Philip Jaisohn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Philip Jaisohn | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: |
서재필
|
| Hanja: |
徐載弼
|
| Revised Romanization: | Seo Jae-pil |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Sŏ Chae-p'il |
Philip Jaisohn (b. January 7, 1864 in Boseong County, Korea - d. January 5, 1951 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) was the anglicized name used by Seo Jae Pil, a noted activist for Korea's independence during the Japanese occupation, and the first Korean to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.
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[edit] Birth and early political activity
Philip Jaisohn was born the second son of a county magistrate in Boseong in southwestern Korea. He passed the civil service exam and became a junior official in 1882. In the following year, he was sent to Japan where he studied at both the Keio Gijuku (the forerunner of the Keio University) and at the Toyama Army Academy for two years.
After returning to Korea in 1884, he was involved, along with Kim Ok-kyun and others, in the Gapsin coup d'état to overturn the old regime and was appointed as the Minister of Defence by the revolutionaries. The revolution, however, was toppled within three days, as China intervened with military forces, and Seo was forced to an exile in Japan, and later, in the United States.
[edit] Life in the United States
In the United States, he began to use the anglicized name "Philip Jaisohn" while attending the Harry Hillman Academy. In 1890 he was the first Korean to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. This was unusual at the time, since American law at the time stated citizenship was only available to the white race. Later he studied medicine at the Columbian Medical College (later George Washington University Medical School), receiving a medical degree in 1892 (the first Korean to receive a degree from a medical institution). In 1894, he married Muriel Armstrong, a niece of the former president of the United States, James Buchanan.
In 1896, the plotters of 1884 were pardoned and Seo/Jaisohn returned to Korea at the invitation of Park Young Hyo, another former conspirator of the Kapsin Coup, who had just been appointed Prime Minister, to serve as an advisor to the Korean government. In Seoul, Jaisohn founded the Independence Club (독립협회) and published a newspaper, The Independence (독립신문), to promote national independence and the diffusion of liberal democracy. His newspaper, in particular, was the first newspaper printed entirely in Korean--other Korean newspapers continued to use significant numbers of Chinese characters mixed with Korean for decades.
The Independence Club was particularly critical of corruption or misconduct of government officials, a fact that earned the organization much displeasure from official quarters. In 1898, the government accused the Club of seeking to overthrow the monarchy and establish a Republic. Following the arrest of seventeen of its leaders in late 1898, the organization was formally ordered disbanded on December 25, 1899. Jaisohn was forced to return to the United States once again. The fact that he was an American citizen probably saved his life.
[edit] Later life
Back in the United States, Jaisohn both practiced medicine and became a successful businessman in Philadelphia. He was also involved in medical research and published a number of articles in specialized medical journals. Following the formal annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, Jaisohn collaborated with various Korean exiles in the United States to help advance the cause of Korean independence, organizing, among other groups, the League of Friends of Korea in 1920.
He would return to Korea once again after Japan's defeat in World War II, as the American military government, in control of what would become South Korea, invited him as an advisor in 1947. Jaisohn felt uneasy about the country's gradual slide towards Syngman Rhee's dictatorship, but the chaotic conditions in Korea combined with his advanced age made it difficult for him to achieve his aims. Disappointed, he returned to the United States where he died in 1951.
[edit] Timeline
- 7 January 1864: Born in Boseong, Korea as the second son of Seo Kwang-Un.
- 1871: Adopted by his uncle, Seo Kwang-Ha.
- 1882: Passed the Civil Service Examination.
- May 1883 - July 1884: Attended the Toyama Army Academy in Japan.
- 4 December 1884: Staged the Kapsin coup with Kim Ok Kyun. The attempt was aborted within three days and Jaisohn emigrated to Japan.
- April 1885: Arrived in the US with Park Young Hyo and Soh Kwang Bum. Jaisohn learned English while working at a furniture store.
- September 1886 - June 1889: Attended the Harry Hillman Academy (Wilkes Barre, PA). Mr. Hollenback supported Jaisohn’s living in entirety. Changed his name from 'Seo Jae-Pil' to 'Philip Jaisohn.'
- Autumn 1889: Worked at the Army Surgeon General’s Library in Washington D.C. Jaisohn entered the Medical School at Columbian University (now known as George Washington University).
- 19 January 1890: Obtained US citizenship.
- March 1892: Earned a medical degree and became the first Korean doctor.
- 1894: Opened a private medical office.
- 20 June 1894: Married to Muriel Armstrong. Jaisohn later had two daughters (Stephanie and Muriel).
- 1895: Left Washington D.C. at request from the Chosun government.
- 26 December 1895: First returned to Korea after eleven years in the U.S.
- January 1896: Appointed as an advisor to the Privy Council. Established a plan to publish a newspaper with Yu Kil-Jun.
- 19 January 1896: Held the first public meeting.
- February 1896: Helped the building of the Gunyang Consultative Association.
- March 1896: Appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce.
- 7 April 1896: Started publication of The Independent newspaper.
- May 21 1896: Opened Thursday Seminar at the Bae Jae Academy.
- 2 June 1896: Founded the Independence Club.
- 19 November 1896: Groundbreaking of the Independence Gate.
- 30 November 1896: Organized the student association, Hyup Sung Hoe, at Bae Jae Academy.
- May 23 1897: Built the Independence Hall.
- 8 August 1897: Began to hold public meetings at the Independence Club.
- 1897: Erected the Independence Gate.
- March 1898: Proposed the constitution of Congress.
- March 10 1898: Held the first large-scale rally, All People’s Congress.
- April 1898: Russia and Japan conspired to expel Jaisohn from Korea.
- May 1898: Handed over The Independent to Yoon Chi-Ho.
- May 14 1898: Left for the U.S.
- 1899 - 1903: Worked at the Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania.
- 1904 - 1913: Operated a printing and stationary business in Philadelphia with Harold Deemer.
- 1914 - 1924: Operated the Philip Jaisohn & Co. in Philadelphia.
- 1918: Proposed Ahn Chang Ho to publish a periodical in English.
- April 14 - 16, 1919: Convened the First Korean Congress in Philadelphia.
- April 22 1919: Established the Korea Information Bureau.
- May 16 1919: Founded the League of Friends of Korea in Philadelphia. The League thereafter was established in 23 cities in U.S., the United Kingdom and France.
- April 18 1921: Became the chairperson of the Korean Commission.
- July 1921: Raised funds in preparation for the Washington Conference.
- September 29 1921: Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai appointed Jaisohn as the vice-representative to the Disarmament Conference.
- July 1922: The Korean Information Bureau discontinued its activity.
- 1922 - 1935: Contributed a number of articles to Dong-A Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, Shin Min, New Korea (Shin Han Min Bo), Peace & Liberty.
- 1924: Philip Jaisohn & Co. went bankrupt.
- April 1925: With Yu Ilhan, Jaisohn founded the Ilhan-New & Co., but the business was unsuccessful.
- July 1925: Attended the Pan-Pacific Conference in Hawaii as a Korean delegate.
- September 1926: Entered the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania as a special student.
- 1927 - 1936: Worked at the Jeans Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, Charleston General Hospital and Chester Hospital.
- 1929: Obtained pathologist's license.
- 1929 - 1934: Published five research articles in pathology journals.
- 1936: Opened a private medical office in Chester, PA.
- 1937 - 1940: Contributed various columns such as "My Days in Korea" and "Random Thoughts" to the New Korea.
- 1941: April Muriel Armstrong died.
- January 1942 - April 1945: Volunteered as a physical examination officer for the US Army.
- January 1945: Awarded a medal from the US Congress in honor of contribution to the US Army.
- 1 July 1947: Returned to Korea as the Chief Advisor to the US Military Government and as a member of the Korean Interim Legislative Assembly. Jaisohn made strenuous efforts toward democracy and the unification of Korea.
- May - June 1948: Urged to run for presidency by several thousand people, including Choi Neung-Jin and Paik In-Je.
- September 11 1948: Returned to the U.S. If he had become president, he would have had to give up his U.S. citizenship.
- 5 January 1951: Died at Montgomery Hospital.
- 15 January 1975: The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation was established in Philadelphia, PA.
- 1977: The National Foundation Medal was awarded posthumously to Jaisohn by the Korean government. A memorial monument was erected at Rose Tree Park, Media, PA.
- 1994: His remains were transferred from West Laurel Cemetery to Korea and buried at the National Cemetery in Seoul.
[edit] Philip Jaisohn Memorial House
The Philip Jaisohn Memorial House (Jaisohn House) was Jaisohn's home from 1925 to 1951 while he was devoting his life to the independence and modernization of Korea. This house was acquired by the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation in 1987 and opened as a museum to the public in 1990. Since then, the Jaisohn House has been visited by many students, guests from Korea and community residents, including South Korean President and Nobel peace laureate Kim Dae Jung in 1999.
On May 21, 1994, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation dedicated a historical marker for Dr. Jaisohn, stating:
"American-educated medical doctor who sowed seeds of democracy in Korea, published its first modern newspaper (1896-98), and popularized its written language. The first Korean to earn a Western medical degree and become a U.S. citizen. He worked for Korean independence during the Japanese occupation, 1910-45. Chief Advisor to the U.S. Military Government in Korea, 1947-1948. This was his home for 25 years."
The Jaisohn House is located in Media, Pennsylvania.
