Yu Kil-chun
Encyclopedia
Yu Kil-chun was a Korean reformist and politician of Korea
's late Joseon Dynasty
.
Born in Seoul
, Yu went to Meiji
Japan
in 1881 to study at Keio University
, returning the following year to Korea. He subsequently traveled to the United States
in 1884 to study mathematics
at Governor Dummer Academy
, as well as to several European countries, after which he was accused of supporting the Gaehwadang . In detention, he wrote a book on his foreign learnings entitled Seoyu Gyeonmun (서유견문) ("Observations on Travels in the West"), for which he used the Korean mixed script as opposed to Literary Chinese, which was written using exclusively Chinese characters, and which was the normal writing method of period literati-officialdom.
Korea's King Gojong asserted that Yu was a criminal involved in the assassination of Queen Min.
During the period 1894-95, Yu worked for the government of prime minister Kim Hongjip
that intended to modernise Korea. When Kim was killed and his cabinet disbanded in 1895, Yu fled the country for exile in Japan, returning to Korea only in 1907 after he was pardoned by King Sunjeong.
In 1910, when Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan, Yun started a movement against the annexation. Yu declined the danshaku
title he was awarded by the Government of Japan
as part of its new Korean peerage system designed after its own British-modeled Kazoku
system.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
's late Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
.
Born in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Yu went to Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
in 1881 to study at Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
, returning the following year to Korea. He subsequently traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1884 to study mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at Governor Dummer Academy
The Governor's Academy
The Governor's Academy is an independent school located on in the village of Byfield, Massachusetts, United States ; north of Boston. The Academy enrolls approximately 385 students in grades nine through twelve, 70% of whom are boarders...
, as well as to several European countries, after which he was accused of supporting the Gaehwadang . In detention, he wrote a book on his foreign learnings entitled Seoyu Gyeonmun (서유견문) ("Observations on Travels in the West"), for which he used the Korean mixed script as opposed to Literary Chinese, which was written using exclusively Chinese characters, and which was the normal writing method of period literati-officialdom.
Korea's King Gojong asserted that Yu was a criminal involved in the assassination of Queen Min.
During the period 1894-95, Yu worked for the government of prime minister Kim Hongjip
Kim Hongjip
Kim Hong-jip was a Korean politician best known for his role as prime minister during the Gabo Reform period of 1895-1896. For a period he was also known as Kim Goeng-jip ....
that intended to modernise Korea. When Kim was killed and his cabinet disbanded in 1895, Yu fled the country for exile in Japan, returning to Korea only in 1907 after he was pardoned by King Sunjeong.
In 1910, when Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan, Yun started a movement against the annexation. Yu declined the danshaku
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
title he was awarded by the Government of Japan
Government of Japan
The government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the 1947 constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected...
as part of its new Korean peerage system designed after its own British-modeled Kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
system.
Other Sources
- De Cuester, Koen. “The World in a Book: Yu Kilchun’s Soyu kyonmun.” In Remco E. Breuker, ed. Korea in the Middle: Korean Studies and Area Studies: Essays in Honour of Boudewijn Walraven. Leiden: CNWS Publications, 2008.