The tiger hunters

Tiger hunters circa 1905. Courtesy of Robert Oechsle

By Robert Neff

According to an old Chinese saying, "The Korean hunts the tiger six months in the year and the tiger hunts the Korean the other six months." Robert Neff Collection

Less than a century ago, tigers and leopards prowled the Korean peninsula and ruled the hours of darkness. Their depredations in the desolate regions were so severe that porters and horse-handlers refused to travel at night ― even in fairly large groups. If they were compelled to travel at night (through the promises of more money or threats of violence), they did so with great caution, brandishing torches, striking gongs, and relying on superstitious beliefs.

Sometimes they kept their superstitious beliefs to themselves ― not out of fear of being ridiculed but as a form of self-preservation. In the early 1890s, one Western visitor experienced the unpleasantness of not being in the know.

While exploring outside Seoul's city walls, he noticed his porters and Korean traveling companions always managed to keep him at the very end of the traveling procession. He could not understand why they insisted on keeping him in the rear. Later, he discovered it was a common belief that tigers always stalked and attacked the last person in the line and, "for this reason [the Koreans] always deem it advisable, when they have a foreigner in their company, to let him have that privilege."
Somewhat miffed but wiser, on the next outing, he declined the "privilege" and insisted ― much to "the distress and uneasiness of [his] white-robed guardians" ― on staying in the center.

Some of Korea's most dangerous and ferocious tigers were those that dwelt on the slopes of Inwangsan, just outside the Seoul city walls. These tigers often preyed on woodcutters and firewood merchants traveling to and from Goyang city ― especially at Muakjae Pass. In 1893, at least one tiger was reported to be prowling about Gyeongbok Palace ― probably hunting the tame little deer kept there. There are even claims (probably exaggerated) of tigers stalking Seoul's gloomy, unlit streets ― the silence shattered by the screams of their unwary victims fighting a losing battle for their lives.

When the tigers became too much of a nuisance, professional hunters were summoned. These men were highly respected by Koreans and foreigners for their bravery. Many were armed with "old flintlocks or hand cannons, which had to be supported on the shoulder of one man while another fired." Their weapons were not the only antiquated part of their gear ― their ammunition pouch was "often the skin of the head of a crane, the beak being kept closed by a ring till a bullet [was] wanted."

A tiger killed at the American or French gold mines in northern Korea. Circa 1920/30s. Courtesy of Justine Tweed

There is some question as to what ammunition was used. One source claims the guns were loaded with "three imperfectly rounded balls the size of a pea" while another source claims the "missile was almost as big as a clock weight."

The guns were powerful but they had their faults. Due to their short range and slow reloading time (one missionary claimed it took 15 minutes to reload the weapon), a miss often resulted in the horrible demise of the hunter. The life of a tiger hunter was exciting but often short.

Kim In-won was an exception. Born in Goyang in about 1831, he began hunting tigers when he was only 20. In an interview with an American missionary in 1907, he boasted of killing 14 tigers ― one so large that it required eight men to carry it. As proof, he wore a golden decoration (similar to an earring but clipped over the top of his left ear) that had been presented to him by Emperor Gojong for his hunting prowess and bravery.

A firewood market. Circa 1900-1910. Robert Neff Collection

Asked about his most harrowing experience, the old hunter recalled ― with a glint in his eye ― that many years earlier, he shot at a tiger near a deep ravine but merely wounded the animal. Before he could reload, the infuriated tiger jumped on him and began clawing and biting. Kim was convinced he was going to be ripped to pieces but, spying a friend nearby, called out for help. Realizing Kim was still alive, the man "plucked up courage," picked up the tiger hunter's gun and began to beat the tiger on the head with it.

With the tiger momentarily distracted, Kim tried to push the tiger off, but inadvertently rolled them both over the edge of the ravine. The impact knocked Kim unconscious and when he finally came to, he discovered "his clothing torn from him and back badly lacerated, but the animal was dead by his side." Later, when they measured the tiger, they discovered that its open mouth (from the top jaw to lower jaw) was nearly 30cm.

As the 19th century ended, so, too, did Kim's career as a tiger hunter. Age had taken its toll on his strength and stamina and he was forced to retire. He was fortunate. Within a decade nearly all the Korean tiger hunters lost their weapons and livelihood when Japan stripped Korea's independence.

I would like to thank Diane Nars and Jeon Dong-hun for their assistance.