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Staff Reporter
In January, 1906 at Seongjojeon, Emperor Gojong's office in Deoksu Palace in Hanyang, Seoul's old name, Gojong wrote a letter to German Emperor Wilhelm II.
In the letter, Gojong pleaded with Wilhelm II to support Korea's fight against Japanese occupation. "If you help me, I shall by God never forget what you have done," the emperor wrote in Chinese.
The letter failed to reach the German emperor, and was buried in history until being found by a group of Korean scholars in the political archives of the German foreign office earlier this year.
Last week, over a century later, a photo exhibition, "125 Years Germany and Korea -Historic Photographs," shed light again on Gojong's attempt to spread the word about Japan's injustice.
The opening of the exhibition last Wednesday marked the day when the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and German
 Moellendorff |
What would have been a mere celebration wore a layer of significance with the discovery of Gojong's letter earlier this year, the owner of all the 125 photo works told The Korea Times.
"Although the German Empire ended up not supporting Korea, I, as a Korean, want to remember him (Gojong) and his efforts, which make me proud of him," said Chung Sung-kil, the owner of the photographs and cameras on display, on why he decided to open his private collection to the public.
Chung is also honorary director of Keimyung University뭩 Dongsan Medical Center Museum in Daegu.
"And it's more significant in that the exhibition takes place where Gojong wrote the letter," Chung added.
The 125 photos on display are among nearly 80,000 photographs that he has accumulated over the last three decades. They included a portrait of Gojong himself, German Prince Heinrich during his visit to Korea in 1899 and a German lawyer and Sinologist, Paul-Georg von Moellendorff, who helped form the new empire's Cabinet between 1882 and 1885.
German Ambassador Norbert Baas said in his remarks, "This is a unique exhibition, which goes beyond the German-Korean relationship. It is through Chung's help that this rare collection can be made known to the Korean public. The German Embassy highly appreciates that this exhibition can be shown in Deoksu Palace."
Chung said he had collected a lot during four years he lived in Germany, and the photos originally belonged to German priests and missionaries who had spent time in Korea.
It remains uncertain why the letter couldn't be delivered to Emperor Wilhelm II. The most reliable argument is that officials at the German foreign office had intentionally refused it, given the relations between German and Japan at the time.
In the early 20th century, Japan was an emerging power after winning a war against Russia and annexing Korea, and for Germany it may have been wise to avoid.
Along with the photo exhibition, the embassy put out a publication, "125 Years of Korea-German Relations," a collection of accounts by German and Korean individuals who have had a connection with each other.
The exhibition will continue through Dec. 7. Admission is free.
skim@koreatimes.co.kr
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