The Korea Times

The Argonaut's arrival in Korea in 1791

Japanese fishing vessels in the late 19th century / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffOne of the earliest Western attempts to establish trade with Korea took place in the summer of 1791 by the English-flagged Argonaut, commanded by Captain James Colnett. The 400-ton ship had a crew of 19 men (excluding the captain) as well as Thomas Beal, a Prussian and the younger brother of one of the ship's owners, and a Chinese man, “smuggled on board who pretended to be a Japanese interpreter.”The Argonaut departed Macau on July 27 with a cargo of furs. On Aug. 9, Jeju Island was sighted but no contact was made with any of the islanders. They then sailed along the western coast of Japan and had several encounters with Japanese boats. Apparently, the Japanese thought that the Argonaut was a Dutch vessel that had lost its way, and thoughtfully pointed in the direction of Nagasaki, while stressing the importance for the Westerners to leave their vicinity.Nonetheless, the Argonaut continued to explore the coastline, and on Aug. 16, encountered a “small squadron of junks,” w

Aug 22, 2021By Robert Neff

Opinion

Diplomat on the run

A Chinese residence in the late 19th century / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffIn 1888, the vice consul in Shanghai for the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway was an Austrian businessman named S. Krips. In the past, countries that did not have diplomats in a distant port would sometimes assign consular positions to citizens of their own country or to trusted people of foreign nationality, usually businesspeople. Krips, an auctioneer and consignment merchant, was one of these “trusted” foreign businesspeople.We don't know much about his consular activities (nor do we know his full name) but we do know about his business activities and the level of his trustworthiness. He frequently did business with the British merchant enterprise Gibbs, Livingston & Co., and sold their goods on consignment in the Shanghai region. They entrusted him with a great deal of goods and for the most part he always fulfilled his contracts with them, but sometime in the late 1880s, greed ― and perhaps a sense of adventure ― got the better part of him, and rather than follows his instructi

Aug 21, 2021By Robert Neff

Opinion

Yanks welcomed on their arrival in newly liberated Korea

The Port of Incheon, circa 1945-49 / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffOn Sept. 8, 1945, American soldiers began arriving in Incheon. Everett Shipley informed his parents in a letter home that his unit arrived in the port at about 3 p.m. and were greeted by the Japanese who provided them with trucks and other logistical support to off-load their equipment. The following morning, American soldiers were transported by train to Seoul, where, upon arrival, they marched in silence to their positions at Bando Hotel and the Japanese headquarters in Yongsan. Donald Clark, in his book “Living Dangerously in Korea,” notes that while the soldiers marched in silence, American “planes roared overhead 'providing striking demonstrations of power that could hardly have failed to impress both Japanese and Koreans.'” Later that afternoon, at around 4 p.m., General Hodge and Admiral Kincaid arrived at the Government-General Building and, after a short speech ― “listened glumly to by the Japanese” ― Hodge accepted Japan's surrender. Welcoming the Allied Forces, The

Aug 15, 2021By Robert Neff

Yanks welcomed on their arrival in newly liberated Korea

Opinion

An emperor delivers 'a Great Declaration' of Aug. 15, 1945

Namdaemun in Seoul during the Japanese occupation / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffOn Aug. 14, 1945, Koreans and Japanese on the Korean Peninsula were surprised by notices in the newspaper and radio broadcasts that on the following day, at noon, there would be “a great declaration.”This caused great excitement and many rumors began to circulate, but few thought the proclamation would amount to much ― perhaps a declaration of new restrictions or increased rationing.An Hong-kyoon, at that time a 12-year-old schoolboy, recalls that the morning of Aug. 15 was just like any other hot sultry morning ― he got up, ate breakfast and went to school. His classmates gathered pine needles (which were used for oil) from the nearby mountain and then returned to the school courtyard with their teacher to await the great proclamation. Nearly seven decades later, An recalled: “Exactly at noon, a radio announcer stated that his majesty the emperor would read an edict to his subjects. The Japanese national anthem streamed through a loudspeaker as we stood at straight attention. Th

Aug 14, 2021By Robert Neff

An emperor delivers 'a Great Declaration' of Aug. 15, 1945

Global Community

Joseon Images Streetcars: A time for change in Joseon

A streetcar passes through the West Gate, circa the early 1900s. / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffIn 1899, streetcars began operating in Seoul. This was a time of great change, and one of the biggest problems facing their operator, Seoul Electric Street Railroad, was time.Clocks and watches made abroad were highly valued in Korea, and sometimes given as expensive gifts. In July 1883, a Korean official visiting Japan bought several diamond-studded gold watches from an American merchant as gifts for the Korean monarch and his queen.In 1892, one American observed:“A curious penchant of Koreans is for cuckoo clocks. The cuckoo is a native of the peninsula, and the people seem never tired of entering a store and listening to the cry of the birds which come out of the clocks and tell the hour. Dozens of these are kept in the Chinese stores, and they sell readily at a good profit.”However, those who could not afford a clock or watch were forced to make do with other time-keeping methods, such as the large bell used to signal the opening and closing of the city gates (a prac

Aug 10, 2021By Robert Neff

[Joseon Images] Streetcars: A time for change in Joseon

Opinion

Tale of two ships at Gunsan in 1847: Gloire and Victorieuse

Often when we think of early Western-Korean interactions we think of Seoul, Jemulpo or Busan but an early ― and potentially violent ― encounter took place near Gunsan City in 1847. On July 12, 1847, two French warships, the 54-gun frigate Gloire (command by Captain Augustine de Lapierre) and the 24-gun corvette Victorieuse, sailed out of Macau bound for Korea. The two warships and nearly 600 marines and sailors were to demonstrate the might of the French navy and exact an explanation from the Korean government as to why three French missionaries had been executed. This would not be the first time these ships had been used to show the French government's displeasure with the treatment its priests had received. Three months earlier, on April 15, these two warships ― seeking redress for the ill-treatment of French priests ― sank five Vietnamese corvettes in Da Nang. Albeit, the Vietnamese ships appear to have attacked first, but there seems to be no doubt that Captain Lapierre was not hesitant to use force. Arriving off the southern coast of Korea, the two warships made their way slowly

Aug 8, 2021By Robert Neff

Tale of two ships at Gunsan in 1847: Gloire and Victorieuse

Opinion

The dangers of making money

A postcard from 1912 / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffOn July 10, 1883, Korean authorities arrested an international ring of counterfeiters on a small island off the coast of Jemulpo (the former name of today's Incheon). The seven men ― four Koreans and three Japanese ― were found with several thousand units of counterfeit money (in Korean coins) and the tools of their nefarious trade.The four Koreans accused of the crime were sent to Seoul where, after a summary investigation, they were beheaded. Their corpses were left in the streets for several days, a gruesome example of the fate awaiting anyone else foolish enough to commit a similar act.As for the Japanese, they were held at the Japanese consulate until they were transported to Nagasaki aboard the British steamship Nanzing. Their arrival was duly noted by the editor of the local English-language newspaper who speculated that, “Probably the Korean government will press for a heavy sentence to be passed upon the offending Japanese.”It isn't clear what punishment ― if any ― the Japanese counterfeiters received. I

Aug 7, 2021By Robert Neff

Opinion

Funeral of Lady Eom: consort's send-off fit for queen

In the early hours of Aug. 2, 1911, much of the population of Seoul gathered in the streets to pay their final respects to Lady Eom, the consort of ex-Emperor Gojong. Addie Lea Jordan had traveled from Jemulpo (part of modern-day Incheon) by train and rickshaw to witness the funeral of a woman she knew nothing about. In fact, few non-Koreans knew much about her at all.

Aug 1, 2021By Robert Neff

Funeral of Lady Eom: consort's send-off fit for queen

Opinion

Living in style in Jemulpo

A Western residence in Jemulpo in the early 20th century / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffIn the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jemulpo (part of modern-day Incheon) was a popular place for Westerners ― especially those in Seoul ― to escape Korea's unbearable summer heat. Most of these summer visitors stayed in the handful of hotels that were available but a few ― the luckier ones ― were able to find lodging with one of the few Western residents of the port. It is through the visitors' letters home that we gain some knowledge of what life was like for the residents of Jemulpo.In 1911, Frank H. Henderson, an American who managed the British Cigarette Company's operations in Jemulpo, invited his mother, his sister Addie Lea and her family (husband Thomas Jordan, their 14-year-old son Thomas Jr. and their 11-year-old daughter Bessie) to spend the summer at his house ― Pinehurst Villa.The Jordans and the elderly Mrs. Henderson departed Louisiana in mid-June, traveled to Hawaii and then through Japan and finally arrived in Fusan (modern-day Busan) about a month later where they b

Jul 31, 2021By Robert Neff

Opinion

Jean-Moyses Jozeau: a holy man whom trouble often found

A market in Daegu circa 1900 / Courtesy of Diane Nars CollectionBy Robert NeffOn the evening of Dec. 18, 1892, Father Jozeau, accompanied by his teacher and a servant, were passing “quietly” through the streets of Gimcheon. This month had been unusually cold and the three were trying to get to the home of a Korean Catholic as quick as possible.The cold was not the only thing they were worried about. The people of this region tended to be intolerant to new ideas ― especially foreigners and their religious beliefs. Despite the fading light, they were soon noticed by a crowd of men who recognized Jozeau as a foreigner. It is not clear but this day may have been one of the market days which would account for the large number of men in the city at the time. The market experience was often made more enjoyable with several cups of alcohol which may have contributed to their hostility. They jeered at the small group and began yelling threats that they would stone the foreigner to death. Jozeau, however, ignored them and continued to walk quietly, intent on reaching their intended

Jul 25, 2021By Robert Neff

Robert Neff

Read more

The Argonaut's arrival in Korea in 1791

Diplomat on the run

Yanks welcomed on their arrival in newly liberated Korea

An emperor delivers 'a Great Declaration' of Aug. 15, 1945

Joseon Images Streetcars: A time for change in Joseon

Tale of two ships at Gunsan in 1847: Gloire and Victorieuse

The dangers of making money

Funeral of Lady Eom: consort's send-off fit for queen

Living in style in Jemulpo

Jean-Moyses Jozeau: a holy man whom trouble often found

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