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Lee Beomjin

Lee Beomjin, who was a key figure in Korea's diplomatic efforts toward Russia and played an important role in Korean royal refuge at the Russian legation (Agwan Pacheon), hanged himself at an apartment in Saint Petersburg on January 26, 1911. He left notes for Emperor Gojong, his elder son, Lee Gijong, and for Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The one for Emperor Gojong reads as follows: Dear Your Excellency, our country collapsed, and you are deprived of all powers. I feel so desperate for not being able to take revenge and punish our enemies. The only thing I can do is to commit suicide."

Lee Beomjin was born as a son of Lee Gyeongha, who served in high-profile military/police posts. It is said that he resembled his father's outgoing and ambitious personality. He became successful after he contributed to protecting Empress Myeongseong during the Gapsin political upheaval in 1884, and became a leading pro-Russian figure in March 1895. (Oh Yeongseob (2007),< Myeongseong and Lee Beomjin>, 《Life of Empress Myeongseong》) At the time of the assassination of Empress Myeongseong (October 8, 1895), Emperor Gojong ordered Lee Beomjin to go to the Russian legation and inform them of Japanese forces' invasion of Gyeongbok Palace and massacre, and the risk of assassination of Empress Myeongseong. After that, his attempt to rescue Emperor Gojong from the palace and overturn pro-Japanese government resulted in a failure (春生門事件, November 28, 1895), Japan released a group of Japanese people who were involved in the assassination of Empress Myeongseong and jailed in Hiroshima, and put pressures on Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong's aides. Lee Beomjin was responsible for secret communications between Russian Ambassador and Emperor Gojong, and he succeeded in bringing Emperor Gojong and his son to the Russian legation on February 11, 1896.

With the success of Korean royal refuge at the Russian legation, Lee Beomjin emerged as a key figure among pro-Russia Koreans, and conducted the reinvestigation of the assassination of Empress Myeongseong as Minister of Justice. He invited the U.S. consulate general in Yokohama and legal consulate, Gretkhauz, for the sake of objectivity, and released a report in the press, disclosing the incorrectness of Japanese cabinet's explanation about releasing suspected Japanese criminals.

First Korean ambassador to Russia – Leading the efforts to enhance diplomatic ties between Korea and Russia

Lee Beomjin was dispatched as a special envoy to the U.S. (June 20, 1896), but he could not actively carry out his responsibilities due to lack of financial resources. As a result, he could only meet a few U.S. officials while serving as Korean legation to U.S.

Monument in a cemetery in Saint
Petersburg, commemorating Lee Beomjin

He was appointed as Korean legation to Russia, France and Austria on March 15, 1899, and he could concentrate on improving Korea-Russia ties after March 12, 1901 when he became Korean legation to Russia. In fact, Min Yeonghwan was the first Korean legation to Saint Petersburg in May 1897, but there were no official diplomatic letter of credentials at that time. As such, Lee Beomjin is the first official Korean legation to Russia. He faced many difficulties due to the Russo-Japanese War and Japan's occupation of Korea. Nevertheless, he fulfilled his responsibilities as Korean legation to Russia under the special order from Emperor Gojong, until Korea was deprived of diplomatic power due to the forced signing of the Eulsa Treaty with Japan in November 17, 1905.

He included his son, Lee Wijong, who had a good command of foreign languages, in Korea's secret emissary to The Hague sent by Emperor Gojong in 1907 to declare the invalidity of the Eulsa Treaty. After the incident of Korean secret emissary to The Hague, Emperor Gojong was forced to step down from the throne and Korea's armed forces were dismissed. As anti-Japanese movement grew fiercer, Lee Beomjin sent Lee Wijong to Yeonhaeju (Primorsky Krai) in the spring of 1908 and encouraged him to organize a righteous army called Donguihoi (同義會) with An Junggeun, Choi Jaehyeong, and Lee Beomyun. Soldiers of Donguihoi fought battles with Japanese army in the northern part of Korean peninsula.

After An Junggeun assassinated Ito Hirobumi on October 26, 1909, in Harbin, Japan had a campaign of arresting anti-Japanese Korean figures in Korea and other countries, and the family of Lee Beomjin got arrested and tortured by Japanese army. Japan attempted to catch Lee Beomjin by promising protection and immunity, but Lee Beomjin refused to return to Korea.

Patriot who shared the destiny of his motherland

Lee Beomjin stayed in contact with Emperor Gojong by using the communication network between Russian foreign ministry and the Russian consulate general in Seoul. The Russian government became concerned about diplomatic conflicts with Japan in June 1910, and Emperor Gojong sent Lee Gap as an envoy who would help him seek asylum in Russia and support Russian army. Lee Beomjin met "General Lizan" a few days before he committed suicide, and it seems that "General Lizan" is Emperor Gojong's special envoy, Lee Gap. Failure of their plans and Russian government's crackdown on anti-Japanese forces in Yeonhaeju after the 'annexation' gave Lee Beomjin a depthless despair, and this would be one of the reasons why he decided to end his own life.

Russian legation in Korea, where
Lee Beomjin had worked

Lee Beomjin tried to take advantage of Russia's power in order to fight against Japan, and some people criticize him because he relied too much on external forces. However, he was a true patriot who shared the destiny of Korean Empire and contributed greatly to anti-Japanese movement and restoration of sovereignty.

Lee Beomjin was buried in a cemetery five kilometers north of Saint Petersburg. In July 2002, with the assistance of the Russian government, the Korean government established a monument commemorating Lee Beomjin in the place where he was buried. It is written on the monument that "Lee Beomjin was born in Seoul, Korea, on September 3, 1852, and died in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on January 26, 1911. He is a patriot of Korea."