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Rachel Bae, sungmin.b.213@gmail.com
The National Palace Museum of Korea, an affiliate of the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, is hosting the special exhibition "Diplomats in Gat: The Story of the Joseon Legation in Washington, D.C." The exhibition introducing new state-registered cultural heritage in celebration of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and the U.S. Will be held in the Special Exhibition Gallery on the second floor of the museum building from October 14 through December 13.
In May 2022, two archival records left by Yi Sang-Jae (1850–1927), a secretary with the first Korean legation in the U.S., were newly designated as state-registered cultural heritage. They consist of a collection of materials related to diplomatic affairs that Yi compiled and a collection of letters from Yi to his family. These records document the tasks and life of the Korean legation in the U.S. as recalled by Yi Sang-Jae while assisting Pak Chung-yang (1841–1905), the first minister plenipotentiary to the U.S.
This exhibition explores the early diplomatic activities by the minister plenipotentiary Pak Chung-yang and his entourage, who were dispatched to the U.S. In 1887 for the first time in the history of Korea. It provides a synthetic overview of these two states-registered cultural heritage pieces and other related materials.
The exhibition is based on four themes: “Encountering a World of Light,” “Taking the First Steps towards Independent Diplomacy,” “Continuing the Legacy of Diplomacy,” and “The Korean (Empire) Legation in the U.S.: Korea in America.” The exhibition space is designed by utilizing display structures and graphic elements in such a manner that visitors feel like passing through the Korean Legation building in the U.S. Cartoon clips featuring theme-related episodes are screened in each exhibition section to facilitate an understanding of the exhibition’s contents.
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| ▲ Photo of the Members of Korean Bobings Delegation in 1883. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration. |
The prologue, entitled “Encountering a World of Light,” introduces the activities of the Korean Bobingsa Delegation dispatched to the U.S. As a diplomatic visit one year after the Korea-United States Treaty of 1882, the first treaty Joseon Korea signed with a Western country. Along with related artifacts, it exhibits a cartoon clip featuring the Korean Bobingsa Delegation as they experienced difficulties with translation and encountered electricity for the first time.
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| ▲ A Collection of Materials Related to Diplomatic Affairs Compiled by the Staff of the Korean Legation. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration. |
This section also displays a photo of the staff at the first Korean legation in the U.S., including Pak Chung-yang. Also shown are U.S. Landscape with Trains by the calligrapher and painter Kang Jin-Hui, who was an attendant with the Korean Legation, and other paintings, Rising Sun with Pine Tree and Three Mountain Peaks with Six Stars, which were produced by Kang to celebrate the birthdays of King Gojong and his crown prince, who later became Emperor Sunjong. Among other displayed objects are a collection of materials related to diplomatic affairs, compiled by Yi Sang-Jae, a collection of letters from Yi to his family, and Jukcheongo, an anthology by Pak Chung-yang.
Furthermore, there are spaces designed based on the jeongdang (central office) and gaekdang (reception room) of the Korean legation building. Within the gaekdang space, visitors can enjoy in front of a fireplace a video clip relating the story of Pak Chung-yang and his entourage as they struggled to perform independent diplomacy over the course of a year. They can also imagine themselves a member of the legation staff and experience their tasks by stamping the seal of the Korean Legation.
(* Jeongdang: central space of the Korean legation that functioned as an office)
(* Gaekdang: reception room for welcoming guests)
The second section, “Continuing the Legacy of Diplomacy” features information on Korean minister plenipotentiaries to the U.S. as introduced in U.S. Newspapers and magazines at the time, including their preparation of the second legation building for residence in February 1889 and full engagement in diplomatic activities after Pak Chung-yang’s recall to Korea due to Chinese pressure. This section also sheds light on the products of modern technology introduced to Korea by presenting the Map of Postal, Telecommunication, and Traffic Networks during the Korean Empire era (1897–1910), photos of the palace with electric lamps, and photos of streetcars.
The epilogue “The Korean Legation in the U.S.: Korea in America” spotlights the second Korean legation building currently remaining in Logan Circle in Washington, D.C. Through a video clip. Ownership of the legation building was taken over by Japan in 1910. However, in 2012 the building returned to Korean ownership thanks to the efforts of the Korean government and private sector. After being repaired and restored, it was officially opened to the public in 2018.
The National Palace Museum of Korea hopes that this exhibition can offer visitors an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the struggles experienced by minister plenipotentiary Pak Chung-yang and his entourage, including the secretary Yi Sang-jae, during their diplomatic efforts in a period when Korea was attempting to depart from diplomatic isolation and advance as a modern state. As part of the museum’s effort at proactive administration, the exhibition will be presented online through a video of a curator-guided tour broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Cultural Heritage Administration. The entire exhibition gallery will also be available on the museum’s website through virtual reality (VR) components.
