The Korean wave to Hawaii part 2: From riches to rags to freedom

Chinnampo (modern Nampo), a gateway to a great escape, circa early 1900s Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection

By Robert Neff

• Published Jul 9, 2023 9:13 AM KST
• Updated Jul 9, 2023 9:13 AM KST

By Robert Neff

Often we think of the early Korean immigrants in Hawaii as Christians and people from the lower social classes who left Korea in hopes of enriching their lives (financially and spiritually), but many of them were from the upper class (yangban) and financially well-off ― they left Korea not so much for wealth, but for freedom from the social norms.

In his book, “The Korean Frontier in America,” Wayne Patterson provides several family testimonies from yangban families who gave up everything and moved to Hawaii.

According to one account, long before Joseon was established, there was a prime minister named Kim who “was the duplicate of the King in face and figure.” This likeness was the source of his fame and his death.

“Once when the Korean King was at war with his rebellious lords, the prime minister, seeing the danger that the King was in, quickly changed his garb for the King's, had him taken to a safe refuge, then riding boldly to the front and cheering the soldiers on, he died bravely in the midst of battle, thus saving the King's life and bringing victory for the King. This brave heroism was made renowned in Korean history and every student in Korean history loves and reveres this noble prime minister.”

According to the transcriber, the prime minister's tomb was located in Pyongsan, Hwanghae Province (North Korea) ― as was the family estate. Considering the account is from the 1930s, I am not so sure the tomb still exists and ― I am ashamed to say ― I have no idea who this prime minister might have been. The only person I could immediately identify as coming from this region was Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea.

Apparently, having famous relatives isn't always such a good thing. In the late 19th century, one of the descendants of this illustrious prime minister was known as “The Tiger of Pyongsan.” Like a tyrant, he struck fear and loathing in the hearts of his servants and family. He was very tall and powerful and when his servants displeased him, he had them whipped publicly ― unmercifully. His family was equally afraid of displeasing him as his word was law and no one dared to contradict him. To say he was conservative would be an understatement.

He had a wife and three concubines and was opposed to women being educated other than learning how to perform their household duties. Ancestral worship was an essential part of his life and he offered “gifts to the ancestral graves and household gods faithfully.” He was fond of drink, but forbade his son from drinking. “He [was] a true patriarch, masterful and domineering, stern, cruel at times, and the dominant head of the Kim clan.”

To his son, he was the epitome of Hell Joseon. Thus, when the opportunity presented itself, the younger Kim gathered his wife and their infant daughter, along with a few trusted friends and, in the middle of the night, escaped to Chinnampo where they obtained passports and passage to a new life in Hawaii.

Of course, it was not easy for the younger Kim. He had lived a life of luxury (and terror) on his father's estate ― never having to perform manual labor. But in Hawaii, in order to survive, he had to work in the fields like a common laborer. His determination made him a success.

But not all of his endeavors were successes. He tried to renew ties with his estranged father, but the proud old man refused to respond to his many letters and never forgave him.

Kim was not the only man from a wealthy family to escape to Hawaii. According to a young, unidentified woman, her father was once a favorite at Emperor Sunjong's court and was famed for his eloquent storytelling. The family was of noble stock, claiming the name of a queen ― “the wife of one of Korea's ancient kings” ― graced their ancestral tree.

The story becomes somewhat confusing but apparently, once Japan annexed Korea in 1910, great misfortune fell upon the family and the noble storyteller and at least one son died ― leaving two orphaned boys to be cared for by their rich uncle (one of the storyteller's other sons).

“They were given the privilege to study the wise sayings of Confucius and the old and ancient classics of Korea under private tutors. As they grew to be young men, they established for themselves homes and farms and the younger of the two had the fortune to marry the prettiest and most-praised girl of the village at the age of twenty-three years.”

But life under Japanese occupation was too much for them to endure so they moved to “Hawaii, a land that was new and strange.” It is presumed that this account comes from the daughter of the younger son who married the prettiest girl. We don't know us much about their life in Hawaii ― only that “the experiences undergone are unmentionable” and that they worked the fields.

Sometimes the move to Hawaii was not a matter of wanting a better life but because there was no other choice.

Young-hee was born in Chungcheong Province in 1882. She was her parents' first child but there was no great celebration of her birth for they were of a yangban family and “they most naturally craved” a son. Nonetheless, she was tolerated because, as her name implied, she was “pure and gentle.”

As a child, life was good. There were servants to take care of her needs, ample food and luxuries but when she turned 7, “she was promptly put indoors and was not allowed to go out further than her gate. This was the law in those days. Her time thereafter was spent in learning to embroider.”

This enforced segregation was just the first of her woes. Chungcheong was the initial battleground in Korea during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-5. Her family fled to Jemulpo (modern Incheon) until the war was over but Young-hee remained behind and at the age of 16 married a young man from that city. As was the custom, she went to live with her in-laws, who were also of the yangban class, and ran a successful hotel or inn.

Things should have been good, but her husband had a tendency to spend money, but not his own ― his parents' money. At some point her husband's father became disgusted and disowned his son (and Young-hee) and the young couple found themselves in a horrible predicament ― how were they to survive? Her husband, who “had never worked in his life,” spied a flyer in one of the markets that advertised the great opportunities to be had in Hawaii. It was his salvation and he was determined to take advantage of it while he could.

So, in 1903, the couple obtained passports and boarded a steamship bound for Hawaii. The ocean voyage was difficult but probably not as difficult as it was to adjust to a life of manual labor. What became of the couple is unknown, but, considering we have their account, we can assume that they supported one another and succeeded. But not everyone had a partner ― as we shall see in the next article.

I would like to thank Diane Nars for allowing me to use some of her images.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.