RAS Lecture / Slide Presentation
Feb. 25, 2004
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.


“Port Hamilton (Komundo-Island)”

By Mr. Robert Neff

The Auditorium of Daewoo Foundation Bldg, 8th Floor
( 대우  재단  빌딩 강당 8층 )




In April 1885 the British Government suddenly occupied Komundo (Port Hamilton) and began to build a naval base.  Komundo was a small group of islands off the south west coast of Korea that had little to offer the western powers other than its strategic location.

These islands were the center of attention in the Far East during the two year British ‘preventive occupation’ (1885-1887), and their occupation had the potential of destroying the independent sovereign state of Korea.

This presentation is not about the political aspects of the ‘preventive occupation,’ but instead the life on the islands during the occupation.  This presentation will consist of slides from photographs, books, newspapers, magazines and postcards.

Robert Neff first came to Korea with the U.S. military in 1984.  After completing his military service he continued to work for the U.S. military service as a test examiner/proctor.  He currently is doing research for several books concerning the late Choson period and writes the column “Choson Through Western Eyes” with The Korea Times.