAN HERITAGE

AUTUMN 2018 Vol.42

ON THE COVERS

The Korean legation building in Washington, D.C. was stripped from Korean national ownership in 1910 when forcefully annexed the country. After this traumatic loss, the building quickly emerged among the people of the Korean diaspora in the as a symbol of a sovereignty that should be regained by any means. They expressed their strong desire for independence by adding a large Korean national flag to a Korean legation postcard they produced during the Japanese colonial era (shown on the front cover).

On May 22, 2018 the national flag was in reality hoisted from the roof of the newly restored Korean legation building (back cover). It was the fulfillment of a dream for the many who had KOREAN HERITAGE is also available on the website yearned for the reinstatement of this symbol of national autonomy, as well as for Gojong (www.koreanheritage.kr) and smart devices. You can also download and the members of his court who had attempted to forge a new future for the country through the its PDF version and subscribe to our newsletter to receive our latest introduction of advanced Western culture. news on the website. FEATURED ISSUE

Cultural Heritage Administration, 2018 Rediscovering Korea’s Early-modern History This publication is copyrighted. No part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Reclaim Copyright © Cultural Heritage Administration

FEATURED LOCAL HERITAGE GUIDE SPECIAL ISSUE · 04 Jeong-dong, a Newly Rediscovered Turbulent Times: Korea’s Early Modern Center of Early-modern Korea · 32 History The memory-scape of the Jeong-dong neighborhood and This autumn issue of Korean Heritage celebrates the recent restoration Palace is changing as new historical facts and of the former Korean legation building in Washington, D.C. A timeline of interpretations emerge early-modern Korea is briefly presented in this section.

TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS · 08 HERITAGE THROUGH PHOTOS Gojong, a Misfortunate Kim Jun-geun, a Late- Painter A series of artifacts from the early-modern period reflects the tireless

efforts of Gojong in his struggle for national independence with an International Clientele · 40 A late-Joseon artist little-known at home became a pioneer for the introduction of traditional Korea lifestyles into the West

A COMPARATIVE · 16 The Legation Buildings in and HERITAGE ISSUES TODAY Washington, D.C Korean Heritage for the Global Parallels are drawn between the structures in Seoul and Washington, Community · 46 D.C. that respectively housed the late-19th century legations of the “: Buddhist Mountain Monasteries of Korea” achieves United States and Korea UNESCO World Heritage status

INTERVIEW · 24 The Old Korean Legation Recovers Its Korean Identity CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION HEADLINES · 52 Gang Im-san describes the years-long process of reclaiming the Lifelike Views of Korean Heritage on Google Korean legation building in Washington, D.C., its restoration, and its social impact as a museum Dinosaur Traces Excavated Near Prehistoric Rock Carvings

KOREAN Cultural Heritage Administration Date Of Publication Sep 5, 2018 · Published by Cultural Heritage Administration Republic of Korea · Publication Management Director of International Cooperation Division · Content Coordination Moon Sun- HERITAGE 189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, , Republic of Korea Tel 82-42-481-4737 Fax 82-42-481-4759 Contact .@korea.kr kyong, Park Ji-young · Translation Park Jung-eun · Copy Editing Bill Sharp · Coordination by ch121 Quarterly Magazine of the Cultural Heritage Administration Website www.koreanheritage.kr Printed by Sejin Publishing, Printing SPECIAL ISSUE Korea’s Early Modern History

Text by Kwon Da-in, editor Infographic design by Kim Jung-won, designer

Lasting the 518 years from 1392 to 1910 and ruled by twenty-seven successive monarchs, the Joseon Dynasty spanned a history that was peaceful at some times but perilous at others. The greatest turmoil was experienced in the final years of the dynasty, corresponding to the reign of Gojong (r. 1863–1907). Caught in the midst of a fierce rivalry among imperialist powers seeking influence over the Korean Peninsula, Gojong strove to rescue the country from the violent currents of history. Exchanges between the West and East were burgeoning at the time, and Joseon took part as well while it underwent a range of novel changes. Here, the early-modern history of the country is briefly summarized.

Major Events

1863 Ascension of Gojong as the 26th king of Joseon

1876 Signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa Japan forces Korea to sign a commercial treaty, the Treaty of Ganghwa, named after the island where it was signed. It was an that heavily favored Japanese interests. 1880 1882 Signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Joseon and the United States

SPECIAL ISSUE · 04 / 05 SPECIAL ISSUE 1880 1890 1883 1898 Establishment of 1899 Establishment of the the American legation Launch of the first streetcar service in Korea, Hanseong Electric Company, 1885 in Korea running from (the east gate in the the first electrical power Establishment of Gwanghyewon, wall around the Joseon capital) to the main gate company in Korea

the first modern KEPCO Electricity Museum Dispatch of of Gyeonghuigung Palace ⓒ

medical center in Korea a Korean mission Museum University Korea ⓒ to the United States Launch of the first railway service in Korea, Establishment of With the formation of a bilateral agreement running from Seoul to the Pai Chai Academy, in the previous year, the United States established a modern secondary a diplomatic presence in Korea and Korea sent 1900 1900 education institute an official delegation, called the Bobingsa, 1902 Opening of the Korean Gallery to the United States. Launch of the first private at the Exposition Universelle

Memorial Museum telephone in Korea of 1900

Appenzeller/Noble ⓒ Appenzeller/Noble Establishment of a mint known as Jeonhwanguk Korea participates in the Exposition Universelle of 1900 1886 Establishment of the Academy, 1904 in Paris and presents Korean Establishment of Yukyeong Gongwon, the first modern private educational institute in Korea Japan forces Korea to sign a protocol containing the first modern public educational institute in Korea culture to an international provisions that could advantage Japan audience.

in the ongoing Russo-Japanese War Museum of Korea National Palace ⓒ 1887 Installation of electric lights 1888 1905 at the Geoncheonggung Residence Establishment of the Korean legation Signing of the Treaty in Palace, a first in Korea in the United States Japan compels Korea to sign a protectorate treaty 1907 Park Jeong-yang, the first Korean minister plenipotentiary and robs it of the right to conduct diplomacy. Dispatch of a secret mission to the United States, visits the White House to the Second Hague Peace Conference 1889 to deliver Gojong’s letter to the U.S. president. Relocation The Korean legation is installed at Fisher House 1910 Dethronement of Gojong of the Korean legation near the White House. Signing of the Japan-Korean Annexation Treaty The Korean legation is moved to a building Sale of the Korean legation building on Logan Circle that has in the United States been recently restored. 1945 After annexing Korea, Japan extorted Independence 1890 the Korean legation building in the United States With Japan’s surrender at the end the Second World War, 1894 from Korea for a mere five dollars Korea reclaims its independence. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Heritage Cultural Korean Overseas Foundation

ⓒ Execution of the and then immediately sold it to an American buyer The Gabo Reform, taking place over nineteen months, for ten dollars. encompassed a wide range of measures for addressing deep-seated social injustices and accelerating the modernization process, such as the abolishment 2000 of the social class system and government examinations, 2012 1896 rescinding the ban on the remarriage of widowers, Repurchase 2018 Launch of The Independent the introduction of the solar calendar, of the Korean legation Public opening of the restored (Dongnip Sinmun), the first and a decree for men to cut off their topknots. building in the United Korean legation building private newspaper in Korea States After the purchase, the The Korean government, Korean government 1897 with enthusiastic civic carries out a Inauguration of the Korean support home and abroad, restoration project Gojong changes the official name of the country to the finalizes the purchase on the building. The in an attempt to upgrade its standing on the of the Korean legation restored Korean Heritage Foundation Heritage international stage and protect its sovereignty. Accordingly, Cultural Korean Overseas building in Washington, D.C. legation building is ⓒ National Palace Museum of Korea National Palace

ⓒ the name of the Korean legation in the United States was reopened to the public Heritage Foundation Heritage switched to the Korean Empire Legation. in May of this year. Cultural Korean Overseas ⓒ

SPECIAL ISSUE · 06 / 07 TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS Gojong, a Misfortunate Monarch

Text by Kim Jae-eun, Deoksugung Management Office

In the context of the lengthy , the early-modern period of about thirty years from the opening of ports in 1876 to the forceful annexation by Japan in 1910 represents just a split-second. However, this brief period holds disproportionate significance since it shifted the historical course of the country toward modernization. This did not mean simply replacing oil lamps with electric lights or traditional costumes with Western suits: it was a make-or-break effort in a desperate pursuit of national independence in the face of a rapidly shifting international order. The last king of the Joseon Dynasty and the first ruler of the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong was at the forefront of this momentous endeavor, experiencing first-hand the brunt of the era’s historical turbulence.

A portrait of Gojong wearing yellow, a color reserved for emperor. Photo courtesy of the Natinal Museum of Korea The emperor’s seal used for the affairs of the Supreme Military Council. Photo courtesy of the

TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS · 08/ 09 TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS

Opening to the West Pitched into the international diplomatic system upon the signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa

with Japan in 1876, Joseon concluded its first A robe with an agreement with a Western state in 1882 prosperity embroidered dragon for the with the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the emperor. United States. This commercial understanding Photo courtesy of Sejong University was forged at a time when Confucian perceptions Museum still dominated the Korean consciousness and

The cover of the Treaty of Amity and Westerners were treated as “barbarians.” It was a Commerce between Joseon and the United strong show of the staunch commitment of the States that laid a foundation for Korean modernization. Photo courtesy of the Joseon court to seek opportunities for national Institute for Korean Studies at prosperity through the introduction of advanced Seoul National University material culture from the West. Gojong’s unwavering belief in the benefits of modernization found expression in a royal message released after the Military Mutiny of 1882. In this communication, the Joseon monarch called attention to the shifting global order in which the West

was taking the lead in advancing material culture and to the superb capability of their technology of modern institutions, including trade fairs, textile and machinery. He admired how Western states were conducting active exchanges in products and factories, farms, newspapers, fire stations, and post

techniques and then feeding the results into economic growth and military might. Gojong stressed offices. Upon their return to Joseon, their experiences that it was only natural for Joseon to step back from its isolationist ways and open itself to the fruits of provided a foundation for government modernization Western material development for the sake of national prosperity. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce enterprises. with the United States speaks volumes about the survival strategy that Gojong and his court pursued in the face of the emerging world order. Ascending to Emperor Status With the completion of the treaty in 1882, the United States dispatched a minister and installed The modernization programs initiated by Gojong an American legation in Seoul. The Joseon court allowed the entrance of American soldiers, and his government were not universally successful. teachers, and missionaries into Korean territory, and issued permits for their educational and Many of them floundered in the face of powerful medical programs. These American residents played a critical role in introducing Western culture and resistance from internal conservative forces or upon products into Joseon society. In return for the dispatch of a minister from the United States, Gojong obstruction stemming from the fierce rivalry over The cover of The Protocols of the Enthronement of Gojong (Gojong daerye authorized a friendly mission led by Min Yeong-ik. Once in the United States, the Joseon embassy had the Korean Peninsula among imperialist powers. ), a compilation on the process of Gojong an audience with then-U.S. President Chester Arthur. They spent roughly forty days touring a range Joseon found itself in a catch-22 where it required ascending to emperor status

TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS · 10 / 11 TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS

Korean ruler. A pictorial description in the Protocols shows a golden palanquin carrying the emperor’s seal amid an imperial procession to the Altar of Heaven (Hwangudan), where Gojong’s enthronement as emperor was announced to the heavens. Wearing a yellow robe and seated in a gold-colored chair decorated with dragon designs, Gojong was granted at the Altar of Heaven an imperial seal with a dragon-shaped handle. The Protocols provides a detailed explanation and description of these ritual objects symbolizing the emperor’s authority.

Economy and Military Development Once on the imperial , Gojong redoubled his quest for economic prosperity and military strength. In the years surrounding An illustration from the Protocols of the palanquin carrying a ceremonial seal to be the inauguration of the Korean Empire, the offered to the newly inaugurated emperor. Photo courtesy of the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University material condition of Seoul was transformed with the refurbishment of road networks, installation of electric lighting and telephone The early-modern period in Korea was neither peaceful nor calm. Emperor service, and operation of streetcars. A railway Gojong was caught in a whirlwind of tumultuous events and did his utmost from Seoul to Kaesong was laid in 1902. until the very last moment to save his country from the forces of history. Major infrastructure facilities, such as a mint, printing office, office for the standards

social modernization as a precursor for national independence but it could not push ahead with of weights and measures, sericulture office, modernization programs without the sovereign rights of an independent country. After weathering and the Hanseong Electric Company, were a series of unsettling events—the Coup of 1884, the Uprising of the Peasant Army in all instituted under the Council of the Royal 1894, and the Sino-Japanese War in 1894–5—Gojong inaugurated the “Great Han Empire,” or the Household so that they could benefit from Korean Empire, in 1897. He assumed emperor status in an attempt to provide a turning point in the government support. A bank, one of the

historical impasse in which he found himself. most fundamental institutions for industrial Gojong wearing a military costume as the Commander Behind Gojong’s decision to promote himself to emperor was a strong need for Joseon to development, was established as well. in Chief. Gojong established the Wonsubu (Supreme Military Council) and became the leader of the military as place itself on an equal footing with Qing , which had long claimed suzerainty over the Along with this industrial stimulus, a means to strengthen its power. Photo courtesy of the Korean Peninsula. This was a precursor for securing international recognition as an independent decisive measures for strengthening the National Palace Museum of Korea state. Ritual preparations for the imperial inauguration and the enthronement ceremony are national defense were carried out. Emperor recorded in detail in The Protocols of the Enthronement of Gojong (Gojong daerye uigwe). During Gojong instituted the Wonsubu (Supreme Military Council) as the highest military authority and the ceremony, traditional symbols generally reserved for Chinese , such as the color invested himself as its Commander in Chief. This clearly signaled his adamant commitment to yellow and dragon motifs, were actively adopted as a means to highlight the elevation of the restoring military power. A photo from the time presents Gojong in a military uniform and helmet

TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS · 12 / 13 TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS

A special seal inscribed with four Chinese characters meaning “Seal of the Emperor” (nationally designated as Treasure No. 1618) was used by the emperor for his clandestine diplomatic activities. This stamp is not recorded in The Totality of Seals and Marks (Boin busin chongsu), an illustrated compilation of the stamps and administrative tokens used during the Korean Empire period. Gojong kept this seal out of the official management system and used it secretly for clandestine diplomacy. Rendered smaller than is considered normal for a royal seal, this imperial stamp must have been handy to keep stashed away. Although the diplomatic enterprises the seal was dedicated to did not succeed, it provides eloquent testimony on Gojong’s desperate efforts to protect the sovereignty of his country up until the final moments of his imperial rule. In the travel journals and geographies compiled by Westerners following the opening of Korean ports, the country was predominantly described as the Land of Morning Calm. This representation of Korea, widely diffused in the West, denotes the rustic and peaceful atmosphere of the country. On the flip-side of this peaceful image, however, was an imperialistic gaze that perceived Joseon as passive and incapable, and therefore justified its absorption. Gojong may have come across as an incompetent and powerless monarch who could not devise an appropriate response to the threat to his sovereign rights. However, the anecdotes and objects associated with Gojong and The seal Emperor Gojong used for clandestine diplomatic activities. It is rendered in a surreptitious size 5.2 centimeters his rule that have been briefly related above tell a somewhat different story. The early-modern wide, 6.6 centimeters long, and 4.9 centimeters high. Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Korea period in Korea was neither peaceful nor calm. Emperor Gojong was caught in a whirlwind of tumultuous events and did his utmost until the very last moment to save his country from the modeled after those worn in Japan, France, and , conveying the emperor’s dedicated efforts forces of history. to safeguard Korean autonomy.

A Last-ditch Effort for the Future The strenuous efforts of Emperor Gojong and his court to salvage sovereignty fell short of saving the country from its waning historical fortunes. Claiming a dominant interest in the Korean Peninsula after victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Japan forced a series of treaties on Korea —the Japan-Korea Protocol of 1904, the Protectorate Treaty in 1905 and the Treaty of 1907—that gradually encroached upon its autonomy. Even after the diplomatic discretion allowed the Joseon ruler was severely limited by the Protectorate Treaty, Emperor Gojong did not abandon himself to his fate. He dispatched a secret mission to the Second Hague Peace Conference in the Netherlands in an attempt to appeal to the international community against Japanese aggression and enlist their support in restoring Korean sovereignty.

TRADITIONAL KOREAN AESTHETICS · 14 / 15 A COMPARATIVE VIEW

On Logan Circle in Washington, D.C. is located the Victorian-era Old Korean The Legation Buildings Legation Building. Meanwhile, the Jeong-dong neighborhood of central Seoul in Seoul houses the American legation building done in a traditional Korean architectural style. These two diplomatic buildings represent the relationship between Korea and Washington, D.C. and the United States that was initiated in the late 19th century and has been strongly maintained to the present. Text by Kim Jong-hun, Professor of Architecture, Pai Chai University Photos by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation

The Korean legation in 1893, with the porch bearing a taegeuk symbol on its newly-constructed gable The American legation building in 1952. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Korea

A COMPARATIVE VIEW · 16 / 17 A COMPARATIVE VIEW

A C

The American Legation in quickly sprung up in the neighborhood as well. Jeong-dong The Western diplomatic presence in Jeong- A Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed dong was one of the critical determinants in between Joseon and the United States at the selection of Deoksugung Palace as the

the port of Jemulpo on the western coast of central palace for the Korean Empire. Situated

B Korea, on May 22, 1882. The two countries in the same neighborhood, Deoksugung D were represented by the Joseon courtier Palace replaced Gyeongbokgung Palace (the A _ The American legation building today. Photo courtesy of C _ The Korean legation in 2018, after its restoration U.S. Embassy in Korea Sin Heon and the American diplomat Robert long-standing seat of power of the Joseon B _ The interior of the Korean legation in 1893 B _ The interior of the American legation in 1904. Photo Wilson Shufeldt, the plenipotentiaries of their Dynasty) as the primary royal residence with courtesy of Cornell University Library respective states. With this treaty in effect, the inauguration of the Korean Empire in 1897. Lucius Harwood Foote, the first American It can be said that the American legation, the minister to Korea, soon arrived in his country of service through this same port. The American first Western diplomatic institution to take root in the district, was one of the key driving forces diplomat purchased a house in Jeong-dong (previously known as Chong Dong)—the first-ever for this change of the royal seat. such purchase by a foreigner—and established the American legation on the site. Following In his book Things Korean, , the first American Protestant missionary in the American example, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and other Western countries soon Korea and a medical doctor, considered the American legation building in its traditional Korean established legations in Jeong-dong after forming treaties with Joseon. Christian churches style to be shabby in comparison with other Western legations rendered in more European

A COMPARATIVE VIEW · 18 / 19 A COMPARATIVE VIEW

Map of Washington, D.C. in 1892, with a focus on the White House and Logan Circle

manners. In contrast, the American diplomat William Franklin Sands writes in his Undiplomatic Memories that the Korean-style house that served the legation with its sturdy granite foundation was the best design for fighting the simmering summer heat and freezing cold of Korea. To him, other legation buildings erected in imitation of European structures appeared dull and gloomy. While still the property of the United States, the American legation building is under the

management of the Seoul Metropolitan City government as Tangible Heritage no. 132 on the city’s heritage list. Similarly, the Victorian-style building that once housed the Korean legation belongs to the Logan Circle Historic District designated by the United States. Regarding the architectural style of the Seoul building, American diplomats preserved the traditional roof structure while adapting the walls to their needs by redoing them in brick. Adaptations were also made to the Korean legation building in Washington: a porch was added at the entrance and a taegeuk, a symbol used on the Korean national flag, was included in the gable of the porch’s roof. After the establishment of the American legation in Jeong-dong, the neighborhood quickly evolved into an American quarter. The Presbyterian missionary Horace Grant Underwood settled at the north end of Jeong-dong Road, where the center of the Northern Presbyterian Church emerged, while the Northern Methodist Church took hold to the south revolving around Methodist missionaries such as Mary F. Scranton (the founder of the Ehwa Girls School) and Henry Gerhard

Map of Seoul in 1901, with a focus on the Jeong-dong area, discovered by Kim Jong-hun. Photo courtesy of The National Archives UK A COMPARATIVE VIEW · 20 / 21 A COMPARATIVE VIEW

The American legation in Seoul and the Korean legation in Washington, D.C. respectively entered service in 1883 and 1889. Appenzeller (the founder of the Pai Chai Academy). Also notable about this building are the wooden storm windows that allow both lighting and They were both accommodated The establishment of the American legation in ventilation, as well as the door handles and other decorative objects rendered in the Moorish Jeong-dong transformed the area into a hub for style. These careful architectural additions and aesthetic embellishments within and without the in a building that reflected the Americans in Korea, and their political, educational, structure allude to the official diplomatic functions the building played in the late 19th century. style popular in their and religious undertakings wielded considerable surroundings at the time. influence over the country’s early-modern history. The Restoration of the Old Korean Legation Building The two legation buildings The American legation in Seoul and the Korean legation in Washington, D.C. respectively entered are located a similar distance The Korean Legation at Logan Circle service in 1883 and 1889. They were both accommodated in a building that reflected the style away from the presidential The Old Korean Legation building is situated in the popular in their surroundings at the time. The two legation buildings are located a similar northwestern sector of Logan Circle in Washington, distance away from the presidential offices of their respective countries, the White House and offices of their respective D.C. First hosting the Korean legation in 1889, the Cheong Wa Dae (or Blue House). Another parallel is that both of them ceased operations upon countries, the White House building was originally built for the Civil War naval the signing of the Protectorate Treaty with Japan in 1905. and Cheong Wa Dae. officer Seth Ledyard Phelps in 1877 by the architect The Cultural Heritage Administration finalized the purchase of the Korean legation building Thomas M. Plowman and contractor Joseph in Washington, D.C. in October 2012, and it has recently been reopened as a museum after an Williams. Rendered in the Victorian architecture extensive restoration. Korean envoys dispatched to the Korean legation in the United States and style with thick walls of red bricks, the building has three stories aboveground and one below. The American diplomats stationed in Korea were major sources of information for Emperor Gojong. structure has recently been restored and opened to the public as a museum. From them, this final monarch of Joseon learned about diverse aspects of American society What most stands out on the exterior of the building is the chimney protruding from the and studied advanced institutions such as streetcars, railways, electricity, road networks, and roof. This chimney was created to allow the release of smoke from the fireplace in the first- mining. He applied this knowledge and information in his desperate attempts to modernize the floor reception room. Other characteristic features include a boundary fence, parapet on the roof, country and secure its autonomy. Hopefully, the restoration of the Korean legation will provide ornamental railings on the balconies on the third floor, decorative brackets on the upper sides of an opportunity to illuminate the diverse diplomatic activities pursued there to safeguard Korea’s

the windows, and an entrance porch. The last was removed in 1928 to allow for road expansion, sovereignty and ultimately to restore its early-modern history to its rightful place. but it was rebuilt during the recent restoration project. All of these architectural features blend into a perfect aesthetic harmony. Inside the building through the first-floor entrance is a reception room on the left and a dining room on the right. Before the restoration work, a dining area, kitchen, and toilet were located here. This kitchen space had been used as a secondary food-preparation space during the Korean legation era while the actual cooking was done in the basement and then delivered through a dumbwaiter to the first floor. This space beside the dining room has been transformed into an orientation area for visitors. In the area where the toilet had been, there had also been a staircase for servants. Remnants of the servants’ staircase were preserved during the restoration as evidence of the time. A skylight on the third floor has been restored as well.

A COMPARATIVE VIEW · 22 / 23 INTERVIEW The Old Korean Legation Recovers Its Korean Identity Interview with Kang Im-san, Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation

Text by Choi Min-young, editor Photos by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation and Jung Meen-young

The Taegeukgi, the national flag of the Republic of Korea, was hoisted into the from the roof of a red-brick mansion at 15 Logan Circle in Washington, D.C. on May 22, 2018. The three-story building that had housed the Korean legation in the later years of the Joseon Dynasty regained its former identity 113 years after the suspension of its diplomatic role in 1905 when the Korean Peninsula was reduced to a protectorate of Japan. Over the decades, has grown from an impoverished state fresh out of colonial rule and inter- to one of the world’s most renowned economic success stories. Kang Im-san from the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, an implementation organization for the restoration of the Korean legation building, talks about the reclamation and restoration of this historic Korean diplomatic building.

The Old Korean Legation in Washington, D.C. after its restoration in 2018

INTERVIEW ·24 / 25 INTERVIEW ENCOUNTER OF TRADITION WITH MODERNITY

Korean Heritage Stationed A Failed Attempt to Protect Autonomy Overseas The Logan Circle neighborhood, an area only 1.5 kilometers “The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage from the White House and renowned for historic buildings, Foundation was established in July 2012. The was designated as a historic district by the U.S. government high-profile return of illustrated records (uigwe) on in 1972. The Old Korean Legation, a three-story Victorian Joseon state rituals and protocols from France in building with a red-brick exterior, is located in the northwest 2011 aroused a passionate interest in heritage quadrant of Logan Circle. repatriation among a wider populace. The need “The building was constructed in 1877 by the Civil became clear for an organization dedicated to War naval officer Seth L. Phelps as his retirement home. that lofty mission under the supervision of the From February 13, 1889, the Korean legation was Cultural Heritage Administration, the highest accommodated here. When Korea changed its national heritage authority in Korea. The president and designation from Joseon to the ‘Great Han Empire’, or the the National Assembly also expressed strong Korean Empire, in 1897, the official name of this building

support for the cause. The Overseas Korean Kang Im-san at the Overseas Korean Cultural The Korean legation in 1889 was adjusted accordingly from the Joseon Legation in the Heritage Foundation Cultural Heritage Foundation was tasked with the United States to the Korean Empire Legation in the United dual responsibility for returning cultural artifacts States.” taken out of the country illegally and of facilitating the use and promotion of Korean heritage where In 1882, the Joseon Dynasty signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States, it is currently located when it was removed from Korean territory through legal means.” its first such agreement with a Western state. This diplomatic venture was undertaken in the face It has been estimated that about 170,000 Korean heritage items are housed outside the of strong opposition from Qing China, which claimed suzerainty over Korea at the time. In spite of country in Japan, the United States, and Europe. The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage the strident attempts to control Korea’s relationship with the United States, Joseon successfully Foundation is pushing ahead with diverse undertakings in support of reinstating Korean artifacts bypassed China to establish diplomatic relations with America. Observing the emergence of Japan to their original locations and enhancing their social function and cultural significance. as a modern state following the , Joseon must have calculated that a friendly “The interests of our foundation not only cover artifacts of Korean origin outside the country, relationship with the developed country of America could fuel advances in technology and culture but also objects and buildings that have direct associations with Korean culture and history. A within Joseon territory. As part of its effort to reach beyond its tributary relationship with Qing case of the latter is the Old Korean Legation building in Washington, D.C., that we have recently China and find a new international order a brighter future, Joseon opened a diplomatic restored and opened to the public. Through this restoration project, the foundation succeeded relationship with the United States. in turning an overseas Korean heritage building into a popular destination with meaningful local “The Korean legation in Washington, D.C. symbolized Korea’s efforts to overcome the implications, as well as reclaiming for the Korean people the historical meaning of a Korean established international order of 19th-century East Asia, which was dominated by Qing China, diplomatic space.” and install a new diplomatic system. It was also an attempt to boost national prosperity through Determining the significance of overseas Korean heritage on behalf of citizens at home is the exercise of independent diplomacy and introduction of advanced technology. Joseon had important for sustaining its vitality, but it is equally critical for establishing its role and meaning in high expectations for its relationship with America and invested a whopping 25,000 USD in the local context. Mr. Kang seems certain that the Old Korean Legation presents a success story securing a diplomatic presence in the United States through the legation building. I presume that in terms of both objectives. Americans also foresaw benefits in a relationship with Joseon, like the untapped potential of

INTERVIEW · 26 / 27 INTERVIEW ENCOUNTER OF TRADITION WITH MODERNITY

United States, a fund-raising campaign began among Korean residents living in America to buy back the Korean legation building in Washington, D.C. Despite their passionate efforts, it is difficult to reclaim a building in private ownership. The Cultural Heritage Administration took over the task and worked strenuously to negotiate the sale of the building. It eventually succeeded in finalizing the purchase in February 2012. The building finally came back under Korean ownership B 102 years after it had been extorted.” The building was bought for 3.5 million USD, but the restoration and preparations for the opening ceremony required another 7.1 million USD. After the purchase in early 2012, restoration had to be delayed until April 2013 to allow the residents time to move out. The restoration process A _ An estimate from the local company A.J. Fisher & Co. for repairing the building after the began with detailed measurements of the building and the securing of necessary permits, and 1898 fire. Collected at the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University B _ Historical documents uncovered while removing a fireplace on the second floor: a ground wasn’t broken until December 2015. Christmas card from the American painter Edith Haworth decorated with one of her paintings; “There was a fire in the building in 1898. One of our staff at the foundation found documents an invitation to the wedding of President Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter in 1909 on the repairs following the fire at the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National A University. They include a repair estimate sheet and reports made to the Joseon court. These documents offered critical information on the appearance of each room and what kinds of “The Korean legation in Joseon as an export market.” functions they served. Also found was a list of Washington, D.C. symbolized Epitomizing Joseon’s lofty hopes for prosperity and sovereignty, the Korean legation provided the furniture and objects placed in each room. a center for Korea’s international diplomacy from 1889. However, its service lasted for only sixteen From these, we could acquire quite specific Korea’s efforts to overcome the years until the 1905 Protectorate Treaty with Japan deprived Korea of its right to independent facts about the building at the time, particularly established international order of diplomacy. With Japan’s ultimate annexation of Korea on August 29, 1910, the ownership of the about the first and second floors. Based on this 19th-century East Asia . . . and legation building was handed over. A fact sheet from the time testifies that the legal owner of the we embarked on the construction process.” install a new diplomatic system.” building, Gojong, transferred ownership to the Japanese ambassador in the United States for a Utmost efforts were made to restore the mere five dollars on September 1, 1910. On the same day the building was sold to an American building to its state at the time when the Korean buyer, Horace K. Fulton, for ten dollars. Over the following years, the Korean legation in Washington, legation was housed there. It has been confirmed that the three-story building with a one-story D.C. gradually vanished from the memory of the Korean people. basement accommodated a reception hall and dining room on the first floor, and the minister’s office and bedroom and a secretaries’ office on the second. With regard to the third floor, however, Restitution of Priceless Diplomatic History hard information was difficult to come by. Meanwhile, a paper dated 1943 that approved the After changing hands several times following its sale by Korea in 1910—including being used reconstruction of the third floor involving the removal of the interior walls was discovered. Expert as a recreation center for African-American soldiers and a local Teamsters Union hall—the consultation was sought in consideration of this historical find, and a final decision was made building was purchased by local lawyer Timothy Jenkins in 1977. Meanwhile, the former Korean to render the third floor as an exhibition space. The front yard, which was previously used for legation in America started to reemerge in the awareness of Koreans around 1982, the centennial parking, has been refurbished into a traditional . anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Korea and the United States. “As part of the restoration, a fireplace on the second floor was demolished in 2016, and “In the early 2000s, around the time of the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the we found a bunch of historical documents from the Korean legation era behind it. The most

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The Korean legation in 1893. The Old Korean Legation in Washington, D.C. after its restoration in 2018. The cushions embroidered with taegeuk design and the full-length Korean national flag decorating The interior of the Old Korean Legation after its restoration. The first floor was the most public space in the Korean legation, the wall stand out against the Western-style interior. accommodating a reception hall and dining room.

interesting among them was an invitation to the wedding ceremony on February 18, 1906 for Korea through the restoration of this building. Going forward we will be working to identify heritage Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of the then-U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt. There were also values in the building that can cross diverse cultures and regions and reveal interconnections with remnants of 19th-century hymn sheets, an invitation to an art exhibition held in Washington, D.C. American history so that the newly restored Korean legation building can be more widely connected in 1892 for the Canadian landscape painter George Robert Bruenech, Christmas cards, notes to people both in Korea and the United States.” written in English, business cards, and more. All of these finds are critical clues that shed light on No one in the Joseon court who supported a Korean diplomatic presence in America would the activities the Korean legation at the time. It was like opening a time capsule.” have anticipated its short-lived service of sixteen years or its unjust sale for a mere five dollars. The restoration project, including the design and installation of exhibits, was completed on However, they would also have never foreseen how their home country would achieve a lofty level March 12, 2018. The newly restored Old Korean Legation building was opened to the public on of cultural and economic development and eventually reclaim the ownership of the building and

May 22. restore its appearance.

A New Future for the Old Korean Legation The Logan Circle area was packed with diplomatic buildings in the 19th century, roughly thirty in

total, most of which have been demolished or have lost their original appearance. In this area, the Information for Visitors Old Korean Legation is the sole example of a 19th-century diplomatic building that looks exactly as Open from 10:00 to 17:00 | Closed on Mondays | Admission free it did at the time both inside and out and has been adapted as a public museum. Reservations available at www.oldkoreanlegation.org | (+1) 202-844-3330 Further information available at (+1) 202-844-3330 (09:30–17:00) “Logan Circle is emerging as a hip neighborhood in Washington, D.C., like the Samcheong-dong The Old Korean Legation building is located in central Washington, D.C., about 45 kilometers (28 miles) or Bukchon areas in Seoul. It is attracting a growing number of visitors. The Overseas Korean east of Washington Dulles International Airport. It faces Logan Circle, roughly 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) Cultural Heritage Foundation has been striving to bring to life the early-modern diplomatic history of northeast of the White House.

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Jeong-dong, In 1897, the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty, Gojong, proclaimed the autonomous rule of Korea by inaugurating a Newly Rediscovered Center the Korean Empire. The primary seat of the new empire was installed at Deoksugung Palace, a Joseon compound of Early-modern Korea that had not previous served as the primary royal residence. Around the time of the declaration of the Korean Empire, Text by Ahn Chang-, Professor of Architecture, the neighborhood surrounding the imperial palace of Deoksugung, known as Chong Dong at the time and as Jeong-dong today, emerged as a new center in Seoul when a series of Western institutions were installed there. The American legation was the first to settle in Jeong-dong, followed by diplomatic bodies from other countries and religious and educational institutes. The history of early- modern Korea, from its initial encounters with the West and the historical development of its international relations, is clearly manifested in Deoksugung and the wider Jeong-dong neighborhood.

Reemerging History of Early-modern Korea Seoul is a historic city with an ages-old legacy of more than 600 years as the . It might be expected that such an old city would already have undergone sufficient change and would remain static. This is not the case for Seoul, however. The capital of Korea was and still is passing through phenomenal changes, not only in terms of the physical landscape, but in terms its memory-scape as well. After the celebrations marking the 600th anniversary of Seoul as the capital of Korea in 1994, the areas around Gyeongbokgung and Palaces, such as the Bukchon and Insa-dong districts, saw a meteoric rise as iconic The Jeong-dong neighborhood, with Deoksugung Palace in its heart, was a diplomatic hub during the late 19th–early neighborhoods in the capital. Likewise, Deoksugung Palace and the Jeong-dong 20th century. It was home to a large concentration of Western legations. Photo courtesy of Deoksugung Palace

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understanding of the early-modern history of Korea. As a condition of the Treaty of Ganghwa, Joseon promised to open the three ports of , Wonsan, and Incheon, respectively on the southern, eastern, and western coasts of the Korean Peninsula. The highest priority on the Japanese side was Incheon, since it served as a gateway to Seoul. However, Joseon opened Busan first in 1876 and then Wonsan in 1880 and Incheon only in 1882, six years after the formation of the commerce treaty with Japan. The story unfolded quite differently with the bilateral agreement with the United States. Upon the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1882, Incheon Port was promptly opened and the American legation was allowed into the center of the capital the next year. Through these historical events, it can be inferred that the opening of Incheon Port was not simply the fulfillment of a forced treaty with Japan, but more of a proactive decision made on the part of Joseon out of its commitment to commercial exchanges with the United States.

Incheon Port after its opening in 1882. Photo courtesy of the Incheon Open Port Museum For Joseon, international trade and engagement with the outside—in the true sense of the words— was effected through the 1882 treaty with the United States and the installation of the American legation in 1883. After the United States positioned its diplomatic delegation in Jeong-dong, other area entered the spotlight on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of the Korean countries forging relations more gradually with Joseon followed suit: England and Germany in 1883, Empire in 2017. They are considered to provide hard evidence for correcting errors in the history of Russia and Italy in 1884, France in 1886, and in 1900 all installed legations within the same early-modern Korea that has been somewhat distorted following decades of Japanese colonial control. area. Jeong-dong quickly emerged as a diplomatic center in Korea and bore witness to some of the most important events of the country’s early-modern history. Port Opening as an Active Choice for the Future Joseon signed its Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States in 1882 and soon thereafter Jeong-dong as Historical Testimony opened Incheon Port (known as Jemulpo at the time) to international trade and allowed the installation The history of Korea’s early-modern period was distorted during the Japanese colonial era of 1910– of the American legation in Jeong-dong within the walled core of the capital. The 1882 treaty with 45. Emperor Gojong became known as an incapable coward who was busy securing his personal the United States was not the first international trade agreement with the outside. This had come in safety while the sovereignty of his country was being encroached upon by outside forces. The 1876 when Joseon entered the era of international commerce and open ports through the signing of historical significance of the Korean Empire was wiped from national history. Seokjojeon, a modern the Treaty of Ganghwa with Japan. However, it was not until 1880 that Japan established diplomatic masonry building in Deoksugung Palace that was constructed as the governing hall for the Korean representation in Korea, and its representation was located outside the walled capital. Empire, obtained an unjustified reputation as a symbol of the reckless infiltration of Western culture. Was Joseon passively giving in to Japanese coercion when it opened its ports? If so, why did Japan When Japan intensified its pressure on Joseon by assassinating Queen Min in 1895, Gojong fail to gain entrance to the walled capital? On the other hand, how did the United States peacefully partnered with Russia to counterbalance the Japanese aggression. Shifting his residence to the establish a diplomatic presence in the center of Seoul? Answers to all these historical questions can be Russian legation in February 1896, Gojong implemented a series of undertakings to safeguard found in the fact that the early-modern history of Korea has been distorted by a colonialist viewpoint an independent future for Joseon, such as purging Japanese collaborators, having Deoksugung that reflects Japan’s perspective. reconstructed, ordering the construction of the , and spearheading the publication A simple look at the order for the opening of ports reveals a different story than the conventional of a daily newspaper in both Korean (Dongnip Sinmun) and in English (The Independent). Soon

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after his return to Deoksugung Palace in February 1897, Gojong declared the birth of the Korean Korea; and the structures that housed the Ewha Girls’ School and Pai Chai Academy. Diverse bodies Empire with himself its first emperor. He then designated Deoksugung Palace as the main imperial reflecting Christian beliefs, including the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Russian Orthodox seat. Church, Methodist Church, and the Salvation Army, also established a presence in the Jeong-dong The road leading from Deoksugung the site of the Russian legation building, closely associated neighborhood. The previous Korean legation building in Washington, D.C., which has recently been with memories of the lead-up to the proclamation of the Korean Empire, has been recently restored and opened to the public, demonstrates that the extent of Gojong’s efforts at national refurbished and will soon open to the public. autonomy was not confined within the limits of Korean territory. The Korean Empire should be understood as the starting point of the current Republic of Korea. Jeong-dong Alive with Memories of Early-modern Korea This can be explained through the evidence from the existing historical spaces and surviving It is fortunate that the past decade has seen renewed public and academic interest in Gojong and architecture—the Jeong-dong area and Deoksugung Palace. The Jeong-dong neighborhood the Korean Empire, and accordingly the discovery of new historical facts and interpretations. encompassing the Deoksugung complex is and will be in the future changing its historical meaning. Rendered in the Neoclassic Each discovery of their hidden style, Seokjojeon stands as the history renews our understanding manifestation of Korea’s firm of the area and contributes aspiration to develop into a to correcting the distorted modern state and of its capacity perceptions of early-modern to materialize this dream. The site Korea. As part of this grand of the current Canadian embassy historical project, restoration will in Jeong-dong once housed soon begin on Seonwonjeon, the diplomatic representatives the hall where the portraits of of Belgium, with whom Joseon preceding kings were maintained formed a special relationship in during the Joseon era. The order to demonstrate Korea’s restoration of Seonwonjeon neutrality toward imperial rivalries. is expected to strengthen the The Sontag Hotel, perceived understanding of the position of

once as simply a clubhouse for The Jeong-dong area with Deoksugung Palace shown in the center. Deoksugung Palace as the seat Photo courtesy of Corea e Coreani by Carlo Rossetti Westerners, and Dondeokjeong of the Korean Empire. Once at Hall, where Sunjong assumed the risk of being converted into the throne after his father Gojong, are both places associated with the fortieth anniversary of Gojong’s American embassy, the site of Seonwonjeon was reclaimed by Korea by means of passionate civil reign. They respectively served as the banquet hall for the 1903 celebration and as accommodation support. The task of correcting historical distortions can—and should—be pursued not only through for distinguished guests. There remain other buildings in Jeong-dong that carry the history of early- the concerted efforts of the government and academics, but also with strong civic participation. modern Korea into the present: the American and British legation buildings that maintain their original appearance; Chungdong First Methodist Church, the oldest Protestant place of worship in

LOCAL HERITAGE GUIDE · 36 / 37 A. Seonwonjeon Hall Seonwonjeon, a hall within style hotel in Korea. Today the site is home to the the Deoksugung Palace compound that enshrined Centennial Memorial Hall of Ewha Girls School. the portraits of preceding kings, was demolished Map of the Jeong-dong Neighborhood K. Jungmyeongjeon Hall Jungmyeongjeon was by the Japanese colonial authorities in 1920. Its constructed in 1899 as the official library of the Korean restoration is currently underway and is scheduled for Empire. After a fire at Deoksugung Palace in 1904, it completion in 2039. was temporarily used as the residence of Emperor B. Russian Legation Five years after the signing Gojong. Transferred to private ownership after of a commercial treaty with Joseon in 1885, this independence, the building was later purchased by the building was erected to house Russia’s diplomatic government and has since been restored and opened representatives. It was here that Gojong made to the public as a museum. A preparations for the proclamation of the Korean L. Seokjojeon Hall Seokjojeon, completed in 1910, is Empire in 1896. The building was destroyed in the a European-style masonry building within Deoksugung Seonwonjeon Hall C (1950-3); only the observatory tower B · Place. It features carvings of plum flowers, a symbol of remains today. the Joseon royal family, on the front and Western-style Salvation Army Hall ·Russian Legation · C. Salvation Army Hall This building was decorations inside. constructed in 1928 as a two-story red brick M. Ewha Girls School This building housed Ewha Girls structure. Despite an extension at the rear of the School, the first modern educational institution for girls building, it has generally maintained its original form. in Korea. It was founded by the American missionary It is currently used as the Salvation Army Museum of Mary F. Scranton in 1886. The building currently serves History. Photo courtesy of Ahn Chang-mo. E Ewha Girls High School. Gojong’s Road D. Belgian Legation Gojong pushed ahead with an N. Chungdong First Methodist Church The agreement with the neutral state of Belgium in 1901. Chungdong First Methodist Church building has · F G The Belgian legation was originally sited across from survived at its original location since its construction the Russian legation, but soon moved southeast Dondeokjeon Hall in 1887 by the American missionary Henry Gerhard D American· Legation · to the Hoehyeon-dong area. At the site where Seoul Appenzeller. the Belgian legation was once located is now the Anglican H Belgian· Legation Cathedral Canadian embassy. Photo courtesy of Ahn Chang-mo O. French Legation This building was constructed in 1896 to accommodate the French legation. It was E. Gojong’s Road This is the roughly 120-meter route British Legation I · the tallest structure in Korea at the time. The French · walked by Gojong when he transferred his residence legation moved out in 1910 and the building was from Deoksugung Palace to the Russian legation dismantled in 1939. Currently, Changdeok Girls High in 1896. The historic path has been restored and is School stands on the site. K scheduled for a public opening in October this year. P. Pai Chai Academy This building housed the Pai Jungmyeongjeon Hall F. American Legation This traditional Korean J · Chai Academy, the first secondary educational institute building housed the initial American legation to in Korea. It was founded by Henry Gerhard Appenzeller, L Korea. It was the first Korean property every sold to a Sontag Hotel starting with a two-student class. The building · Westerner. The building is presently used as the U.S. currently houses the Pai Chai Academy Museum of Seokjojeon· Hall ambassador’s residence. History. G. Dondeokjeon Hall Dondeokjeon, one of the Q. German Legation The German legation was now-demolished halls within the Deoksugung Palace established in Jeong-dong in 1891. Afterwards, the M compound, was the site of diplomatic receptions building was used by the highest court of the Korean during Gojong’s reign. The enthronement ceremony Ewha Girls School N Empire. Following independence in 1945, it served the · Deoksugung Palace for Emperor Sunjong was held here as well. Supreme Court of Korea. It is currently the seat of the Chungdong H. British Legation The United Kingdom formed . This photo shows the German · S First Methodist Church · a diplomatic relationship with Joseon in 1883 and legation after it moved to Namchang-dong in 1902. established this building as its seat in 1884. O Altar of Heaven· R. Italian Legation After signing a commercial treaty (Hwangudan) I. Seoul Anglican Cathedral This building housing with Joseon in 1884, Italy constructed this building in the Seoul Anglican Cathedral was constructed in 1901 to house its legation. French Legation · 1926. It has been designated as Tangible Heritage S. Altar of Heaven (Hwangudan) Here at the Altar of no. 35 on the heritage list of the Seoul Metropolitan Heaven Gojong was invested as the head of the Korean Government. Photo courtesy of the Seoul Museum Empire and reported his imperial status to the heavens. Q R of History. P The structure was demolished in 1913 by Japanese J. Sontag Hotel Founded in 1902 by Antoinette colonialists. The Westin Chosun Seoul currently stands German Legation Italian Legation Pai Chai· Academy · · Sontag, the sister-in-law of the Russian consul Karl on site and no remnants of the heavenly altar survive. Weber, the Sontag Hotel was the first Western- Photo courtesy of Ahn Chang-mo. Photos courtesy of The Korea Creative Content Agency

LOCAL HERITAGE GUIDE · 38 / 39 HERITAGE THROUGH PHOTOS Kim Jun-geun, a Late-Joseon Painter with an International Clientele

Text by Shin Seon-young, Heritage Appraiser, Cultural Heritage Administration Images by the National Folk Museum of Korea (The original paintings are held at the Musée Guimet in France)

In the late 19th century, the market developed an unprecedented vitality through an expansion of consumers at home and—more importantly—growing demand from foreigners. To meet the appetites of these international buyers, a new group of professional painters emerged. By far the most outstanding figure among this burgeoning artist class was Kim Jun-geun, who took the newly opened ports as the main domain for his artistic activities.

A Wedding Scene c. 1888-9 16.9 x 13 cm

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Headband Makers, c. 1888-9, 16.9 x 13 cm Weaving, c. 1888-9, 16.9 x 13 cm Brush Makers, c. 1888-9, 16.9 x 13 cm Spinning Yarn, c. 1888-9, 16.9 x 13 cm

Kim Jun-geun, an Unfamiliar Name Unbeknownst to Kim himself, he accomplished the politicians, academics, merchants, and travelers expression. This supports the assumption that Kim considerable feat of making Korean genre painting Kim Jun-geun sold genre paintings to Western who landed in the previously inaccessible territory of executed his paintings through cooperative efforts widely known around the world. consumers at the ports of Busan and Wonsan after Joseon through the newly opened ports all purchased with one or more assistant painters. Co-production Little is known about the life of this early-modern their opening in the late 19th century. His paintings— his paintings. What appealed most to them in Kim’s also characterized the creation of export paintings artist, but his surviving works and the records left about 1,500 pieces in total—currently form parts of the painting was its focus not on human figures and their for Western countries in China during the 18th–19th by his Western clients offer a source of information collections of about twenty museums in Korea and emotions, but on their actions and the objects they used. centuries. When artworks are rendered by teamwork, for supposition. His artistic activities first came to around the globe, including in Germany, France, the His drawings depicted conventional Korean culture particular paintings are repeated. As consumers attention as three ports, the ports of Busan, Wonsan, United Kingdom, , the Netherlands, Austria, and helped Westerners with no preexisting cultural do not expect a high level of artistic quality in co- and Incheon, were consecutively opened after the Russia, the United States, Canada, and Japan. Visiting knowledge to understand the everyday lives of the produced paintings, model paintings appealing to their signing of the Treaty of Ganghwa with Japan. foreigners used his paintings as illustrations in their Korean people. It can be said that his artworks served as needs and tastes are prepared which can be copied travel journals. Kim also served as the illustrator for the an encyclopedia of Korean culture and customs. multiple times. This co-production system effects the first Korean translation of a Western literary work, the Acts and Objects before Figures and What is interesting about Kim’s works is that commoditization of artworks. It is assumed that Kim Korean version of the 17th-century novel The Pilgrim’s Emotions they feature two different signature stamps, more must also have worked from model paintings and Progress by John Bunyan. It was published in 1895. The aficionados of Kim’s genre paintings were diverse: than two types of handwriting, and multiple styles of reproduced them in numbers.

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crafting Everyday Life in Painting The subjects he depicted were wide- ranging: rites of passage, work, pastimes, religious activities, and varieties of punishment. In terms of working for a living, diverse activities are covered such as farming, handcrafting, commercial activities,

fishing, mining, hunting, and teaching. A Fabric Seller, c. 1888-9, 16.9 x 13 cm Among them, the scenes depicting Koreans creating handcrafts were most popular. The methods used to craft objects processes invoked both a sense of curiosity and in Joseon at the time must have seemed primitive bizarreness in people from the West, which had in the eyes of Westerners who had already become initiated the age of mechanical production in the 18th familiar with industrial mass production. It was likely century. The late 19th-century artist Kim Jun-geun compelling to those with anthropological interests or should rightly be given credit for expanding the market tastes. for Korean art to people from overseas. His surviving Flogging, c. 1888-9, 16.9 x 13 cm Kim’s genre paintings depicting the everyday lives paintings also provide eloquent testimony to the of Korean people served foreigners as a showcase Korean art market of the time as characterized by the for the country’s material culture, religious beliefs, co-production system and diversification of subjects and philosophical concepts. His works on Korea’s in response to the needs of foreign customers.

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Korean Heritage for Seven Korean Mountain Monasteries Inscribed on the World Heritage List

Text by Lim Kyoung-hee, National Palace Museum of Korea (previously from the World Heritage Division of the Cultural Heritage Administration) Photos by the Steering Committee for the World Heritage Inscription of Sansa

Seonamsa

he UNESCO World Heritage Committee recently inscribed “Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea” on the World Heritage List in recognition of its “outstanding

universal value,” the threshold heritage value for obtaining World Heritage status. The T seven component temples were described as having provided living centers of religious faith and everyday practice for Buddhist clergy and lay believers ever since their construction in the seventh–ninth centuries, and consequently offering exceptional testimony to the Korean Among the nineteen heritage sites entered onto the UNESCO World Heritage List Buddhist tradition. at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Manama, Bahrain from June 24–July 4 was “Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea.” This An Arduous Inscription Journey The effort to elevate to World Heritage status was initiated in earnest is a serial property consisting of seven Korean Buddhist temples (Tongdosa, as early as 2011. Among the numerous traditional temples in Korea, all with their own unique Buseoksa, Bongjeongsa, Beopjusa, Magoksa, , and Daeheungsa). The historical importance, seven were carefully selected based on the interconnectedness of their inscription of this Buddhist heritage increased the number of World Heritage tangible and intangible aspects. In 2013 they were registered on the Tentative List of Korea in sites in Korea to thirteen. preparation for their serial nomination on the World Heritage List.

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A steering committee for their inscription was Faithful Testimony created through cooperation among the relevant to Korean authorities and organizations, including the Cultural Heritage Administration, pertinent local Besides their distinctive individual historic and cultural meanings, each of the seven component governments, the seven temples themselves, and temples exhibits characteristics that contribute the of . The core to the collective significance of “Sansa, Buddhist task of preparing a nomination dossier could then Mountain Monasteries in Korea” as a unified be undertaken. While drawing up the nomination World Heritage property. The attributes of the file, efforts were made to demonstrate the seven Buddhist temples that together comprise cultural and historic links tying together the seven their outstanding universal value as World components as a single World Heritage site. At the Heritage can be briefly summarized as follows. same time, an integrated management system for the conservation of the multi-component Tongdosa is home to one of the Three Jewels Buseoksa site was established. After years of preparation, in its Diamond Precept Platform enshrining the nomination dossier was finally submitted to true relics of the Sakyamuni Buddha. It is also UNESCO in January 2017. the definitive Korean monastery drawing upon The nomination dossier was examined by the thought. International Council on Monuments and Sites Placing Amitabha at the core of its veneration, (ICOMOS), one of the two advisory bodies to the Buseoksa represents the Avatamsaka school World Heritage Committee alongside with the in Korea. Alongside Bongjeongsa, this mountain monastery is one of the few to pass almost International Union for Conservation of Nature unscathed through the late-16th-century (IUCN), which is responsible for the examination Japanese invasions that savaged most of of natural heritage dossiers. Having carried out a the mountain temples in Korea. It provides rigorous expert examination process involving rare physical evidence of Korean Buddhist a desk review, an on-site mission, and a panel architecture from the 13th–14th centuries. Magoksa discussion, ICOMOS released its evaluation Also primarily associated with the Avatamsaka results in May 2018. school, Bongjeongsa serves as a main locus of The advisory body recommended the veneration of both Amitabha and Sakyamuni, the worship of Sakyamuni. Centering around the veneration of Sakyamuni, Magoksa is known for inscription of the mountain temples on with their worship halls and auxiliary structures its prestigious position in the Buddhist painting. the World Heritage List, but only as a four- arranged along two different axes. Seonamsa has maintained a strong Seon (Chan in Chinese; in Japanese) tradition. Of component site including Tongdosa, Buseoksa, Beopjusa mainly focuses on , or “the particular note is the temple’s living heritage of the cultivation of tea fields for economic Beopjusa, and Daeheungsa Temples. ICOMOS Buddha of the Future,” but it also incorporates independence and its preservation of traditional living quarters for .

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reasoned that the additional three proposed components—Bongjeongsa, Seonamsa, and Magoksa Temples—were of lesser historical importance and could not be justifiably included as part of the Sansa World Heritage. They seemed convinced of the outstanding universal value of the Sansa nomination, but hesitant regarding the justification for the interconnection of the seven components into a single World Heritage site. Since the final decision on World Heritage nominations is made by the World Heritage Committee, the Korean government embarked on last-ditch efforts aimed at the Committee’s 42nd session scheduled to open less than two months after the ICOMOS announcement. In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO, the Cultural Heritage Administration drew up a summary of the rationale for uniting the seven temples into a single site and stressing their equally important contributions Beopjusa to the outstanding universal value of Korea’s mountain temples. They worked to persuade the twenty-one members of the committee and enlist their support for the inclusion of the three temples that had been recommended for exclusion by the advisory body. Fortunately, the World Heritage Committee accepted the additional information offered by Korea and unanimously endorsed the inscription of the Sansa on the World Heritage List with all seven components intact. As the national heritage authority of Korea, the Cultural Heritage Administration has played a key role throughout the entire process of successfully entering the Sansa onto this prestigious global heritage list. However, the long-sought outcome would never have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pertinent local governments, the individual temples, and heritage experts from the private sector, as well as enthusiastic support from local communities. The inscription of the Sansa on the World Heritage List is an accomplishment earned only through the dedication of all sectors of Korean society.

World Heritage Inscription, a Further Starting Point Entry onto the World Heritage List does not mean the establishment of novel heritage values.

Tongdosa The actual impact of this listing system aimed at registering and preserving cultural and natural properties of global importance is found in the wider international dissemination of the less- known cultural and historical significance of inscribed sites. To live up to the global status of Daeheungsa is also grounded in the Seon school of thought, but it is further World Heritage, sincere efforts should be made to conserve and maintain these seven temples associated with the tradition of “National Protection Belief” (Hoguk Bulgyo). and ensure that they sustain their current outstanding universal value as World Heritage.

These characteristics of the seven monasteries combine to produce an integrated illustration of both tangible and intangible aspects of the Korean Buddhist tradition.

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Lifelike Views of Korean Heritage on Google Korean heritage can now be accessed on Google from anywhere in the world. The National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Intangible Heritage Center, two subsidiary organs of the Cultural Heritage Administration, have been working with Google to display their collections on Google Arts and Culture. This online platform offers high-resolution images of artworks held by partner organizations.

A Around 2,500 selected artifacts illustrating the royal culture of the Joseon Dynasty, including The Portrait of Yeongjo (the twenty-first monarch of Joseon) and The Painting of the Sun, Moon, and Peach Trees (a decorative folding screen) have been uploaded. Also available are videos and photos presenting the working process for five nationally designated intangible heritage elements: mother-of-pearl inlaying

B (National Intangible Cultural Heritage no. 10), decorative knotting (no. 22), metal engraving (no. 35), embroidery (no. 80), and geomantic compass making (no. 110). A _ A golden seal of King Taejo, Furthermore, Google’s Street View and Expeditions services allow users a lifelike the founder of the Joseon experience of virtually visiting exhibition rooms at the National Palace Museum of Dynasty B _ Detail from Korea and the National Intangible Heritage Center to enjoy exhibits displayed in their The Portrait of King Yeongjo original spaces.

Dinosaur Traces Excavated Near Prehistoric Rock Carvings Institute of Cultural Heritage discovered thirty fossil dinosaur tracks and eighteen fossil footprints of a four-legged vertebrate in the area near Bangudae Terrace in Ulju on the southeastern coast of Korea. Bangudae Terrace is an important prehistoric heritage site featuring petroglyphs presenting the world’s oldest surviving images of whaling along with scenes of prehistoric fishing in the North Pacific. The dinosaur footprints were excavated from the Cretaceous layer of sedimentary rock. Analysis of the forms, sizes, and strides of the thirty dinosaur traces indicates that fourteen were left by an herbivorous ornithopod and the other sixteen by a carnivorous theropod. The footprints of a four-legged animal that were found during this excavation present a unique form previously unknown among the fossil traces discovered in Korea. It is estimated that the eighteen prints were left by a four-legged vertebrate that lived both in water and on land about 100 million years ago. They differ in shape from the marks

Footprints of a carnivorous created by dinosaurs, pterosaurs, turtles, crocodiles, and lizards. Further research will dinosaur be carried out to identify the creature that left these novel traces. The Korean Empire adopted a plum flower as its imperial emblem. This image is designed after the plum blossom pattern appearing on the front of Seokjojeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace.