The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Sat, March 6, 2021 | 05:19
About the past
The introduction of bicycles into Joseon Korea
Posted : 2018-06-02 10:04
Updated : 2018-06-03 09:58
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A curious crowd gathers around a Western visitor and his bicycle circa 1899.
A curious crowd gathers around a Western visitor and his bicycle circa 1899.

By Robert Neff

Warmer weather means more cyclists are taking to the bike lanes along the Han River and the streets of Seoul.

Korea has an extensive bicycle network allowing riders to safely travel throughout the country and visit places that only a decade ago were too dangerous to visit by bike.

But when did the first bicycle arrive in Korea? According to various sources, it was in December 1884 when 26-year-old Lieutenant Philip V. Lansdale, an American naval officer, rode his bicycle from Jemulpo [Incheon] to Seoul. Horace N. Allen ― an American missionary doctor who witnessed the event ― wrote:

"In 1884 one of our naval officers came to Seoul from his ship at [Jemulpo], bringing with him his bicycle, which was of the hold high wheel type. We went through the crowded main street, he on his wheel and I on a horse. As this appalling looking object came in sight, the throngs of people rushed to the middle of the street for a good view, and as it came nearer they fell back in unfeigned astonishment amounting to open-mouth alarm, as the strangest thing they had ever seen glided through the narrow passage left for it.

"As the high wheel and its rider passed and was seen to be harmless and simply another of the strange freaks of the newly arrived foreigner, they actually fell into each other's arms with laughter following the relief to their first surprised alarm."

A curious crowd gathers around a Western visitor and his bicycle circa 1899.
Fording a river with a bicycle circa 1899.

It is assumed that Lansdale took his bike with him when he returned to his ship but apparently it had inspired others to purchase their own. According to some, F. R. Borioni ― an Italian who first worked for the Korean Customs Department and then later opened one of the first hotels in Seoul ― is credited as the first person living in Korea to import a bicycle.

Other sources, however, claim that Dalzell A. Bunker ― an American English teacher in the mid-1880s ― was the first to import a bicycle with solid tires. Soon Oliver Avison (a Canadian missionary) and Frederick S. Miller (an American missionary) joined the ranks when they imported two bicycles with soft air-filled tires from England in 1895.

By the late 1890s, there were at least two dozen bicycles in Korea and they were used as a quick and effective way of traveling about the country. They were especially popular for travel between Seoul and Jemulpo ― a trip that could be done, according to Horace N. Allen (who was at this time the American representative to Korea) "without particular exertion in three hours, and but for seventeen minutes toiling through the sands, it [was] a delightful ride."

He left the American ambassador's residence and traveled over an unpaved road to the ferry at Mapo and then across the river and the sand. He then traveled on the unpaved and badly rutted road to the China Town area of Incheon on a single speed bike! That is rather an impressive time ― even now.

Allen did this trip so often that he was able to boast to an elderly Korean gentleman, one day just before noon, that he had traveled almost 3,220 kilometers by bike. His astonished listener asked, "in all good faith, if [he] had done that distance since breakfast."


Emailrobertneff103@gmail.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
  • 279 caught for spreading disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines
  • Seoul encourages foreign residents to take COVID-19 tests
  • Medical experts warn against excessive fears of the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Animal rights activists dump coconuts in front of Thai embassy, criticizing forced monkey labor
  • South Korea approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
  • Fire engulfs old Buddhist temple in southwestern region
  • [INTERVIEW] Author of 'comfort women' series urges world to hear their testimonies
  • US International Trade Commission reaffirms ruling in favor of LG over SK in battery feud
  • Main opposition fails to capitalize on by-election advantage
  • EU to extend COVID-19 vaccine export controls as AstraZeneca shipment blocked
  • Stars accused of school bullying paying price Stars accused of school bullying paying price
  • Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects
  • Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action
  • Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use
  • Golden Globe-winning 'Minari' makes strong debut in Korea Golden Globe-winning 'Minari' makes strong debut in Korea
DARKROOM
  • Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

    Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright