Homer Hulbert: Crusader for Korea

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Category: Book Café

The Korea Society presents Dong Jin Kim, author of Crusader for Korea, a biography of Dr. Homer B. Hulbert (1863-1949), a “hidden hero” of Korean independence. The publication is the culmination of years of effort by the author to secure a proper place in Korean history for the accomplishments of foreigners, such as Dr. Hulbert, who lived their lives in the service of Korea.

Wednesday, April 6

Homer Hulbert: Crusader for Korea

 

with

Dong Jin Kim
author of Crusader for Korea

The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor

American-born Hulbert came to Korea in 1886 as a missionary, and is remembered as an active supporter of Korea’s sovereignty and a tireless campaigner for the modernization of Korea’s education system. Believing that a well-educated Korea could more successfully fend off Japanese territorial aspirations, Hulbert helped raise the status and usage of Hangul in place of Chinese characters, introduced new academic courses, and even authored textbooks in Korean. Hulbert also wrote frequently as a journalist and historian, and his writing played an important role in presenting Korea and her political situation to the world.

As special aide to Emperor Kojong, Hulbert fought to preserve Korea’s rights of sovereignty. As a Royal envoy, he visited Washington D.C. in 1905 and The Hague in 1907—though both delegations were turned away. Dr. Hulbert also spent many years attempting to document and reclaim funds deposited by Emperor Kojong in a Shanghai bank. The funds were never returned to the Emperor and appear to have been expropriated during colonization.

Dong Jin Kim does not intend to let the story of Dr. Hulbert, an unsung hero for both Americans and Koreans, slip into obscurity. In addition to writing Crusader for Korea—which received very positive reviews in the Korean press—Kim has established the Hulbert Memorial Society and has successfully lobbied to include Dr. Hulbert in middle-school textbooks. According to a recent poll, Dr. Hulbert is considered one of the most respected foreigners to have contributed to Korea’s success—a testament to the legacy of a figure known as the “man who loved Korea more than Koreans.”


About the Author
Dong Jin “DJ” Kim is a banker by profession. He has been in banking for more than 3 decades, and worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank for 23 years in Seoul and New York. Fascinated by Dr. Hulbert's exemplary life and accomplishments, Kim read The Passing of Korea, one of Dr. Hulbert's masterpieces on Korean culture, history, and tradition, published in 1906, while in college. He was particularly attracted to Dr.Hulbert's passion for life, scholarship, faith in justice and peace, and love of Korea.

After reading the numerous books, writings, and newspaper articles written by Dr. Hulbert over 100 years ago, Kim, in his early 30's, was determined to shed light on the life of Dr. Hulbert. Subsequently, Kim traced Dr.Hulbert's footprints in order to write a proper treatment for this hero of Korean independence and civilization.

Kim met Dr. Hulbert's grandson, Dick Hulbert, by chance in New York while working at Chemical Bank, a predecessor bank of JPMorgan Chase, in 1989. Through him, Kim obtained many valuable books, pictures, and letters, and met other descendants. Kim worked to research Dr. Hulbert's life, and visited schools, such as Dartmouth College, Union Theological Seminary, and UC Buckley, libraries, and even antique stores. He uncovered Dr. Hulbert's accomplishments as an educator, advocate of Korean alphabet, historian, journalist, missionary and patriot.

In 1999, Kim established the Hulbert Memorial Society in the conviction that Dr. Hulbert was one of the greatest contributors to Korean civilization and independent sovereignty in late 19th century and the Japanese colonial period.

Kim also believes that Dr. Hulbert can serve as a role model for youth, worldwide.

Kim coined the epithet “who loved Korea more than Koreans,” now a common nickname for Dr. Hulbert in Korea. A recent poll places Dr. Hulbert as a respected foreigner among Koreans. The Hulbert Memorial Society holds a memorial service on August 5th (the anniversary of his passing) every year. The Society also holds symposiums on Dr. Hulbert's accomplishments. In 1999, the Society inscribed the words 헐버트박사의묘 (tomb of Dr. Hulbert) in the handwriting of President Kim Dae Jung on a tombstone in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul (which had gone unmarked for 50 years).

In a symposium on Dr. Hulbert's contribution to the Korean alphabet, professor Hyon Bok Lee of Seoul National University labeled Dr.Hulbert as a true benefactor of Korea, saying “whereas General MacArthur saved Korea from communism, Dr. Hulbert put Korea on the list of the civilized races by his study of Korean alphabet and the introduction of Hangeul to Western society in late 19th century.”

Kim’s book, Crusader for Korea, was awarded “the book of the month” by the Korea Publication Ethics Committee.

Kim served as country manager for JPMorgan Korea, deputy president of Korea Exchange Bank, and pioneered a number of advanced, financial products like subordinated debt and ABS into Korea in late 1990's. Kim was awarded the Prime Minister medal by the Korean government in 2003 for attracting foreign capital. Kim received a BA in law from Konkuk University and MBA from Yonsei University. Kim currently is the Chairman of the Hulbert Memorial Society, adjunct professor of Seoul School of Integrated Science & Technology, and Vice Chairman of Prime Savings Bank.