Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Exhibition highlights history of Korea-UK ties marking 140th anniversary
Min Sun-shik, left, the president of Korea Britain Society, and Colin Crooks, second from left, the British ambassador to Korea, cut tapes during the opening ceremony of "The Ties Through Time" Seoul exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of Korea-U.K. ties at the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture, Nov. 15. Courtesy of Korea Britain Society
By Jung Da-hyun
'The Ties Through Time' shows open in London and Seoul
An exhibition spotlighting the 140-year history of diplomatic ties between Korea and the United Kingdom commenced on Nov. 15 in Seoul.
The exhibition, titled "The Ties Through Time: 140 Years of Korea-U.K. Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange," is organized by the Korean British Cultural Exchange (KBCE) and has transitioned from its initial display in London to its current venue in Seoul.
Given the constraints of presenting the entire 140-year history, the exhibition strategically focuses on the period from 1883, when the U.K.-Korea Treaty was negotiated, to 1905. This timeframe was chosen to provide a comprehensive view of the origins of the bilateral ties, according to the curation team at Sonoart Company.
The main poster of the Seoul exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of Korea-U.K. ties / Courtesy of Sonoart Company
Various sources including 19 photographs and 10 historical records are displayed to highlight the history of the relations between the two countries.
Particularly noteworthy were photographs of the initial construction of the British Embassy building in Korea and images depicting Korea during that era. These visuals were graciously provided by the grandson of Sir Walter Hillier, a British diplomat who resided in Korea at the time.
While both exhibitions shared common sources, such as photos illustrating the diplomatic history between Korea and the U.K., there were notable differences in presentation and content emphasis.
Due to spatial limitations in the Seoul exhibition, a scroll format was employed to display photos along with brief explanations.
Additionally, photo materials that could not be accommodated in the exhibition space were transformed into concise 3-minute videos, featuring interviews with a descendant of Sir Hillier, and were continuously played on a monitor within the exhibition hall.
The showcased photos related to the British Embassy in Korea traced its history from the hanok site, a site of traditional Korean buildings, before the construction of the marble building, to the subsequent construction process and the final appearance of the completed embassy building.
The British Embassy is the only one that has maintained its initial position. The first building was completed in 1891, and the second one in 1892.
The panoramic view of the exhibition titled "The Ties Through Time" at the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture / Courtesy of Korea Britain Society
Another distinctive feature of the Seoul exhibition is the introduction of three books authored by British individuals who visited Korea between 1883 and 1905. These books offer varied perspectives on Korea from the observer's viewpoint, with detailed information on the lives of common people and royal families, and illustrations of the period.
In the book "Life in Corea," intricate details about the lives of both common people and royal families in Korea during that period are meticulously described, almost akin to a clandestine observation of the country.
"Corea or Cho-sun: The Land of the Morning Calm" zeroes in on portraying the attire of the Korean populace. Notably, this book stands out for its inclusion of numerous illustrations depicting the people of that era.
The author of the third book, titled "Korea and Her Neighbor," made four visits to Korea before penning the book. It is emphasized that, in comparison to the other two works, this particular book vividly conveys the author's deep affection for Korea, reflecting the multiple visits she made to the country.
The exhibition also sheds light on two Korean diplomats who traveled to the U.K. during that era.
Min Young-hwan attended the coronation ceremony of King Nicholas II in 1896, marking the first instance of a Korean experiencing Western culture. The subsequent year, in 1897, he attended a ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's enthronement in England.
Another diplomat, Yi Jae-gak, assumed a celebratory role in the mission to the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 in England. King Edward's health issue prevented his attendance at the coronation ceremony, but during his stay in London, Yi Jae-gak conducted interviews with reporters and contributed articles about the king to British daily newspapers.
The diplomatic exchanges illustrated by the stories of these two diplomats underscore the enduring ties between Korea and Britain.
King Charles III signs on two identical guest books during his visit to the London edition of the exhibition, "The Ties Through Time," highlighting the 140th anniversary of Korea-U.K. ties, Nov. 8 (local time). Courtesy of Korea Britain Society
After King Charles III's visit to the London exhibition on Nov. 8 (local time), he left his signature on two identical guest books. One of them was sent to Korea and is now being used as a guest book for the Seoul exhibition. This further adds significance to the event as an homage to the exchange between the two nations.
“I hope this exhibition to serve as an opportunity to deepen understanding between the two countries, and that the two nations will continue to maintain a close relationship as eternal allies,” said Min Sun-shik, the president of Korea Britain Society, which hosted the Seoul exhibition.
Meanwhile, the Seoul exhibition will be open to the public until Thursday at the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture.