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

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 3

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

  • 5

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 7

    Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws

  • 9

    Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses

  • 11

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 13

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 15

    PM departs for China for Asian Games, meeting with Xi

  • 17

    Top diplomats of Korea, Iran discuss bilateral ties following frozen funds transfer

  • 19

    Hangzhou Asian Games open after COVID-enforced delay

  • 2

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

  • 4

    Understanding Korean Modernization

  • 6

    Opposition party leader ends 24-day hunger strike for treatment

  • 8

    Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some

  • 10

    US finalizes national security 'guardrails' for CHIPS funding

  • 12

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 14

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 16

    Historic NASA asteroid mission set for perilous return

  • 18

    Allies vow stern measures against Russia-NK arms deal

  • 20

    League of Legends, other esports join Asian Games in competition for first time

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
Mon, September 25, 2023 | 18:33
Mosquitoes in 19th-century Seoul
Posted : 2020-08-15 10:48
Updated : 2020-08-15 21:24
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Robert Neff

A Korean gentleman in a smoky alley, circa 1912 / Robert Neff Collection
A Korean gentleman in a smoky alley, circa 1912 / Robert Neff Collection
The rainy season in Korea has always been miserable, but what follows its cessation can be equally tormenting ― the season of mosquitoes. In the letters and diaries of foreigners who lived or visited Korea in the summers of late 19th century, mosquitoes are mentioned frequently.

In the summer of 1883, a resident in Fusan (now known as Busan) wrote that he often encountered Koreans "sleeping haphazard by the wayside" during the daytime because they were unable to sleep because of the swarms of mosquitoes that ruled the night. According to him, mosquito nets had only recently been introduced to the Korean market and they must have seemed a godsend to those who could afford them.

Many Westerners were curious as to how Koreans were able to keep these winged little blood-suckers at bay. Sometimes they offered theories such as in July 1884 when George C. Foulk, a naval officer attached to the U.S. legation in Seoul, described ― in a letter to his parents ― the average Korean homes:

"In every house there is at least one little floored space. Under this a fire is built, in the summer at night, as well as always in winter, and over the floor heated this way the people sleep. I suppose the fire is lighted in summer to smoke out mosquitoes."

A Korean gentleman in a smoky alley, circa 1912 / Robert Neff Collection A Korean gentleman in a smoky alley, circa 1912 / Robert Neff Collection
A Korean gentleman with his pipe, circa 1900s / Robert Neff CollectionWomen and children swinging in northern Korea circa 1940 / Robert Neff Collection

In 1887, a female journalist from the U.S. reported there was a large conical hat that served as an "umbrella and roof both to its wearer, a seat on the ground, a shelter from rain, a refuge from smoke and mosquitoes indoors, and a considerable piece of property that only costs 160 cash, or 10 American cents on the first investment."

According to Horace N. Allen, during the Dano celebration of the fifth lunar month, "strong swings are suspended from suitable trees, or if no suitable tree is at hand, massive frames are erected and topped with boughs. On these swings several men will at times perform together. The observance of this custom is supposed to mitigate somewhat the plague of mosquitoes during the ensuing summer."

But Westerners here took a different approach; they spent considerable time and money putting up mosquito nets over windows ― but even that wasn't enough. In 1893, Sallie Swallen complained:

"You cannot know how bad the mosquitoes are out here. We have mosquito-bar at our windows, but they were not enough. Two or three nights we were dreadfully bothered, so we had to put a large Chinese net over our bed and then tuck it down all under the mattress, and then if we were not careful they would slip in when we were getting in."

Apparently, with a little care, they eventually were able to keep the nets in place and she reported that "for the last 2 nights we have slept fine."

People could sleep under their mosquito nets at night but during the day they were defenseless. Elizabeth Greathouse, whose son was an American adviser in the Joseon government, complained bitterly: "The day mosquitoes are very familiar, almost too affectionate for comfort and a fan is a necessary article just now."

The U.S. legation completely mosquito-proofed their living quarters. Sallie Sill ― the wife of the U.S. ambassador ― described the efforts they made in 1895:

"We have been busy getting the doors and windows (and they are too numerous to mention) all covered with netting to keep out the insects and today the house seems to be free from them, which is a great luxury."

Even the front porch was completely encased with netting and became a popular place for them and their guests to sit in the evenings. She declared it "the coolest and most comfortable place in Seoul."

Not everyone liked the bother of mosquito netting. Ms. Greathouse was determined not to put up mosquito nets because she claimed she "could not breathe under one." She soon changed her mind after enduring several sleepless nights and concluded the Korean mosquitoes were the most numerous and worst pests she had ever encountered. She had her son go out and buy the rough netting and then she sewed it into the proper shapes needed for her bed and windows.

The following morning she wrote: "Had a splendid sleep last night, the mosquito net is a success. It is pretty light blue and ornamented."

Sometimes a little discomfort is a small price to pay to have a good night's rest or to help safeguard one's life.


Emailrobertneff103@gmail.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high
2Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China
3Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer
4Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory
5Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation
6Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil. Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.
7Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars
8Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party
9LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco
10Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[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'
2TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
3BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
4Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
5K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling QuranK-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
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