The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 3

    BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo

  • 5

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 7

    Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors

  • 9

    INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels

  • 11

    Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales

  • 13

    All-Korean showdowns set up on 1st day of medal race

  • 15

    Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI

  • 17

    Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape

  • 19

    Appellate court upholds 9-yr prison term for man over filming, distributing sexual videos featuring women

  • 2

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 4

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 6

    Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official

  • 8

    Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday

  • 10

    Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry

  • 12

    Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech

  • 14

    Disney+ aims to expand investment in original Korean content

  • 16

    Arrest warrant hearing for DPK leader Lee to be held Tuesday

  • 18

    Yoon signs off on plan to waive expressway tolls during Chuseok holiday

  • 20

    Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • About the past
  • Korea: deConstructed
  • Parchment Made of Sheepskins
  • Workable Words
  • Dialogues with Adoptees
  • Imbricated Chaos
Sun, September 24, 2023 | 22:25
The Jemulpo Centenarian
Posted : 2019-11-09 11:01
Updated : 2019-11-20 16:03
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Lee Choon-gwang circa 1910. Robert Neff Collection
Lee Choon-gwang circa 1910. Robert Neff Collection

By Robert Neff

Lee Choon-gwang was a simple man but one blessed with longevity and good health. He was born on Gangwha Island in about 1804 and lived a relatively quiet and unremarkable life.

At the relatively late age of 36, he married a 16-year-old girl (unfortunately we know little about her ― not even her name) and they "led an easy life by engaging in agriculture as tenant [farmers]."

Although their marriage was probably an arranged one, they genuinely seemed to love one another but ― much to their regret ― were never blessed with children. In fact, their respective families were apparently quite small and one can imagine they lived a relatively lonely life ― depending only upon themselves.

As the years passed, they lost all of their handful of relatives ― presumably to accidents, disease or old age. Lee and his wife, however, remained healthy ― never experiencing, according to Lee, any serious illnesses or injuries. By the late 1880s, they were all alone and the "easy life" they had enjoyed in their youth was gone.

Sometime in the 1890s they moved to Manseok-dong near Jemulpo, modern-day Incheon, where they managed to eke out a living by gathering edible shellfish from the muddy flats. Their hard work earned them less than 10 sen (about 5 American cents) daily.

It was a rough life and it took its toll. By the early 1900s, Lee's wife was toothless but still possessed excellent vision and was "able to do sewing without the help of spectacles." Lee went deaf around the age of 100 but was still physically fit enough to dig for shellfish and then haul his catch to the market where he sold it. Both were proudly able "to walk upwards of ten miles (16 kilometers) a day without the aid of sticks."

Lee was extremely fond of smoking and alcohol. He was known to be a great drinker ― having started at the age of 20 ― and was able to drink "ten bowlfuls of strong Korean wine in a day when funds permit … but that pleasure rarely [came] to him, as he [was] so poor."

Change came in 1910. In January and May, comets lit up the night skies and many feared the world would end. Lee, however, paid little attention to these rumors (probably because he was deaf). He was no stranger to these astronomical phenomena, having witnessed Halley's Comet back in 1835. Even when Korea lost its independence later in 1910, it had little impact on his life.

However, his life changed in November, when the Keijo Nippo ― a newspaper published in Korea ― printed a short article about him and generated a good deal of attention to the couple's plight. Nearly 80 yen (40 dollars) was collected and entrusted to the village leader to provide the couple a monthly allowance. A Japanese photographer living in Jemulpo made a postcard of Lee and sold each card for 3 sen ― the profits were also added to Lee's allowance fund.

What became of Lee and his wife is unclear ― they, like many others, faded from the pages of history. But unlike most, Lee left behind a legacy of his existence ― his photograph.


Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books including, Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.



Emailrobertneff103@gmail.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Understanding Korean Modernization Understanding Korean Modernization
2Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws
3Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses
4Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some
5Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation
6Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars
7Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil. Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.
8Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on ChinaSamsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China
9JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up
10Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closerSeoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer
Top 5 Entertainment News
1TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
2[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
3BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
4[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
5Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group