The Korea Times

Joseon Images Children of early modern Korea

A group of children pose for a picture, circa 1890-1910s. / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffThere are certain times of the year that even the most mischievous child becomes well-behaved. For many Western children, it is the weeks leading up to Christmas; for Korean children it may be the weeks leading up to Children's Day on May 5. Although Bang Jeong-hwan is credited as the creator of this holiday in the 1920s, Children's Day's origin appears to go back much earlier. In 1894, Christopher T. Gardner, a British diplomat in Seoul, wrote: “Early in May the streets [of Seoul] are full of toys for the little ones, and on the day itself the town is given up to children wearing bright new clothes and enjoying themselves. The sight in the big main street, with its throngs of happy children in their bright clothes, each child with its hands full of toys, accompanied by their fathers and grandfathers in snowy clean white raiments, showing in keen contrast with the somber grey tint of the nearest houses, and the dark-green of the fantastically shaped mountains in the distance, seems a

May 5, 2021By Robert Neff

[Joseon Images] Children of early modern Korea

Moon holds online meeting with kids for Children's Day

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Joseon Images First flights in Korea drew massive crowds

An airplane flies over the Taedong River near Pyongyang's Ryongwang Pavilion, circa 1920s or 1930s / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffAviation history in Korea was made on the afternoon of April 3, 1910, when Ohtori 4 ― an airplane built and piloted by 37-year-old Japanese Lt. Sanji Narahara ― raced down an impromptu 35-meter-long runway at Seoul's Yongsan and soared into the air reaching the astounding height of 30 meters off the ground. For about 30 minutes the plane circled the field and then safely landed to the applause of an amazed crowd. One spectator later gushed that he had never in his life seen such a large audience. “It was almost a terrifying sight,” he declared and speculated that “maybe the entire population of Seoul went out to see the spectacle.” Over the next couple of days there would be several aerial demonstrations and it was estimated that about 135,000 people attended these exhibits ― an impressive number considering Seoul's population was about 200,000. Of course, not everyone in the crowd was from Seoul.Some people made great sacrif

Apr 14, 2021By Robert Neff

[Joseon Images] First flights in Korea drew massive crowds

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Joseon Images Korea during World War I

German sailors from the SMS Jaguar visit the palace circa 1907. / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffJust before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1914, the ground began to shake in Jemulpo (modern Incheon). At first it began as a low rumble but “became more violent [and then] gradually became feeble and died after one hour and thirty-three minutes.” The earthquake was not the most shocking news that morning.Europeans, in the Far East, awoke to discover their countries were at war. Embassies and consulates immediately began organizing reservists. Germans throughout Japan gathered at Shimonoseki and boarded a steamer for Tsingtao (modern Qingdao, China) via Busan, Korea. From the same port, British volunteers sailed for Hong Kong aboard another ship. Sometimes the opposing forces were on the same ship ― as was the case with the Japanese steamship Omi-Maru. It was bound for Shanghai (with a contingent of Austrian and German volunteers) and Hong Kong (with seven British reservists).In Korea, 21 French residents answered the call for mobilization. Among them were J. Boher (propri

Sep 22, 2020By Robert Neff

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Joseon Images Yankee Encounters with Korean Enlightenment

A bridge leading into Seogwang Temple, circa 1920s / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffIn late 1884, George C. Foulk, an American navy ensign, traveled extensively around the Korean Peninsula and documented ― in great detail ― all that he encountered. Amongst his notes are some interesting tidbits:“Crossing from Tuksom, near Seoul, is a Buddhist temple at which the W.C. is so high (or deep) that when people use it, that which they've 'gotten through with' reaches the bottom only a year afterwards.”He went on to visit the legendary Haein Temple and commented favorably upon the thousands of wooden printing blocks but seemed rather unimpressed with the rest of the temple which he described as shabby. His (and his Korean servant's) disappointment also extended to the toilet ― it was only about eight meters deep and was built over a ledge in a valley. In late October 1888, Charles Chaille-Long, the secretary of the American legation in Seoul, wrote about his visit to Seogwang Temple (located near Wonsan).Seogwang Temple circa 1920s / Robert Neff CollectionHe was greeted at t

Apr 28, 2020By Robert Neff

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Joseon Images The First Noble Patient

Members of the Korean Foreign Office in Seoul circa 1883/84. Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffHorace N. Allen is often credited as being the first Western doctor to live and work in Korea. But that honor goes to an American doctor named Huntington who came to Korea in 1883 to work for the Korean Customs Service ― he only lasted a few weeks before he was fired. Huntington's replacement was Allen, who arrived in the summer of 1884. For the most part, he led a relatively quiet life in Seoul until the Gapsin Coup on Dec. 4, 1884. During a party held to celebrate the inauguration of the postal service, Prince Min Yong-ik ― described as “one of the most prominent Corean noblemen [and] cousin to the queen” ― heard a fire alarm and rushed out to investigate. He was attacked by a sword-wielding assassin and received horrendous wounds before he managed to stumble back inside.In his diary, Allen wrote that when he arrived at the building he found the prince “in horrible condition all blood and gore and attended by fourteen Corean doctors who made great objections to my hero

Mar 10, 2020By Robert Neff

Robert Neff

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Joseon Images Children of early modern Korea

Joseon Images First flights in Korea drew massive crowds

Joseon Images Korea during World War I

Joseon Images Yankee Encounters with Korean Enlightenment

Joseon Images The First Noble Patient

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