Kang Jin-hee, one of Korea's first diplomats to US

By Choe Chong-dae

One hundred forty years ago, the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation between the Joseon Kingdom of Korea and the United States was signed in Jemulpo, now Incheon, in May 1882.

The Korean Legation was dispatched to Washington with Park Jeong-yang (1841-1904) as Korea's first ambassador with a diplomatic staff of nine in 1887. One of the staff was Kang Jin-hee (1851-1919), an interpreter, attache and painter for Park who spoke English and Japanese fluently. He was an accomplished intellectual with interests in literature, calligraphy and painting. He recorded his diplomatic tenure in America with paintings and poems rendered in calligraphy. The Korea Legation celebrated King Gojong's 36th birthday in 1888 with a reception at Fisher House in Washington, D.C. Kang made paintings that expressed longing for Korea at that time as well as a variety of paintings of his impressions of his stay in the U.S.

The exhibition, titled, “Connections (continue),” sheds light on Kang Jin-hee's diplomatic and artistic life. It is at Gallery Yeh in Garosu-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul, from May 26 through June 18.

My wife and I had the pleasure of viewing the exhibition at special invitation of the gallery. We were fortunate to enjoy detailed explanations Kang's distinctive work by the gallery's directors, Kim Bang-eon and Kim Yong-shik. They are in fact the great-granddaughter and great-grandson of Kang.

The exhibition featured some of King's distinctive paintings, such as “Seungilbansongdo,” “Samsanyukseongdo,” “Jangyo-song-byeoldo” and “Hwachabunbyeoldo.”

“Seungilbansongdo” depicts celebrations of the birthdays and long life of King Gojong and Crown Prince Sunjong in the spirit of Korea's strong state and patriotism. The “Samsanyukseongdo” depicts the legendary Samshin Mountain, a most sacred mountain where the deities representing the holy spirit and longevity reside. “Jangyosongbyeoldo” shows a farewell scene with Park Jeong-yang on a pier in the U.S.

I was most impressed by the “Hwachabunbyeoldo” which portrays the scenery of cities besides Washington, D.C., where two trains come and go from different directions. It is considered to be Korea's first travel painting that depicts American scenery, based on when he traveled to Boston.

The artwork on display is very important for research into modern literati paintings and calligraphy. It is the earliest painting created by the first Korean diplomat in the U.S. at the end of Joseon Kingdom.

Returning to Korea in 1890, Kang served as an official in the judicial administration and in the education institute until 1910, thanks to his rich career and education. Resigning from civil service in 1911, he immersed himself in calligraphy, literati painting and teaching. He played a pioneering role in establishing the Korea Calligraphy Art and Painting Association later on.

Also on display is “Akbuhabyeong,” a collection in the Joseon lyric genre, including lyric poems and pansori, a distinctive form of Korean narrative folk song. It evokes Korean common people's feelings of joy, sorrow and nostalgia, and was written in Kang's hand in 1913. The book includes famed epic poetry of the late Joseon period, composed by Song Man-jae, Shin Wi, Choe Si-young, Kim Seok-joon and Ko Young-moon, with Kang's translation and commentary.

In recognition of his fame in calligraphy and lyric writing, Kang was asked to inscribe the stone statue of Donghak founder Choe Che-woo's tomb in 1911. Kang's unique style of seal script reads, “Tomb of Donghak Founder.” It stands in front of Choe's tomb in Gyeongju. Donghak (Eastern Learning) was a school of thought, philosophy and movement in Korea, which developed into the native religion of Cheondo-gyo, as it is known today.

It has been nearly a century and a half since Korea and the United States have established diplomatic ties. Kang Jin-hee's diplomatic, literary and artistic legacy still resonates with us. My fervent wish is that Kang's early contribution strengthens the strong alliance between the two countries.

Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.