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Yi Han-eung

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Photo of Yi Han-eung

Yi Han-eung (Korean: 이한응; Hanja: 李漢應; 30 October 1874 – 12 May 1905) was a Korean diplomat in London, UK. He served as Charge d'Affaires of the Korean Emperor Gojong to the UK and Italy when the Korean Peninsula was about to be occupied by the Japanese.[1] He made efforts to keep his nation independent in the era of imperialism, but eventually committed suicide in his office on Trebovir Road in London in May 1905, when it became apparent that Korea would lose its status as an independent nation.[2]

Early life

Yi Han-eung was born on 30 Oct 1874, as a second child to Yi Myung Ho, in the city of Yong-In in Kyung-gi Province.[3]

At the age of 25, he entered the national English school, and graduated after two years. In 1894, he passed the national exam for Sungkyunkwan Jinsa. In 1897, he was appointed as Hanseongbu [ko] Jusa, and started his career as a civil servant. In 1899, he was appointed as an English instructor and started to teach young students.[3]

A diagram by Yi Han-eung that explains the dynamic relationship among powerful countries that surrounded the Korean peninsula

Life in London

In 1901, Yi Han-eung was appointed a 3rd rank secretary of the consulate general for the United Kingdom and Italy, and moved to the London office accompanying the minister Min Yong Ton.

In 1903, Min Yong-ton [ko] returned to Korea, but no successor was appointed. As of early 1904, Yi Han-eung took charge of the legation office as a Charge d'Affaires. He visited the British Foreign Minister's office on 13 Jan 1904, and submitted a memorandum explaining his own view on geo-political situation around the Korean Peninsula using his own diagram shown on the right.[3][4]

Office building of the Korean legation

4 Trebovir Rd, Earl's Court

Yi Han Eung departed Korea on 15 April 1901, and arrived in London around 24 June 1901. Six members of the Korean Legation including Min Yong-ton and Yi Han-eung found temporary residence on Queen Victoria Street, before they finally moved to 4 Trebovir Road, Earl's Court.[3]

It is a four-story Victorian townhouse building with a basement, built in 1879 by the Van Camps from Belgium. A plaque was installed above the front door on 30 October 2023 to commemorate the building's diplomatic heritage.[5]

Vaughan Williams family, close friend to the Korean legation

It has recently been found that one particular family, headed by Lord Justice Sir Roland Vaughan Williams and Lady Laura Vaughan Williams, has shown tremendous generosity to the Korean legation. It appeared in a message sent on behalf of the Korean Emperor Gojong, that the kindness shown to Yi had 'revealed to His Majesty a new and pleasing side of western character and had touched him very deeply.'[6]

The Vaughan Williams family have lived in 6 Trebovir Rd, next to the Korean legation office building. They have shown tremendous support to the Korean legation, and sometimes invited Korean legation members to their family estate called 'High Ashes' located in Leith Hill, Surrey, in order to entertain them.

Death

Obituary of Yi Han-eung that appeared on the newspaper The Times
The metal plaque on Yi Han Eung's coffin, that says Yi Han Eung Korean Charge d'Affaires Died in London 12th May 1905

As an acting minister to the UK, Yi Han-eung contacted the British Foreign Office in London and asked for intervention in peace negotiations. However, Lord Lansdowne refused any talk with Yi Han Eung, as the UK had a common interest with Japan through Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed in 1902. He once again requested the British Foreign Office for intervention in peace negotiations on 22 March 1905, but Lord Lansdowne did nothing other than acknowledging the receipt of his memorandum on 1 April 1905. Having failed to secure British support, on 12 May 1905, Yi committed suicide in his bedroom at 4 Trebovir Rd to take responsibility for it.[7] After this, the Korean embassy in London was disestablished.[8]

Recognition by Korean Government

Tomb of Yi Han Eung
  • Nov 1905 : Gojong expressed his condolences by writing, and bestowed Yi Han Eung a posthumous title of Naebuhyuppan.
  • 1962 : Korean medal of honor was bestowed.
  • 1964 : A memorial monument was built in Jangchungdan park, Seoul.
  • May 1995 : Official ceremony held commemorating 90th year since Yi Han Eung's death
  • May 2005 : Official ceremony and research conference held commemorating 100th year since Yi Han Eung's death
A conference on Yi Han Eung's diplomacy, 11 May 2015
  • May 2015 : Research conference held commemorating 110th year since Yi Han Eung's death, Seoul Press Center

References

  1. ^ Newsis (2020-08-12). "[기자수첩]115년 전 이한응 열사가 이루지 못한 꿈, 한반도 중립화 방안". newsis.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  2. ^ "London landmark of key diplomat forgotten". Korea Joongang Daily. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  3. ^ a b c d 기자, 유지혜 기자 안효성 (2015-08-12). ""한국 독립 지켜야 러·일 견제" … 영국 물고늘어진 이한응". 중앙일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  4. ^ News), 경기일보(Kyeonggi Daily (2019-07-25). "[경기도 독립운동가를 만나다] 22. 조국의 운명을 죽음으로 알린 이한응 열사". 경기일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  5. ^ https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=241225
  6. ^ Paul Wadey, 'Yi Han Eung - The Death of a Diplomat', Proceeding of International Conference on Yi Han-eung's Diplomacy (2015)
  7. ^ Kwon, Euy Suk (2018-02-27). "An Unfulfilled Expectation: Britain's Response to the Question of Korean Independence, 1903-1905". International Journal of Korean History. 23 (1): 27–52. doi:10.22372/ijkh.2018.23.1.27. ISSN 1598-2041.
  8. ^ "한국사데이터베이스". db.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
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