By Lee Tae-hoon
A memorial service will be held today for Homer Hulbert, an American missionary, journalist and activist who fought for Korea's freedom and independence during the Japanese colonial rule (1910-45).
Born in Vermont, the United States, to a devout Christian family in 1863, Hulbert came to Korea at the age of 23 in 1886 to teach English to King Gojong, the second-to-last king of the Joseon Kingdom, in the royal English school.
He later served as the king's advisor on foreign and educational affairs as he gained knowledge about Korean culture and history. He had a good command of the Korean language.
As a special envoy for Gojong, he sought to meet U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 to deliver the king's letter to request assistance to stop Japan's move to forcibly strip Korea's sovereignty.
In 1907, he encouraged the king to send a delegation, which included
Lee Jun, to the Hague International Peace Conference in an attempt to denounce Japan's illegitimate annexation of Korea and seek to regain the country's independence.
Japan barred him from staying in Korea during its colonial rule of the country.
Hulbert visited Korea as a state guest in 1949, but died of an illness a few days later. He was 86 at that time.
In honor of his will, he was laid to rest at Seoul Foreigners' Cemetery in western Seoul. The epitaph inscribed on his tombstone reads: "I would rather be buried in Korea than in Westminster Abbey".
In 1950, Seoul awarded Hulbert the highest Medal of Honor given to those who contributed most to the establishment of the Korean nation. He was the first foreigner to receive the honor.
About 300 people, including Rep.
Kim Eul-dong and Choi Wan-geun, director of the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, will attend the memorial service to mark the 62nd anniversary of his death at the cemetery in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul, organizers said.
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Homer Hulbert
