Background
Jeong-dong, the Heart of Modern History: Deoksugung Palace and the Jeong-dong area were the scene of diplomatic wars between Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. It was also where Emperor Gojong ascended the throne, abdicated, and died. It was also where the Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty of 1915 was signed and the March 1st Movement began. It marked the end of the monarchy and the birthplace of the democratic republic. However, today, this area is consumed as nothing more than a "stone-walled walking path."
"History is a living question." This tour is structured not as a list of facts, but as a way to unravel mysteries. Questions like, "Why did Gojong die?" "Why did he want to become emperor?" "Why did the great powers abandon Joseon?" When questions are asked, history truly comes alive.
Curator's Message
"Gojong was human." Gojong was neither a genius nor an incompetent. He was a husband who lost his wife, a monarch who tried to protect his country but failed, and a reformer who dreamed of modernization but lacked the means. I seek to understand him through the lens of a historian, rather than judging him through the lens of a judge. "It's a tragedy, but it's also a hope." Emperor Gojong failed, and the Korean Empire collapsed after 13 years. However, his death sparked the March 1st Movement, which led to the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the establishment of a democratic republic. While Emperor Gojong sought to protect a "king's country," his failure created a "people's country." Sometimes, failure becomes the seed of even greater success.
Tour Philosophy: "Walk, Ask, Connect"
Walk: Experience history firsthand by walking the same ground Emperor Gojong walked.
Ask: Ask questions and think together, not by giving answers.
Connect: Connect stories from 120 years ago to today's reality.
Final Message: "History is our living story."
The story of Emperor Gojong is not the tragedy of an emperor 120 years ago. It's a question for today: how a small nation can survive among powerful nations, how to adapt to times of change, and how to transform failure into hope.
If you leave this tour with even one question in your heart, then this tour will be a success. History isn't a series of dates in a textbook; it's a human story, a record of choices, and a series of questions. History doesn't end in tragedy.