Yi Jun
Encyclopedia
Yi Jun was a Korea
n judge and diplomat
.
Yi Jun was born in Bukcheong (북청) in the province of South Hamgyong and later worked as a judge in Seoul
. In 1907 he and his compatriots Yi Sang-seol and Yi Wi-jong
were delegated by Emperor Gojong to attend the Second Hague Peace Conference in The Hague
. He was commissioned to announce to the international community that Korea was an independent state and that the Japanese invasion was unlawful. The trio traveled for two months on the Trans-Siberian Railway
to The Hague.
The Korean delegation was not officially invited, although the Netherlands is initially had planned. However, the Japanese government was able to step in and succeeded in convincing the other delegates of the conference to not let Korea participate. A few days after Yi Jun protested against the decision, he was found dead in his room at the Hotel De Jong Wagenstraat Hague. His cause of death is unknown, but in South Korea
it is assumed that he committed suicide due to the rejection by the international community. In time, however, Japanese newspapers suggested that he was killed by Japanese spies.
The mission had already failed. However, the three Koreans succeeded in receiving worldwide attention due to a press conference and receiving attention in an independent newspaper which covered the Peace Conference. The direct result of their mission was that the Korean Emperor, Gojong forced to resign in favor of his son Sunjong.
Yi was buried at Old Oak and Dunes in The Hague. His remains were exhumed on September 26, 1963 and transferred to South Korea and there solemnly reburied.
The former hotel De Jong, where Yi died, since 1995 the Yi Jun Peace Museum established a private museum in memory of Yi Jun and the promotion of peace. The museum was founded by a South Korea
n businessman Lee Kee-Hang and his wife Song Chang-ju.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n judge and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Yi Jun was born in Bukcheong (북청) in the province of South Hamgyong and later worked as a judge in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. In 1907 he and his compatriots Yi Sang-seol and Yi Wi-jong
Yi Wi-Jong
Yi Wi-Jong was a Korean diplomat and military officer. His father Yi Beom-Jin was a politician. Yi Wi-Jong took part in World War I as a second lieutenant of Imperial Russian Army and died in 1917.- Life :...
were delegated by Emperor Gojong to attend the Second Hague Peace Conference in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. He was commissioned to announce to the international community that Korea was an independent state and that the Japanese invasion was unlawful. The trio traveled for two months on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
to The Hague.
The Korean delegation was not officially invited, although the Netherlands is initially had planned. However, the Japanese government was able to step in and succeeded in convincing the other delegates of the conference to not let Korea participate. A few days after Yi Jun protested against the decision, he was found dead in his room at the Hotel De Jong Wagenstraat Hague. His cause of death is unknown, but in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
it is assumed that he committed suicide due to the rejection by the international community. In time, however, Japanese newspapers suggested that he was killed by Japanese spies.
The mission had already failed. However, the three Koreans succeeded in receiving worldwide attention due to a press conference and receiving attention in an independent newspaper which covered the Peace Conference. The direct result of their mission was that the Korean Emperor, Gojong forced to resign in favor of his son Sunjong.
Yi was buried at Old Oak and Dunes in The Hague. His remains were exhumed on September 26, 1963 and transferred to South Korea and there solemnly reburied.
The former hotel De Jong, where Yi died, since 1995 the Yi Jun Peace Museum established a private museum in memory of Yi Jun and the promotion of peace. The museum was founded by a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n businessman Lee Kee-Hang and his wife Song Chang-ju.