뉴스레터

The NAHF has published The Frigate Pallada, by the Russian literary giant Ivan Goncharov (1812-1891), translated into Korean by Moon Joon-il.

The Frigate Pallada is a travelogue by Ivan Goncharov based on the journal and letters he wrote during his journey aboard the titular ship as a secretary of Admiral Putiatin. Goncharove left an account of his exploration of the island Geomundo and the eastern coast of Korea in 1854. It offers a glimpse into imperial Russia's perception of the history and image of Korea. His comparative description of China and Rukyu (琉球, present-day Okinawa of Japan) and introduction to the histories of these countries suggest that the Russians at the time had already accumulated quite extensive knowledge of the Northeast Asian region.

A "Must-Read" for Travel Lovers in the nineteenth Century

The Frigate Pallada by Goncharov received a literary spotlight as a world travelogue in the mid- 19th century. It was a bestselling book among the people of the time who longed for travel, including the young Anton Chekhov. Another aspect of The Frigate Pallada that drew attention was that it was a 'food travelogue' that introduced the cuisine of Britain, Japan, etc.

Goncharov was born on June 6, 1812 (Russian calendar) in Simbirsk to a wealthy merchant family. After graduation from college in 1834, he was appointed as a government official for Simbirsk. Goncharov published his novel A Common Story in 1847 and his short story "Oblomov's Dream" in the magazine Contemporary Man in 1849. As a secretary of Admiral Putiatin, Goncharov boarded the frigate Pallada, which set sail from Russia on October 7, 1852 and returned to Peterburg on February 13, 1855. During his voyage, Goncharov kept a journal and sent out letters. His travelogue was released with the title The Frigate Pallada in between 1855 and 1857 and published into a book of two volumes in 1858.

In 1852, Admiral Putiatin organized a fleet that included the frigate Pallada, the corvette (battleship) Olivutsa of the Kamchatka fleet, the schooner Vostok, and the transport Duke Menshikov.

The Emperor Nicholas I of Russia appointed Admiral Putiatin as a special envoy in 1852 to persuade China and Japan to open their ports. The Pallada set sail from Kronshtadt on October 7, 1852 and headed to the Far East together with the schooner Vostok purchased from Britain. The two ships, joined by the corvette Olivustsa of the Far East fleet and the transport Duke menshikov in 1851, arrived in Nagasaki, Japan on August 10, 1853.

The Meaning of the Pallada's Visit to Korea

The Pallada was anchored off Geomundo from the second to seventh of April in 1854 (first visit to Korea). Goncharov wrote his first impression of the Korean island as follows: "Small clusters of Korean farm houses were scattered around the fields. I could only see their thatched roofs, and a few, if any, residents, who, all dressed in white, looked as though they were shrouded."

Goncharov explored the island himself and communicated in writing with the Korean residents. On April 20, 1854, the Pallada arrived and set about exploring the eastern coast of Korea (second visit to Korea). The Pallada surveyed the eastern coast of Korea at 39 degrees north latitude on April 25, 1854, and at 41 degrees north latitude on May 5 of the same year. On May 9, 1854, the Pallada was anchored six miles from the Duman River. From April 20 to May 11, for twenty-two days, the Pallada surveyed the entire eastern coast of Korean, stretching from the Chosan (Ulsan) Bay all the way north to 42 degrees and 31 minutes (the mouth of the Duman River).

Russia was the first Western country that named the Western Island (Seodo) and the Eastern Island (Dongdo) of Dokdo. It was the Pallada commanded by the Russian admiral Putiatin that explored the eastern coast of Korea, and it was the corvette Olivustsa that discovered Dokdo. While exploring the eastern coast of Korea in the mid-19th century, Russia identified the exact locations of the Western Island and the Eastern Island and marked the name of Dokdo. This tells us that Russia also identified Dokdo as Korean territory.

Having returned from the long trip, Goncharove pointed out in The Frigate Pallada what he had realized about the double face of the criticism and punishment of absolute evil as follows.

"Throwing a thousand stones at evil proved useless. Then what is the point of throwing a small rock at it? The matter is indisputably clear. Those who are condemned keep silent while acknowledging sin. The court has passed a sentence, but there is no on to carry it out."