RAS Lecture Presentation
November 26, 2003
Wednesday 7:00 p.m.


“The activities of Ernst Oppert to open Korea”

By Dr. Sylvia Braesel

The Auditorium of Korea National Tour Organization (KNTO)
(한국 관광 공사 강당)



The role of the German businessman and adventurer Ernst Oppert (1832 - 1903) in the process of overcoming the self-imposed isolation of Korea from the outside world has attracted the attention of Korean and Western historians since his 'International Body-Snatching Expedition' in 1868. More or less all authors who described the history of opening Korea in the 19th century have made references to this spectacular event.  

  Oppert's 100th death anniversary on September 19th, 2003 is an appropriate occasion to reassess the different aspects of his complex contribution to overcome the self-isolation of Korea and to introduce the so-called 'Hermit Nation' to the international community.

  Oppert - a citizen of Hamburg - came to China in 1852 and founded a commercial firm at Shanghai. He made journeys through the 'Middle Kingdom' and visited Japan already in 1859. The driving force of his early interest in unknown Korea was the spirit of adventure and thirst for curiosity on the one hand and the endeavor to become famous and to get rich on the other hand. After his undertaking run into difficulties the later part of his character gained upper hands.
 
  Against this background Oppert organized two voyages to Korea in 1866 aimed at establishing trade relations and profiteering on it. His efforts to open Korea for intercourse and traffic with the Western world by a negotiated agreement were not crowned with success.

  Mainly due to his financial difficulties Oppert accepted in 1868 the proposal of the French Missionary Stanislas Feron to lead the 'International Body-Snatching Expedition' to Korea in 1868. The Missionary - a survivor of  the murder of many Catholics by the Taewon-Gun in 1866 - was obsessed with the idea of revenge for this massacre. His obscure plan to take the mortal remains of Namyon-Gun as hostage was aimed at forcing the ruler to open Korea to the outside world and to allow the resumption of missionary work in Korea. The consequence of this unpardonable act was the intensification of the isolationist and oppressive policy of the Taewon-Gun.

  The lecture will address the manifold character of Ernst Oppert whose name is on the one hand a symbol of Western barbarism in East Asia. Historical justice requires also to underline his worldwide contribution to the transfer of information on Korea. His book 'A Forbidden Land: Voyages to Corea' was after Hamels report the second publication in the Western world devoted to Korea.

Dr. Sylvia Braesel is a Senior Reader of Dep. of Modern German Literature and East Asian History in University of Erfurt, Federal State of Thuringia

- 1971 -75        
Study of German Literature, History, Psychology at Leipzig

- 1975 - 80        
Assistant at the Institute of German Literature, University of Leipzig

- 1979                
Dr. Phil. University of Leipzig

- 1980 - 1991        
Reader at the University of Chemnitz and Erfurt
Lecturer Tours to Poland, Slovakia, Soviet Union

- 1991 - 1992        
Lecturer at Beijing Foreign Studies University, China

- 1992 - 1996        
Associate Visiting Professor of the German Academic Exchange Service at German Department of Yonsei University

- 1996 - 1999        
Senior Adviser for German as Foreign Language in Sofia, Bulgaria

- Since 1999        
Senior reader at Erfurt University