Yun Chi-ho

Yun Chi-ho (Korean: 윤치호, hanja: 尹致昊, 1864 – 1945) was an important political activist and thinker during the late 1800s and early 1900s in Joseon Korea. His penname was Jwa-ong (좌옹, 佐翁); his courtesy name was Sungheum (성흠;聖欽), or Sungheum (성흠;成欽). Yun was a prominent member of reformist organizations such as the Independence Club (독립협회;獨立協會), led by Seo Jae-pil, the People's Joint Association (만민공동회;萬民共同會), and the Shinminhwae (신민회;新民會). He was a strong nationalist especially in his early years; pushing for reform and modernization of the Joseon government. He also served in various government positions and was a strong supporter of Christianity in Korea.
Although Yun's early years were filled with strong support of patriotic and nationalist movements, there seemed to have been a change in Yun's approach to Korean independence in the wake of the Japanese dominance in Korea, starting with Korea becoming a protectorate of Japan in 1905, and then fully annexed into the Japanese Empire in 1910. Because of Yun's apparent change in attitude toward Korean independence and his lack of support of nationalist movements, like the 1919 Samil Movement, many Koreans today see him as a collaborator with the Japanese.
Yun Chi-ho was a member of one of the prominent "yangban" families of Korea. Son of General Yun Ung-nyeol, who served as a minister in the Joseon government. he attended Vanderbilt University in Tennessee before transferring to Emory University in Georgia. He was also an early leader of the Korean YMCA and a South Korean Methodist.
Early life.
Yun Chi-ho was born on December 26, 1864 in a small village in Dunpo-myeon, Asan, Chungcheong Province. His father, Yun Ung-yeol, was an official in the Joseon government and as a member of the yangban aristocracy saw that Chi-ho received a proper education. Yun Chi-ho excelled in his studies of the Confucian classics at the local seodang and even tried to apply to take the civil-service exams (gwageo) at age twelve.
Yun's family was one of Joseon dynasty's most illustrious noble families; his 9G-Great grandfather Yun Doo-su (윤두수;尹斗壽) was Yeonguijeong under King Seonjo. But his father Yun Ung-ryeol was an illegitimate son of his grandfather Yun Chui-dong (윤취동;尹取東).
From 1871 to 1878, Yun studied Confucianism at Chang's private village school.
Trip to Japan.
Because of Yun Ung-yeol's position in the government, he was able to arrange for Yun Chi-ho's participation in a delegation of representatives from Korea to observe the process of modernization in Japan in 1881. Yun was only sixteen years old at the time, but this experience greatly influenced his thoughts on modernization and opened his eyes to world beyond the isolated “Hermit Kingdom” that Korea had become. He frequently compared the lack of progress in Joseon Korea to the rapid modernization of Japan and often lamented in his diaries that he wanted nothing more than for Korea to become the kind of advanced, modern nation that Japan had become.
Studying in China.
Yun would later travel to Shanghai, China in 1885 where he would attend the Anglo-Chinese College studying English and mathematics, among other things. While in Shanghai he also converted to Christianity, something that would play a major role throughout the rest of his life. Yun Chi-ho viewed Christianity as a strong progressive philosophy that could help Korea catch up with the advancements of Japan and the West.
Time in America.
He eventually even studied in America, starting in 1888 at Vanderbilt University and then Emory University. He strongly admired many aspects of American culture, but was also frustrated with the racial prejudices he experienced while living in the South. In particular, he would identify tensions and contradictions between Christian universalism, and the belief that any individual could earn respect and equality as long as they were pious, and the arbitrary demonstrations of white supremacy that he routinely witnessed and experienced. While in America he studied English, theology and speech and he gained a great deal of proficiency in the English language; writing most of his diaries in English.
Government Service.
Interpreter.
Yun served in several important government positions throughout his life. He served as an interpreter for the first American Foreign Minister in Korea, Lucius Foote. Upon arriving in Korea Foote had inquired to the Japanese Foreign Minister Inoue Kaoru about finding someone to interpret for him while in Seoul, and Minister Inoue, who knew Yun Chi-ho from his days in Japan, recommended Yun to help serve Minister Foote. It was also Foote who helped Yun with arranging his studies in Shanghai.
Vice President of the Privy Council and banishment.
Yun also served as the Vice President of the Privy Council of the Joseon Court from 1898 until he was banished in 1899 due to pressure from opposing factions in the government. While banished to the countryside, Yun served as magistrate for a town called Wonsan in Northern Korea. His banishment was not long lived and in 1903 he was called to serve as the Vice Foreign Minister.
Korean Independence Movements.
The Independence Club.
When Yun arrived back in Korea from his studies abroad, there were small groups of scholars who were beginning to call for social and political reform in Korea. One such group was the Independence club, which Yun began to participate in. Among other things, the club promoted educating the Korean people on their unique history, promoted the use of Hangeul, the Korean vernacular alphabet, and pushed for government reform. While in the Independence Club Yun called for the government to be more representative of its people and even supported the elevation of King Kojong to the title of Gwangmu Emperor. Eventually the group was met with pressure from opposing factions in the government that believed the club was gaining too much influence and so in 1899, the club disbanded.
The Enlightenment Movement.
As Japanese influence on the Korean peninsula began to tighten, Yun also began to support groups that were part of the Enlightenment movement. These groups, such as the Korean Self-Strengthening Society and the New People's Society, were picking up the pieces where the independence club had left off, and Yun Chi-ho helped them out by giving speeches and writing pamphlets for them. During his time of Banishment, these groups gave Yun something to work for in the hopes of creating a stronger Korean society.
Japanese Annexation of Korea.
From his early years, he was disappointed in the Joseon people for always having an emotional response and frustrated in their irrationality.
In January 1910, he participated in the World Missionary Conference in America and that May, he attended to Edinburgh World Missionary Conference in England. In December 1910, he returned to his country.
When the Korean Empire was overrun by Japanese military forces in 1910 (see Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910), Yun Chi-ho joined with others in resisting Japanese occupation. He became an anti-Imperialist speaker and independence activist. In 1911, he was Judgment for alleged assassination of the Governor General of Korea. He suffered from malicious punishment and torture as a result of the 105-Man Incident.
In 1913, along with 104 others, he was charged with conspiracy against the Japanese Governor-General at the time, Count Terauchi. He was one of six who were convicted and sentenced to long prison terms. His experiences in prison tempered his willingness to express his nationalist ardor, but he was still considered active in the independence movement.
Conspiracy Trial and Imprisonment.
In 1911 Yun was implicated in assisting with an assassination attempt on Japanese governor-general, Terauchi Masatake. Sources from within some of the Enlightenment Movement groups that Yun had taken part in had informed Japanese officials that he had a hand in planning this attempted assassination. He was put on trial and given the maximum sentence. However, after a series of retrials his sentence was shortened and he eventually gained amnesty after only six years in jail. During this time, he didn't write down anything in his diaries, but his experience in the Japanese prison system seemed to have a significant effect on his actions after his release. In fact, his release can be seen as a turning point for Yun Chi-ho where he began to make many pro-Japanese statements and gives much less support to Korean nationalistic movements.
March 1 Movement.
Inspired by Woodrow Wilson's idea of “self-determination” presented at the Paris Peace Conference the previous year, on March 1, 1919 many Koreans took to the streets in a peaceful protest to demonstrate that Korea was ready for independence from Japan. Yun knew that the European nations would not take this demonstration seriously. Yun said the following about the movement:
“He who buys a field and keeps it from falling into irredeemable hands is a wiser patriot than he who sells his lands to finance the independent movement. He who sends a poor boy to school to become more intelligent than his fathers is doing a greater service than he who stirs up students for political agitations. He who leads an erring man into decent religious life is serving the Korean race better than he who sends ignorant folks to jail for yelling ‘mansei.’ Now is the time for Koreans to learn and wait.”
Japanese Support.
Yun’s reversal in opinion took an even larger turn from his previous nationalistic rhetoric when he began supporting the Japanese war efforts during WWII. He urged the young men of Korea to help the Japanese to victory by assisting in the war effort. He celebrated as the Japanese pushed Western imperialist powers out of Asia. According to Yun the Korean people’s part in the Japanese Empire them opportunity and access to education and resources they previously never had. Yun said, “The intellectuals of Korea today all realize that destiny of the Korean people can be promoted by becoming one with the Japanese people and that Manchuria and North China have opened up a field for the development of the Korean people never before dreamed of.”
Asia-Pacific War time.
In 1936, outbreak of 'case of Suyang club'. he was all related person personal reference, release. that thim, he was endeavor of Ahn Chang-ho's acquittal, also Ahn Chang-ho's file a petition. but refused of Japanese Government-General of Korea. In 1938, outbreak of 'case of Heungeup club'. he was all related person personal reference and release. the Japanese colonial era, he was strongly deny to Japanese rule, he was more Japanese government and Governor-general auspices event. In 1940, he was come to book for reason of event absent from Japanese Government-General of Korea.
In 1939, Japanese Government-General of Koreas ordered Japanese Sōshi-kaimei. Yun was going to propose postponement of the order, because of Korean national sentiment. Japanese Government-General of Korea for that's acceptable, Japanese Government-General of Korea was next years postpones. In May 1940, his family was Japanese Government-General of Korea conference for Sōshi-kaimei decision. his family name for Ito(이토;伊東). also coercive distraint Sōshi-kaimei for him, Ito Chikho.
later 1910 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910s, meanwhile he was non-attendance and boycott for Japanese event and more official function, memorial day. In 1940s he was finally come to book for Japanese Government-General of Korea. also he was surveillance, internally investigated. In 1943 he was appoint to advisor of Japanese Government-General of Koreas Privy Council(중추원;中樞院), they enforced to their demands.
Death.
In 1945, he was elected to the House of Councillors of Imperial Japan (貴族院議員). However, Korea achieved independence from Japanese occupation by the Surrender of Japan, he was criticized of some unspecified peoples. because late Japanese colonial rule time, he was Japanese cooperation. he was opprobrium to emotional popular, he refutation also arguments.
In October 1945, he sent two letters 'An OldMan's Ruminations' by John Hadge and Syngman Rhee, Kim Gu. He did not receive a response. In November 1945, he returned to Korea, and died GoryeoJeong in Kaesong in December. (It is alleged by some that he committed suicide, although there is no evidence to support this.) his aged 80.
Yun Chi-ho was the uncle of Yun Bo-seon, who was President of South Korea in 1960 and Yun Il-seon, a first Korean pathologist and anatomist.