By Robert Neff
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 1898, was a cold, windy and gloomy day but for Alexis de Speyer, the Russian representative to Korea, it was a great day. According to him, "two very pleasant things occurred on the same night": the attempted assassination of Kim Hong-nuik, his interpreter, and "the death of the Emperor's father" Heungseon Daewongun ― a man he considered to be Russia's enemy.
According to The Independent (an English-language newspaper published in Seoul), Heungseon Daewongun (Grand Imperial Prince Heungseon) died at 7 p.m. He "had been ill for some months with chronic dysentery and his health had been very feeble […] and those who were near him [had] been expecting his death for some weeks."
The morning following his death, the legations and consulates in Seoul all placed their flags at half-mast for three days and the Korean shops throughout the city were closed for the same period as a token of sympathy and respect.
News of his death spread quickly throughout the foreign community ― primarily by word of mouth and The Independent which published a "short sketch of the life of the Prince."
The "short sketch" is entirely too long to describe in detail here but it did seem to be somewhat sympathetic. It touched lightly upon the reconstruction of Gyeongbok Palace, currency reforms, repairs to the city's streets and walls and the strengthening of the military but, unsurprisingly, highlighted his faults in some detail.
"[He] inaugurated some of the most corruptible practices among the officials and cruelest punishments for the people. He commenced the practice of selling offices, especially the provisional offices, especially the provincial offices, to the highest bidders and instituted the custom of borrowing money from the well-to-do classes with the least intention of paying it back. One of his most cruel acts was the wholesale massacre and persecution of the native Christians. It is said that some ten thousand innocent men, women and children were killed because they were supposed to be believers of Christianity."
It went on to add that for 10 years he was known among the people as a tiger and that "his name was reverenced in all parts of the country … [but] …he was more feared than loved by the masses." Yet, despite his fierce reputation, "in recent years he realized his mistakes, and, to some extent, he confessed his barbarity."
The Korea Repository ― an English monthly magazine published in Seoul by missionaries ― devoted a full page and a half to describe the attack upon Kim Hong-nuik but only gave a brief paragraph announcing Heungseon Daewongun's death and described him as "a man of iron will, resolute purpose, an ardent lover of his country, and a thorough going statesman of the old conservative type."
The Western community first encountered the prince when he returned from China in 1885. Some of these first encounters were with Americans and their first impressions of him were fairly good ― at least in the beginning.
Prior to meeting him, George C. Foulk, who was in charge of the American legation, described the prince as "cruel, intriguing, and blood-thirsty… a bloody tyrant, who murdered so many Christians and other persons, and who raised a revolt among the soldiers in 1882" in a bid to reestablish his control of the country. However, after he met him in October 1885, his opinion of the Korean prince changed completely.
"I went to see the [prince], and to my great surprise he appeared to take a strong liking for me, came promptly to see me in great state and has sent around a lot of fruit and chestnuts as a gift. He is sixty-eight years old, but looks only about fifty, is quite strong and as smart as a steel trap. The Chinese and the Korean government are trying hard to make him keep out of politics, but I'm afraid he is too active yet to remain so long. If he is properly handled he may do much good for Korea, for he is the only firm, intelligent, active-minded Korean in the country."
Horace N. Allen, a missionary doctor, visited the prince's residence on Oct. 10, 1885, and in his diary noted he had been received kindly for nearly an hour during which time the elderly man held Allen's hands most of the time and asked him for some medicine that would allow him to live for a long time. In his diary Allen wrote:
"[Heungseon Daewongun] has learned enough of foreigners to remove his hat for them and now protests that all Americans are good. I think him a man of strong will and convictions, honest to purpose, determined, yet with a vein of kindness back of it all, which if one can strike, will make him a firm friend."
Foulk's report to the State Department was very similar to his letter to his parents but he added: "When I withdrew [the prince] stated that he was old and lame and possibly could not return my call and asked me to come often informally to see him." Foulk was completely surprised when, a few days later, the elderly prince paid him (as well as the other foreign representatives) a visit. It was a short but pleasant visit and as the prince "was leaving the legation [Foulk] overheard him say to one of [the legation's] head servants, 'Remember always that you are a Korean, and do all you can to help your country ― even though you serve in a foreigner's house.'"
Prior to the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War, Isabella Bird Bishop, an English travel writer, had the opportunity to visit the prince in his palace. "[I] was much impressed by the vitality and energy of his expression, his keen glance, and the vigor of his movements, though he is an old man." She noted that Koreans described him as having "bowels of iron and a heart of stone."
During the war, James Creelman, an American journalist, visited the prince. He claimed the prince was "the mightiest figure in Modern Corean history" and was "the real ruler of Corea." Despite his advanced age, in a trumpet-like voice he insisted change was occurring too quickly in Korea and that the "surrender to Western civilization must be gradual." Creelman's rival, Amedee Baillot de Guerville, also paid a visit to the palace and claimed the old prince was "a great admirer of America."
"He is now seventy-four years old, but hardly looks more than fifty. Tall, broad, rather stout, he is indeed a fine looking man. His manners are kind and graceful, while the expression of his face is undoubtedly that of strength and energy. His dress was of the finest white silk and around it he wore a wide sash beautifully embroidered with gold."
He took Guerville by the hand and led him to a chair near his own and offered his guest a cigar. They then spent a short time talking about the war and the old prince assured his foreign guest that "all the officials and court people [were] in favor of Japan and of prompt reforms [as they felt] quite certain that the Japanese only [wished the Koreans] good [will]." Apparently the exception was the Korean queen and her supporters.
The prince was no stranger to assassinations. William Franklin Sands, an American who served first in the American legation in Seoul and later as an adviser to the Korean court, suggested that the prince may have "helped [King Cheoljong] to die a little quicker" in 1864 so that the prince's son, Gojong, could ascend to the throne. How Sands came by this information is unknown but I suspect it was nothing more than a facetious rumor ― character assassination.
The prince was, however, implicated in a bombing in January 1875 that killed the queen's mother and her adopted older brother.
Thus the Western community wasn't really surprised but was still infuriated when it was discovered the old prince played a role in the assassination of Queen Min (Empress Myeongseong) at Gyeongbok Palace on October 1895. His attempt to regain control of the government was quashed by the pro-Japanese court ― he was allowed to live in the palace but "was not allowed to interfere freely with government affairs."
The missionary community rallied around King Gojong, even providing him with food due to his fears of poisoning. Horace G. Underwood, an American missionary, while taking food to the king, encountered the old prince and was asked: "Why do you take all that good food in to him [the king]. He doesn't need it. I am old, my teeth are gone, I need it more than he." Underwood apparently ignored him and later told his wife about the encounter. She later wrote, "The crafty and cruel old tiger's teeth were still only too serviceable, alas!"
In February 1896, Heungseon Daewongun "was compelled to take up his residence in his own palatial home [where] he led the life of a hermit even to his last hour." Bishop, never one to mince her words, more accurately described him as "practically a prisoner in his own palace."
The following month, the Russian and American representatives' wives went on a short jaunt to Heungseon Daewongun's sujang (future grave site). Sallie Sill, the wife of the American minister, wrote: "It is a most lovely spot altogether too beautiful a resting place for such an old murderer. His summer palace is there and the grounds are kept in perfect order." She scornfully added, "A place is now being prepared for one of his victims (the poor Queen) but what few bones were picked from the ashes where they burned her body are in the deserted palace carefully guarded."
There would be other deaths in the royal family. On Jan. 8, 1898, the prince's wife "died after an illness of short duration." According to an obituary published in The Independent, she "never interfered with the politics of the country even in the remotest manner, all through the years of her husband's regency. She devoted her whole life to the domestic duties of the great household and she helped thousands of poor people in a quiet manner until her last day. She was the idol of the people throughout the Empire both high and low and her death is sincerely mourned by all."
It was especially mourned by the old prince. Two weeks later, The Independent reported that the shock of his beloved wife's death had aggravated his illness (dysentery) and that an imperial physician was constantly in attendance. Yet, despite herbs and acupuncture nothing seemed "to relieve the sufferings of the octogenarian Prince." A month later he joined his beloved wife.
Heungseon Daewongun is often vilified by historians for his "vigorous enforcement of the seclusion policy, persecution of Christians, and the killing or driving off of foreigners who had landed on Korean soil." But there are other views that are most positive. According to Ching-young Choe (author of "The Rule of the Taewon'gun 1864-1873") the prince's regency left "a lasting imprint on Korea; he was the first and only ruler of the Yi dynasty to attempt to introduce wide-ranging reforms into Korea and at the same time preserve the ancient order of Korean society."
To me, he will always be the tiger with bowels of iron and a heart of stone ― one of the last defenders of Joseon.
Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
 |
| A picture of Heungseon Daewongun presumably in the 1890s from Homer B. Hulbert's "The Passing of Korea," 1906 |
According to The Independent (an English-language newspaper published in Seoul), Heungseon Daewongun (Grand Imperial Prince Heungseon) died at 7 p.m. He "had been ill for some months with chronic dysentery and his health had been very feeble […] and those who were near him [had] been expecting his death for some weeks."
The morning following his death, the legations and consulates in Seoul all placed their flags at half-mast for three days and the Korean shops throughout the city were closed for the same period as a token of sympathy and respect.
News of his death spread quickly throughout the foreign community ― primarily by word of mouth and The Independent which published a "short sketch of the life of the Prince."
 |
| One of the anti-foreign stones erected during the reign of Heungseon Daewongun. This one, photographed in August 2020, is located at Jeoldusan near Hapjeong Station. Robert Neff Collection |
"[He] inaugurated some of the most corruptible practices among the officials and cruelest punishments for the people. He commenced the practice of selling offices, especially the provisional offices, especially the provincial offices, to the highest bidders and instituted the custom of borrowing money from the well-to-do classes with the least intention of paying it back. One of his most cruel acts was the wholesale massacre and persecution of the native Christians. It is said that some ten thousand innocent men, women and children were killed because they were supposed to be believers of Christianity."
It went on to add that for 10 years he was known among the people as a tiger and that "his name was reverenced in all parts of the country … [but] …he was more feared than loved by the masses." Yet, despite his fierce reputation, "in recent years he realized his mistakes, and, to some extent, he confessed his barbarity."
The Korea Repository ― an English monthly magazine published in Seoul by missionaries ― devoted a full page and a half to describe the attack upon Kim Hong-nuik but only gave a brief paragraph announcing Heungseon Daewongun's death and described him as "a man of iron will, resolute purpose, an ardent lover of his country, and a thorough going statesman of the old conservative type."
 |
| Heungseon Daewongun's residence near Gongdeok Station circa 1920-30 The Archive of Korean History |
The Western community first encountered the prince when he returned from China in 1885. Some of these first encounters were with Americans and their first impressions of him were fairly good ― at least in the beginning.
Prior to meeting him, George C. Foulk, who was in charge of the American legation, described the prince as "cruel, intriguing, and blood-thirsty… a bloody tyrant, who murdered so many Christians and other persons, and who raised a revolt among the soldiers in 1882" in a bid to reestablish his control of the country. However, after he met him in October 1885, his opinion of the Korean prince changed completely.
"I went to see the [prince], and to my great surprise he appeared to take a strong liking for me, came promptly to see me in great state and has sent around a lot of fruit and chestnuts as a gift. He is sixty-eight years old, but looks only about fifty, is quite strong and as smart as a steel trap. The Chinese and the Korean government are trying hard to make him keep out of politics, but I'm afraid he is too active yet to remain so long. If he is properly handled he may do much good for Korea, for he is the only firm, intelligent, active-minded Korean in the country."
Horace N. Allen, a missionary doctor, visited the prince's residence on Oct. 10, 1885, and in his diary noted he had been received kindly for nearly an hour during which time the elderly man held Allen's hands most of the time and asked him for some medicine that would allow him to live for a long time. In his diary Allen wrote:
"[Heungseon Daewongun] has learned enough of foreigners to remove his hat for them and now protests that all Americans are good. I think him a man of strong will and convictions, honest to purpose, determined, yet with a vein of kindness back of it all, which if one can strike, will make him a firm friend."
 |
| Another view of the residence circa 1920-1930 The Archive of Korean History |
Foulk's report to the State Department was very similar to his letter to his parents but he added: "When I withdrew [the prince] stated that he was old and lame and possibly could not return my call and asked me to come often informally to see him." Foulk was completely surprised when, a few days later, the elderly prince paid him (as well as the other foreign representatives) a visit. It was a short but pleasant visit and as the prince "was leaving the legation [Foulk] overheard him say to one of [the legation's] head servants, 'Remember always that you are a Korean, and do all you can to help your country ― even though you serve in a foreigner's house.'"
Prior to the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War, Isabella Bird Bishop, an English travel writer, had the opportunity to visit the prince in his palace. "[I] was much impressed by the vitality and energy of his expression, his keen glance, and the vigor of his movements, though he is an old man." She noted that Koreans described him as having "bowels of iron and a heart of stone."
During the war, James Creelman, an American journalist, visited the prince. He claimed the prince was "the mightiest figure in Modern Corean history" and was "the real ruler of Corea." Despite his advanced age, in a trumpet-like voice he insisted change was occurring too quickly in Korea and that the "surrender to Western civilization must be gradual." Creelman's rival, Amedee Baillot de Guerville, also paid a visit to the palace and claimed the old prince was "a great admirer of America."
"He is now seventy-four years old, but hardly looks more than fifty. Tall, broad, rather stout, he is indeed a fine looking man. His manners are kind and graceful, while the expression of his face is undoubtedly that of strength and energy. His dress was of the finest white silk and around it he wore a wide sash beautifully embroidered with gold."
 |
| The site of Heungseon Daewongun's residence is now occupied by a high school, as of August 2021. Robert Neff Collection |
He took Guerville by the hand and led him to a chair near his own and offered his guest a cigar. They then spent a short time talking about the war and the old prince assured his foreign guest that "all the officials and court people [were] in favor of Japan and of prompt reforms [as they felt] quite certain that the Japanese only [wished the Koreans] good [will]." Apparently the exception was the Korean queen and her supporters.
The prince was no stranger to assassinations. William Franklin Sands, an American who served first in the American legation in Seoul and later as an adviser to the Korean court, suggested that the prince may have "helped [King Cheoljong] to die a little quicker" in 1864 so that the prince's son, Gojong, could ascend to the throne. How Sands came by this information is unknown but I suspect it was nothing more than a facetious rumor ― character assassination.
The prince was, however, implicated in a bombing in January 1875 that killed the queen's mother and her adopted older brother.
 |
| In August 2021, a simple stone marks the site where the residence once stood. Robert Neff Collection |
The missionary community rallied around King Gojong, even providing him with food due to his fears of poisoning. Horace G. Underwood, an American missionary, while taking food to the king, encountered the old prince and was asked: "Why do you take all that good food in to him [the king]. He doesn't need it. I am old, my teeth are gone, I need it more than he." Underwood apparently ignored him and later told his wife about the encounter. She later wrote, "The crafty and cruel old tiger's teeth were still only too serviceable, alas!"
In February 1896, Heungseon Daewongun "was compelled to take up his residence in his own palatial home [where] he led the life of a hermit even to his last hour." Bishop, never one to mince her words, more accurately described him as "practically a prisoner in his own palace."
The following month, the Russian and American representatives' wives went on a short jaunt to Heungseon Daewongun's sujang (future grave site). Sallie Sill, the wife of the American minister, wrote: "It is a most lovely spot altogether too beautiful a resting place for such an old murderer. His summer palace is there and the grounds are kept in perfect order." She scornfully added, "A place is now being prepared for one of his victims (the poor Queen) but what few bones were picked from the ashes where they burned her body are in the deserted palace carefully guarded."
 |
| The information board describing the site in August 2021 ― hopefully it will be redone in the near future and include a more interesting description of this site and Heungseon Daewongun. Robert Neff Collection |
There would be other deaths in the royal family. On Jan. 8, 1898, the prince's wife "died after an illness of short duration." According to an obituary published in The Independent, she "never interfered with the politics of the country even in the remotest manner, all through the years of her husband's regency. She devoted her whole life to the domestic duties of the great household and she helped thousands of poor people in a quiet manner until her last day. She was the idol of the people throughout the Empire both high and low and her death is sincerely mourned by all."
It was especially mourned by the old prince. Two weeks later, The Independent reported that the shock of his beloved wife's death had aggravated his illness (dysentery) and that an imperial physician was constantly in attendance. Yet, despite herbs and acupuncture nothing seemed "to relieve the sufferings of the octogenarian Prince." A month later he joined his beloved wife.
Heungseon Daewongun is often vilified by historians for his "vigorous enforcement of the seclusion policy, persecution of Christians, and the killing or driving off of foreigners who had landed on Korean soil." But there are other views that are most positive. According to Ching-young Choe (author of "The Rule of the Taewon'gun 1864-1873") the prince's regency left "a lasting imprint on Korea; he was the first and only ruler of the Yi dynasty to attempt to introduce wide-ranging reforms into Korea and at the same time preserve the ancient order of Korean society."
To me, he will always be the tiger with bowels of iron and a heart of stone ― one of the last defenders of Joseon.
Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
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