뉴스레터

Myun Am(勉菴) Choi Ik-hyun
(崔益鉉, 1833~1907)

When we hear the news about the recent controversies generated by the provocative remarks and deeds of Japan's Prime Minster and other political leaders and right-wing organizations about history between Korea and Japan, we are reminded of the great scholar and ardent patriot Choi Ik-hyuon who thundered against the corrupt and incompetent court of 19th-century Korea, and raised up an army himself to defend and save his country from Japan's aggression. Here is an overview of his life devoted to saving his country and what it means to us.

From the Protection of Neo-Confucianism to Independent Nationalistic Movement

On December 5, 1833, Choi Ik-hyun was born in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province to the Choi clan originating from Gyeongju. Later he gave himself a pen name Myun Am (勉庵). When he was born, he was called 'Ginam (奇男)' for his extraordinary appearance; he had glaring eyes and a tiger face.

His family was poor and had to often move around the country. At age 14, he became a disciple of Lee Hang-ro (李恒老), a great scholar committed to protecting Neo-Confucianism from foreign influences in the 19th century. From his mentor, Choi learned the Neo-Confucian value and theory and patriotism. And he strived to build on his learning to reinforce his loyalty to the king and committment to a bigger cause, and resistance against foreign intruders. At age 23, he passed the state exams and became a government official. While in office, he persistently accused the government of corruption and waged struggle against Japan to save his country.

The school led by his mentor Lee Hang-ro was an ardent advocate for Neo-Confucian causes and virtues and war against foreign intrusions, and initiated campaigns against port-opening and 'enlightenment.' Lee's school led the movement to protect Neo-Confucianism from foreign influences as a strong resistance against the invasion of Western powers and Japan. On the flip side, however, his school inevitably had its limitations in campaigning for modern reform and enlightenment, and modernization. As a major disciple of Lee Hang-ro, Choi Ik-hyun was a leader of the movement to protect Neo-Confucianism from foreign influences.

In January 1876, while Korea was in talks with Japan for the signing of Ganghwa Treaty, Choi Ik-hyun marched to the palace to beseech the king to refuse to sign a treaty with the Westernized Japan, wielding an ax and offering his neck as a sign of strong protest. In his petition, Choi, asserting that Japan was no better than Western barbarians, famously warned that trade with Japan would soon lead the nation to its downfall. Unfortunately, Choi was exiled to a remote island for this petition, and the Ganghwa Treaty was eventually concluded. Thirty years after this treaty, Joseon (Korean Empire) came to its downfall, just as he warned.

Choi Ik-hyun's Thought and Action Still Have Great Implications Today

When the order to cut hair was issued in 1895, Choi Ik-hyun refused to follow it, saying that "They may cut off my head but never cut my hair!" He was a persistent advocate for restoring the traditional system for clothing or hair. In 1905, when Korea signed the Protectorate Treaty with Japan under duress, Choi Ik-hyun submitted a petition to the king, urging him to raise troops across the country to subjugate Japan.

On June 4, 1906, despite his old age of 74, he held a rally and announced an armed uprising. This marked a milestone in the history of loyal troops in 20th-century Korea. Choi's troops went on to occupy a number of cities in North Jeolla Province effortlessly, but dismissed themselves before entering the city of Namwon. They took this drastic measure because they didn't want to fight the unit of the Korean Empire, not the Japanese army, guarding the city under the Korean king's order to dismiss Choi's troops. Even though Choi's armed uprising ended in failure, it prompted other armed uprisings across North and South Jeolla Provinces.

On June 14, Choi Ik-hyun and his party of 13 were arrested by the army of the Korean Empire and sent to Seoul for trial by Japanese authorities. Resident-General of Korea Ito Hirobumi wanted to banish Choi and his party to Tsushima in Japan in order to isolate him and his influence from the Korean people. On August 14, Choi Ik-hyun and his party of 13 were sentenced to an exile of three years in Tsushima. They were sent to Izuhara in Tsushima and incarcerated in the Japanese guard.

Upon their arrival, the chief guard forced them to take off their hats and salute, and cut their hair, insisting that they should follow Japan's order because they were fed by Japan. Instead of doing as he was told, Choi Ik-hyun admonished the Japanese officer and resolutely refused to be fed. Fasting for three days from the day of his arrival in Tsushima on August 28 took a toll on his old and weak body. Choi Ik-hyun fell ill and eventually passed away in prison on January 1, 1907.

Choi Ik-hyun believed in loyalty, cause, and virtue as golden rules, although these may be disparaged as conservative notions of Confucianism. When he criticized Japan, the basis of his assertion was that by pursuing militarism Japan had lost morality as the basis of humanity. This shows his insight that for Japan, restoring morality is the key to restoring humanity. Then the key values he asserted may be equated with the universal values of mankind, including justice, humanitarianism, peace, and, to a certain extent, freedom.

Today, as the rift within Northeast Asia deepens over historical perception and territory, Choi Ik-hyun's consistent assertions are worth reviewing with fresh eyes, even though he remained set against foreign influences, port-opening and enlightenment or Western modernization, to the end.