The Sad History Revealed at the Dining Table of the Emperor of the Korean Empire

Deoksugung Management Office, Special Exhibition "The Dining Table of the Emperor of the Korean Empire" Major Works Online Exhibition
"Women in Charge of Royal Ceremonies" · "Alice Roosevelt's Visit to the Korean Empire" etc.

Banquet Commemorating the Signing of the Korea-Japan Trade Agreement

The painting titled 'Celebration Banquet Commemorating the Signing of the Joseon-Il Trade Agreement (1883),' said to have been painted by Ahn Jung-sik, features various figures. These include Min Yeong-mok, the chief negotiator for trade affairs, the German advisor Paul Georg von M?llendorff (Mogindeok), the Japanese plenipotentiary minister Takezo Shin'ichiro, and the Japanese vice-consul Soeda Setsu.

During the Joseon Dynasty, the main figure sat in the north, with others seated in order of rank to the east, west, and south. However, this painting disregards the cardinal directions. Takezo, the treaty signatory, sits at the head of the table, while M?llendorff, known as the treaty mediator, sits next to him. This seating arrangement follows the Anglo-American style, where the hosts sit at both ends of the table. Traditional Korean elevated dishes are on the table, but Western-style plates, forks, knives, spoons, and wine glasses are also present.

Women in Charge of Royal Ceremonies

This painting was unveiled in 2019 at the 'Dining Table of the Korean Empire Emperor' special exhibition held at the Deoksugung Stone Hall Korean Empire History Museum. The Deoksugung Management Office will re-exhibit twenty-six items and four related videos from the exhibition on Kakao Gallery starting from the 31st. The online exhibition is organized under themes such as 'Opening of the Port, New Waves,' 'The Emperor's Banquet Table,' 'Western-style Banquets of the Korean Empire,' and 'State Banquet Foods of the Korean Empire.' Detailed explanations accompany exhibits like 'Women in Charge of Royal Ceremonies (1909),' 'Alice Roosevelt’s Visit to the Korean Empire (1905),' and 'Korean Empire Royal Luncheon Menu (1905).'

'Women in Charge of Royal Ceremonies' features Antoinette Sontag, a German-born woman who supervised Western-style banquets of the Korean Empire. From May 1900, she served as the royal kitchen master (Chansa) for nine years, overseeing hospitality for foreign guests of the Korean Empire. Next to her is Emma Kr?bel, whom Sontag recommended as the royal hospitality officer when she went on leave in 1905. Kr?bel detailed her experiences in her autobiography, "How I Came to the Joseon Royal Court."

Alice Roosevelt's Visit to the Korean Empire

In 'Alice Roosevelt’s Visit to the Korean Empire,' one can see Alice Roosevelt, daughter of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who visited Korea in 1905. At that time, Emperor Gojong invited the delegation and treated them with great hospitality, hoping to gain American support. Unbeknownst to them, the so-called 'Katsura-Taft Agreement' had already been made in Japan, in which the U.S. recognized Japan’s dominance over the Korean Empire in exchange for Japan’s recognition of American control over the Philippines.

Lunch Menu of the Korean Empire Royal Family

The food eaten by the delegation at the luncheon is listed in the 'Korean Empire Royal Luncheon Menu.' It features Korean dishes served at the 1902 'Iminjinyeon' royal banquet and Emperor Gojong’s birthday table. On the back of the menu, there is a note stating, 'On September 20, the Emperor attended a luncheon at the palace for Miss Roosevelt, marking the first official meal the Emperor had with a woman.'

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