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Wed, March 29, 2023 | 15:30

Christmas in Korea in 1880s: politics and parties: Part1

Christmas in Korea in 1880s: politics and parties: Part1

Christmas in Seoul in 1884 was anything but joyous. Earlier that month, the violent but failed attempt to overthrow the government had unnerved the handful of Western residents causing most of them to seek sanctuary in Jemulpo (modern Incheon). Horace N. Allen - an American missionary and the foreign community's physician - elected to remain in Seoul with his wife and infant ...

2021-12-25 09:22

Christmas in Korea in the 19th century: Santa and Christmas trees: Part2

Childhood in Mokpo a century ago: Part 2

Childhood in Mokpo a century ago: Part 2

When Gertrude Margaret Bell, a 35-year-old English writer, traveler and archaeologist, visited Mokpo for an hour in May 1903, she was not impressed. In a letter, Bell explained that Leonard Hopkins (commissioner of customs at the port) and his Japanese wife, guided her “around to see the sights which are nonexistent” and that “main part of 'the City,' like all these Korean co...

2021-12-19 10:48

Childhood in Mokpo a century ago: Part 1

Childhood in Mokpo a century ago: Part 1

Childhood in Mokpo a century ago: Part 1

Situated in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula, Mokpo (named after its harbor and forests) is not a place often associated with Western communities in early 20th century Korea. However, there were a handful of missionaries and their families who lived and proselytized in this small port.

2021-12-18 14:11

Treasures along the Han River: Yangcheon

Treasures along the Han River: Yangcheon

If you are a bicyclist and frequent the Han River bike lanes on the western side of Seoul, you have probably, unknowingly, passed Mount Gung and the remains of Yangcheon Fortress located at the foot of a hill. Few people, unless they live in the immediate area, are familiar with this little treasure trove along the Han River.

2021-12-12 09:11

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 3

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 3

In the previous article we ended as Captain Ferdinand H. Morsel arrived at the American legation to escort Dr. Horace N. Allen to the Korean Customs Office to treat the badly injured Korean prince. According to Allen's diary, “He was called - from his home - on the evening of the 5th to see Min Yeong-ik again ...”

2021-12-11 09:15

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 2

Customs officers taking on a coup in 1884: Part 1

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 2

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 2

On Dec. 5 and 6, 1884, Seoul was a sea of chaos. As Captain Ferdinand H. Morsel and his two companions, Captain Fritz W. Schultz and Ernst Laporte, made their way warily through the streets they were alarmed at how violent the “Land of the Morning Calm” had become.

2021-12-05 10:54

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 3

Customs officers taking on a coup in 1884: Part 1

Customs officers taking on a coup in 1884: Part 1

Customs officers taking on a coup in 1884: Part 1

At around five in the morning on Dec. 4, 1884, Capt. Ferdinand H. Morsel (a 39-year-old German national working for the Korean Customs at Jemulpo [modern Incheon] as a boat officer) noticed a detachment of Japanese soldiers and “many Japanese civilians, under arms, left for Seoul.”

2021-12-04 09:30

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 3

Coming to the rescue in 1884: Part 2

Empress Myeongseong's Funeral procession: Part 3

Empress Myeongseong's Funeral procession: Part 3

On Nov. 22, 1897, Empress Myeongseong was finally laid to rest in her tomb just outside of Seoul. The Independent - a newspaper published in Seoul - declared that the funeral was a “remarkable event [that] will never be forgotten by those who took part in it in any capacity.” It added, “We are glad the great function passed off without any hitch and that the weather was so fa...

2021-11-28 09:07

Postcards Home from Korea

Postcards Home from Korea

For many Americans, the holiday season has begun. Millions of people - despite the pandemic - will travel throughout the United States to celebrate the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas with their families and friends. Considering this is the 400th article of this series and the start of the holiday season, I thought it would be nice to look at postcards sent by American...

2021-11-27 09:37

Empress Myeongseong's funeral procession: Part 2

Empress Myeongseong's funeral procession: Part 2

The funeral procession made its way through the city and out the East Gate where it slowly but steadily made its final push to the tomb site. As mentioned yesterday, the foreign representatives did not accompany the funeral procession so their accounts to their respective governments lacked any description of the procession's progress through the city and instead enclosed cli...

2021-11-21 09:10

Empress Myeongseong's funeral procession: Part 1

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