The path to Korean modernity

摘要

British activity in Korea before and during the period of Japanese colonial rule had a profound impact on the country's early modernisation. The construction of the Stone Palace - the Seokjojeon in 1910, represented the last effort to save an ailing Korean monarchy, while the formal establishment of Seoul's Anglican community became a statement of resistance against Japanese subjugation. Following Korea's independence in 1945, the Stone Palace remains as a testament to the country's turbulent history, while the Anglican church continues to promote human rights and democracy. The current British Embassy is also still housed in Victorian-era buildings designed to accommodate early diplomatic legations. Though the British presence in Asia must still be seen through the prism of colonial ambition, there is also a growing acknowledgement within Korea of the mutual illumination that this interaction produced, revealing much about the country and its national identity in the formative years of modernisation.