Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s U.S. Visit, Visits 'Korean Empire Legation in the U.S.'

The First Western Diplomatic Mission Established in Korean History

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 12th at 3 PM (local time), Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon visited Washington D.C. and went to the 'Korean Empire Legation in the United States.'

Washington D.C. was the final city of Mayor Park's U.S. tour, and the Korean Empire Legation was the first diplomatic mission established by Korea in a Western country in February 1889. It remains intact as one of the original 19th-century diplomatic missions. In 1910, following the forced annexation of Korea by Japan, the Japanese consul seized it for just 5 dollars and sold it to an American for 10 dollars. Later, through efforts by the government and private sectors, the government purchased it in 2012 for 3.5 million dollars and reopened it as an exhibition hall on May 22, 2018. Mayor Park accompanied Kathleen Stevenson, director of the Korea Economic Institute of America, and had discussions.

Subsequently, Mayor Park visited and paid respects at the grave site of Lee Hwa-son, presumed to be buried alongside the family of Seth Phelps, the original owner of the Korean Empire Legation building and an American diplomat. Lee Hwa-son was born in the United States and is considered the first child of a Korean diplomat as well as the first Korean to hold U.S. citizenship.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.