Joseon Susinsa () is the term for diplomatic missions from

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

to the

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent fo ...

after Korea's forced opening in 1876. As the hegemony of East Asia was transferred from China to the Western powers, relations between Joseon and the Japanese empires were reversed, and Joseon's goodwill mission called " Tongsinsa" was changed to the term "Susinsa" meaning "receiver of advanced culture". They were dispatched on three occasions from 1876 to 1882.

First Susinsa

After the Japan-Korea treaty of 1876, Kim Ki-soo was appointed as the first Susinsa and went to Japan. Kim Ki-soo and his party returned after seeing modernized Japan through various Western civilized cultures. He left a record in his book ''''《일동기유》(日東記遊, 1877)(1-4 volumes)

Second Susinsa

In 1880, in the 17th year of King Gojong's reign,

Kim Hong-jip Kim Hong-jip (1842–1896) was a Korean politician best known for his role as prime minister during the Gabo Reform period from 1895–1896. His name was originally Kim Goeng-jip () which he later changed to Kim Hong-jip. His father, Kim ...

and his party were appointed as the second Susinsa, dispatched to Japan, and returned after seeing Japan's remarkable development, igniting interest in world situations. At that time, Kim Hong-jip returned to Joseon with Hwang Joon-hun's book ≪조선책략≫(朝鮮策略), which summarized the contents of the meeting with Kim Hong-jip. This gave rise to the

Enlightenment party The Gaehwa Party () was a Korean liberal and progressive party founded after the Imo Incident. They were also called the Independence Party of Joseon, the Innovation Party of Joseon, and the Reformist Faction. They tried to cut off the submissiv ...

(Gaehwapa) in Joseon and strengthened the claim of trade with the United States. Finally, in 1882, the United States-Korea Treaty of 1882 was concluded by the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

's mediation seeking to check Russia and Japan. And as a result, a diplomatic mission(Bobingsa) was sent to United States in 1883. Second Susinsa and Enlightenment party insisted on reforming Joseon's system, modeled after Japan's, resulting in a conflict of opinion between a group of Yeongsunsa who returned from an inspection tour of the Qing China. Those who went to Japan as Susinsa usually insisted on radical reforms, while those who went to Qing China as Yeongsunsa generally insisted on gradual reforms. Their records were kept by Kim Hong-jip's book ≪수신사일기≫(修信使日記)(1-2 volumes)

Third Susinsa

In 1882, in the 19th year of King Gojong's reign,

Pak Yung-hio Pak or PAK may refer to: Places * Pakistan (country code PAK) * Pak, Afghanistan * Pak Island, in the Admiralty Islands group of Papua New Guinea * Pak Tea House, a café in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Arts and entertainment * PAK (band), an Ame ...

and his party were dispatched as third Susinsa to offer an apology to Japan immediately after the August 8, 1882

Imo incident The Imo Incident, also sometimes known as the Imo Mutiny, Soldier's riot or Jingo-gunran in Japanese, was a violent uprising and riot in Seoul beginning on July 23, 1882, by soldiers of the Joseon Army who were later joined by disaffected members ...

of Korea .

left the record in the 《사화기략》(使和記略). It is known that Korean national flag ' Taegeukgi' was first used at that time, but there is a theory that it is not true.

Susinsa Girok(Susinsa Records)

Kim Ki-soo, Kim Hong-jip, and Pak Yung-hio, who were sent as Susinsa, left the following records. •<''Illdong kiyu''>《일동기유》(日東記遊, 1877)(1-4 volumes), <''Susinsa ilgi>(修信使日記)'' - Kim Ki-soo •<''Susinsa ilgi>'' 《수신사일기》(修信使日記)(1-2 volumes)- Kim Hong-jip •<''Sahwa giryak>''《사화기략》(使和記略, 1882)- Pak Yung-hio In 1958, the National Institute of Korean History compiled this by tying it up with the "

Susinsa Girok ''Susinsa girok'' (), or sometimes simply ''Susinsa'', is a collection of diaries and memoirs composed by members of the Korean goodwill delegations to Japan known as the Joseon Susinsa during the reign of King Gojong in the late 1870s and early ...

" record, and the first volume of was written by Kim Ki-soo and the second volume was written by Kim Hong-jip. means daily records of Susinsa.

References

{{Reflist Foreign relations of Joseon Diplomacy History of Korea

First Susinsa

Second Susinsa

Third Susinsa

Susinsa Girok(Susinsa Records)

See also

References