Photo believed to be oldest photograph of Korean diplomats visiting American institution revealed

▲ This photo, provided by the Old Korean Legation in Washington D.C., shows Park Jung-yang, the first plenipotentiary in the United States, when they visited Mount Vernon, George Washington's private residence. From the left is, Lee Jong-Ha, Park Jeung-yang, Kang Jin-hee, and Lee Ha-young. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the Old Korean Legation in Washington D.C., shows Park Jung-yang, the first plenipotentiary in the United States, during his visit to Mount Vernon. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA held a meeting on the 2nd (local time) and released two photos of the officers performing activities in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the Old Korean Legation in Washington D.C., shows Lee Wan-yong and Lee Chae-yeon. From the left is, Lee Chae-yeon's, Lee Chae-yeon, Allen and his daughter, Lee Wan-yong, Lee Wan yong's wife. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) -- A photograph of Park Jung-yang, who served as the first plenipotentiary in the United States during the end of the Korean war from 1887 to 1888 has been found, showing his activities in the United States during his time there.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA held a meeting on the 2nd (local time) and released two photos of the officers performing activities in the United States.

The legation revealed that the photo is believed to be the oldest photograph of a South Korean official visiting an American institution.

As much as the activities of the US government officials has been transmitted only through records and drawings, the official emphasized that the photos are of great importance in that they were discovered for the first time.

Among the two published photos, one of the photo shows Park Jung-yang visiting Mount Vernon, the personal house of George Washington, the first president of the United States, on April 26, 1888, with the legation officers.

Along with Park Jung-yang, 4 other Korean legation officers including military officer Lee Jong-Ha, Lee Jong Ha's assistant and painter Kang Jin-hee and secretariat Lee Ha-Young were caught in the picture among the westerners and were all seen wearing hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) and gat (traditional hat worn by men along with hanbok).

A donor in 2020, purchased this photo on eBay and delivered it to the Washington Library at Mount Vernon, and the library requested an historical examination from the Legation in 2021 and had it confirmed.

According to the legation, Park Jung-yang was appointed as the first minister in the August of 1887, but arrived in San Francisco on January 1, 1888 due to the opposition from China and the long hours of travel through the ship.

As he was unable to disembark immediately due to the cholera epidemic, he arrived in Washington D.C. on January 9th of the same year, and delivered credentials to President Grover Cleveland, the president of the United States then, on the 17th of the same month.

A legation official said that there could be a photo of them meeting with president Cleveland, but has not been confirmed. In fact, the released photos are the first and the oldest photos that portrays their activities.

Park Jung-yang later returned in 1888 due to the continued pressure from the Qing Dynasty, and served as the acting prime minister and the acting prime minister of the inner palace when Korea opened its port in 1876, supporting the Independence of Korea.

Regarding to the visit to Mount Vernon, Park Jung-yang said in the "Mihaeng Diary," which recorded the time of his visit to the United States, "Along with the legation officers and the Allen family, we went to Maeunpo. I saw an old house of Washington. From the old furniture to the flower garden and the playground, they were preserved as they were while they were being used in the present. It seemed like they were making up for what was less to make it look like they were living there now."

Kang Jin-hee, who was captured together with Park Jung-yang, was a painter during the Late Periods of Joseon who recorded the activities of these people when photographs were not common. His work, the first landscape in the United States painted by a Korean was also recently released to the public.

The other picture shows the wives of Lee Wan-young, who served as the acting prime minister and pro-japanese and anti-national collaborator of the Korean Empire, and his wife, along with pro-japanese and anti-national collaborator Lee Ha-young and 4th Korean minister plenipotentiary to the United States Lee Chae-yeon and his wife.

They were all dressed in hanbok and had umbrellas in their hands.

The visit was also reported by the local journalist "Evening Star" on May 7, 1989, the legation explained.

The photo also included Horace Allen, who served as a missionary and American ambassador to Korea, along with his daughter.

Lee Wan-yong was appointed as an official to work in the United States and served together with minister plenipotentiary Park Jung-yang and secretary Lee Ha-young.

In 1887, Lee Wan-yong was appointed as a deputy chief of staff to the United States and served together with plenipotentiary minister Park Jung-yang and secretary Lee Ha-young. From the December of 1888 till the September of 1890, he was also appointed as the United States minister to Korea.

Professor Han Cheol-ho of Dongguk University evaluated this, saying, "It is very meaningful in that it was the first time that the moments of Park Jung-yang and his colleagues grasping the actual living conditions of the U.S. local situation, system, and cultural relics as they have been told by King Gojong, has been captured through photos."

"The reason that Park Jung-yang mentioned George Washington several times in his book and showed how important the visit to Mount Vernon was because of his efforts for the independence of Joseon," said Professor Kim Jong-heon of Pai Chai University. "The active support of the Independence Association after returning to Korea can be evaluated in the same context."

"Starting with the release of this photo, the Korean Embassy in the United States plans to strengthen the cooperation with institutions and researchers related to the history of Korea and the United States, and disclose the materials related to this area at future exhibitions," said Kim Sang-yeop, director of the Legation at a meeting. 

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

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