Logan Circle Historic District, northeast of Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital. Surrounding the roundabout are 135 Victorian-style buildings built between 1875 and the early 1900s.
Known as the ‘Bukchon of Washington’ due to its many old traditional houses, the key landmark of this place is the ‘Korean Embassy in the United States (hereinafter referred to as the Embassy in the United States).’ The Embassy in the United States, which stands proudly with the Taegeukgi among the antique red-brown buildings, became a local landmark after being listed on the U.S. federal government’s National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in September this year.
The old Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. (right photo). The left side is what it looked like before restoration. National Heritage Administration/Yonhap News
Kang Im-san (56), head of the diplomatic mission to the U.S., whom we met on site earlier this month, said, “Visits from not only Koreans but also Americans have increased significantly,” adding, “Previously, Koreans and Korean-Americans who wanted to remember the diplomacy of the late Joseon Dynasty came knowingly, but now Korea and the U.S. “It has been reborn as a precious place where values are shared,” he said.
The Embassy in the U.S. is the only stand-alone building among the Korean Empire’s overseas embassies that still retains its original form. Park Jeong-yang, who was dispatched as the first minister in 1887 following the conclusion of a diplomatic agreement between Joseon and the United States, purchased the building with $25,000 received from King Gojong and used it as a legation for 16 years from 1889.
After being humiliatingly sold for only $5 by the Japanese in 1910, it was used as a residence for Americans. In 2012, the Korean government spent $3.5 million (approximately 3.9 billion won) to purchase and restore it, and it was reborn as a museum in May 2018. .
Director Kang, who also serves as the head of the U.S. office of the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation, oversaw various practical matters, including the purchase, restoration, and remodeling of the embassy building in the U.S., and was appointed director in March of last year, working to designate it as a U.S. national historic site.
![[기획] Legation sold to Japan for $5](https://www.koreatimes.net/images/attach/163535/20241119-12115169.jpg "[기획] Legation sold to Japan for $5")
A reproduction of the desks where officials worked for 16 years from the establishment of the embassy to the United States in February 1889 until 1905, when diplomatic rights were lost due to the Eulsa Treaty. Reporter Son Hyo-sook
The U.S. National Register of Historic Places is a system that designates buildings of historical significance in accordance with the U.S. National Historic Preservation Act, and is similar to Korea’s national heritage system. The Embassy in the United States not only well preserves its original form when it was built in 1877, but is also the only preserved building among the 30 diplomatic missions built in Washington in the 19th century.
This designation as a U.S. historic site was made on the recommendation of the Washington DC Preservation league, a group of historical and cultural heritage experts. Using several photos of the legation in the late 19th century as clues, the interior wallpaper, carpets, and furniture were remodeled. Five years of meticulously recreated restoration work received high scores during the judging process.
After the designation as a historic site, there have been a series of inquiries for group tours from American middle and high schools that adopted Korean as their second or third foreign language and from communities interested in Korean culture. Director Kim said, “As it was the first Korean building in the U.S. to be designated as a National Historic Site, it provided an opportunity for American teenage students and residents to naturally stop by the embassy and learn about Korea’s modern and contemporary history.” He added, “Just 10 minutes after the shuttle bus began pilot operation, “There is so much demand that it is sold out.”
Director Kang said that the next task was to consider ways to utilize the legation. The first and second floors are a reproduction space that restores the interior of the old legation, and the third floor is used as an exhibition space explaining the history of Korea and the United States. The exhibition contents have remained the same since the opening in May 2018.
Director Kang Im-san is explaining the restoration process while looking around the first and second floor spaces that recreate the interior of the old legation. Reporter Son Hyo-sook.
He said, “Rather than a space that stuffed the past, we should use it as a central space where you can experience Korea in America and America in Korea today,” and “We plan to update the exhibition space on the third floor based on additional materials discovered after the opening.” He said.
Representative excavation material is the diary of Lee Chae-yeon, the fourth major construction worker, discovered this year. Lee Chae-yeon (1861-1900), who was dispatched to the United States with the first minister, Park Jeong-yang, because he could speak English, returned to Korea and was appointed as the fourth minister a few years later, leaving a record of his work.
Director Kang said, “I am translating Lee Chae-yeon’s diary.” He added, “As the only English speaker among the Koreans dispatched at the time, he experienced the advanced civilization and returned to Joseon to serve as the first president of Hansung Electric and Hansung Pan-yoon (current mayor of Seoul). This is a record of a legendary figure. “I expected that I would be able to see the times at the time in a three-dimensional way.”
Recently, the tomb of Lee Chae-yeon’s son Lee Hwa-son, located in the family tomb of a prominent American diplomatic family, was included in the list of ‘Important Historical Places in DC’ prepared by the Washington DC Preservation Organization. This listing is a preliminary candidate for the National Register of Historic Places.
Washington = Reporter Son Hyo-sook
Here are two PAA related questions about the provided text:
## Interview: “Bridging Continents and Histories: The Korean Embassy in Washington DC”
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today we delve into the fascinating story of the Korean Embassy in Washington D.C., a landmark steeped in history and recently recognized as a US National Historic Site. We are joined by two distinguished guests:
* **Kang Im-san**: Head of the Diplomatic Mission to the US and Director of the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation’s US office.
* **Dr. [Expert name]**: Historian specializing in Korean-American relations and 19th-century architecture.
**Section 1: A Window into the Past**
* **Mr. Kang, this embassy building is unique in carrying its history so visibly. What makes it so special, both architecturally and historically?**
* **Dr. [Expert name], the article mentions the embassy being the only stand-alone building of its kind left from that period. Can you elaborate on the significance of this, both in terms of Korean architectural heritage and the broader history of diplomatic missions?**
* **Imagine stepping back in time, Mr. Kang. What atmosphere would have permeated this building when it first housed the Korean LEGATION? How has the restoration process aimed to capture that essence?**
**Section 2: Cultural Intersection: From Diplomatic Center to Museum**
* **Mr. Kang, the article cites increased interest from both Koreans and Americans after the designation as a National Historic Site. What does this say about the growing recognition of Korean history and culture within the US?**
* **Dr. [Expert name], how does this building serve as a bridge between Korean and American history? How can it contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between the two nations?**
* **Mr. Kang mentions plans to update the exhibition space. What direction do you envision for these updates? What stories do you hope to tell through this space?**
**Section 3: The Legacy of Lee Chae-yeon**
* **Mr. Kang, you are translating the diary of Lee Chae-yeon, a significant figure from the embassy’s early days. What insights do you hope to gain from his personal writings, and how will they enrich our understanding of this historical chapter?**
* **Dr. [Expert name], Lee Chae-yeon’s role is undoubtedly unique. How does his story contribute to our understanding of the Korean diaspora in America during that period?**
**Section 4: Looking Ahead**
* **Mr. Kang, this building is not just a museum; it is a living testament to cultural exchange and historical understanding. What is your vision for its future, and how do you see it evolving as a center of cultural dialog between Korea and the United States?**
* **Dr. [Expert name], what lessons can we learn from projects like the restoration of the Korean Embassy? How can we best preserve and celebrate our shared history in a way that fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation?**
**Closing:**
Thank you to both our guests for their insightful perspectives and for shedding light on this remarkable piece of history. The story of the Korean Embassy in Washington DC is a testament to the enduring power of culture and history to bridge continents and generations. We hope this interview has sparked your curiosity and encouraged you to learn more about this fascinating chapter in Korean-American relations.
