1905년 大韓帝國여권

1905년 大韓帝國 여권

Imperial Korean passports

I have not personally collected passports or other travel documents related to Korea or Chosen. I have, however, examined the image of a 1905 Korean passport posted by someone who goes by the handle of Kushibo and has a blog called Monster Island! (actually a peninsula).

The image of the passport is featured on a blog article called "Korea vs Corea". I first stumbled onto the article a few years, before it was incorporated into the present "Monster Island!" blog.

The purpose of the article is to dispute the popular view that "Corea" is the proper term for the country that Japan began to spell "Korea" in order that it come below Japan in alphabetic listings.

While Kushibo is to be credited with bringing together a variety of artifacts that undermine the "C" to "K" conspiracy theory, he is stronger on "show" than "tell", as his descriptions of some of the artifacts are incorrect or misleading. Despite these shortcomings, his article is recommended reading.

Kushibo, who I take to be male, describes himself as a "forean" who has strong interests in all manner of Korean affairs. He appears to be a native speaker of English, and from his self-introduction he is fluent if not bilingual in Korean. He also claims to have some proficiency in Japanese.

Top  

---

1905 Imperial Korean passport

The passport shown here was issued by the Imperial Korean Foreign Office in Seoul on the 27th day of the 3rd month of the 9th year of 光武 (E Kwangmu, F Kwangmon). As a solar date it would be 27 March 1905. As a lunar date it would be a day in April or May.

The "data page" to the right is in Chinese. The "message page" to the left is in English and French.

The name of the issuing country is 大韓帝國, which in the formally printed English and French translations is rendered "the Empire of Korea" and "l'Empire de Corée".

The name of the bearer was Char Eui Suk, a "gentleman" (紳士) rather than "merchant" (商民), who was traveling to "America" for "travel" (遊歴) rather than "trade" (通商). He is said to have been 15 years of age, which may represent a count of one year at the time he was born.

The English describes the bearer as "a native of [locality] in the Empire of Korea" whereas the French says he is a "Citoyen de l'Empire de Corée et natif de la [locality]". The corresponding Sinific term for "native / natif" is 居 meaning "residing" or "domiciled" in the noted province, city or district, and village.

The passport was valid for one year.

Design

The 1905 passport appears to be designed in the same manner as Japanese passports at the time, which of course were designed in the manner of passports in many other countries.

The certificate was folded down the center to make a brochure with the right side as the front cover. A photograph was probably attached to back of left side. Visa and other information stamped or written at various points in transit would also have been on the other side.

Period

The passport was issued during the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1904, shortly after the war began, Korea had become a protectorate of Japan. Japan had long been involved in governmental reforms in Korea, and Korea had adopted a number of Japanese administrative methods.

By the end of 1905, within months after the war, Korea had desigated Japan as its proxy in foreign affairs, which meant that Japan oversaw matters the issuing of passports to Koreans and visas to aliens coming to Korea.

1905 Imperial Korean passport issued to a "gentleman"

The following image was copped and cropped from Kushibo's Monster Island! blog. The transcriptions and explanatory information are mine.

1905 Imperial Korean passport issued on Kwangmu 9-3-27 to 15-year-old gentleman
Image copped and cropped from Kushibo at Monster Island!

大韓帝國

 

紳士 / 商民

車義錫

遊歴 通商

大韓國

 

大美國

年十五

E "the Empire of Korea", F "l'Empire de Corée"
(SK Dae Han Jeguk, SJ Dai Kan Teikoku) ["great Korea empire"]

gentleman / merchant

Char Eui Suk (SK 차의석 Ch'a Ŭi Sŏk, SJ Sha Gi Shaku

travel trade

E "the Empire of Korea", F "l'Empire de Corée"
(SK Dae Han Guk, SJ Dai Kan Koku) ["great Korea country"]

E "America"
(SK Dae Mi Guk, SJ Dai Mi Koku) ["great a-Me-rica country"]

Years [age] 15