Tongnip Sinmun

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Tongnip Sinmun
Hangul 독립신문 Hanja 獨立新聞 Revised Romanization Dongnip sinmun McCune-Reischauer Tongnip sinmun

The Independent or Tongnip Sinmun (1896 - 1899) was the first privately-managed modern daily newspaper in Korea founded in July 1869 by one of the enlightened Korean intelligentsias, Seo Jae-pil (later known as Philip Jaisohn).^[1] It constituted two different language editions; Korean and English. Originally, it was published every other day and developed into a daily newspaper.^[2]

Contents 1 Background 2 Development and Discontinuance 3 Contents 4 Contribution to Korean society 5 see also 6 References 7 external links

[edit] Background

The key figure was undeniably Seo Jae-pil. After the failure of the Gapsin Coup in 1884, Seo sought refugee in the United States. He heard the news from Park Yeong-hyo (박영효, 朴泳孝) that he was pardoned from the charge of high treason as of March 1895 and his "Gaehwapa" (개화파, lit. reformist) comrades came to power during his exile. He thus decided to return to Korea in December of that year.

The Prime Minister, Kim Hong-jip (김홍집, 金弘集) persuaded him to join the cabinet as the "Oemuhyeopan" (외무협판, nowadays equivalent to Minister of Foreign Affairs). However, Seo rejected the proposal, urging the necessity of grassroots’ enlightenment as a more urgent matter than his entry into the cabinet. Seo viewed the absence of support from the populous as the primary cause of the Gapsin Coup failure. He also judged that the success of the Gabo reform (1885) relied solely on the support from the public. In order to achieve this support, it was more impending to have an enlightening newspaper as means of mass media than anything else.

Accordingly, Seo Jae-pil and Yu Kil-chun reached an agreement to establish a non-governmental newspaper company on January 1896 and publish both Korean and English editions of the newspaper beginning March 1st in the same year. The Kim Hong-jip cabinet backed up the plan vehemently. Actually, the cabinet promised to grant him a fund (300 won a month) from the government budget and even appointed Seo as an advisor of Jungchuwon (중추원 中樞院).

Even though the collapse of the Kim's cabinet brought about loss of such a prominent supporting figure as Yu Gil-chun, Seo could receive the plan’s re-approval to establish the newspaper from the following Park Jung-yang cabinet. The Park cabinet spent 3,000 won plus another 1,400 won on the founding fund and his living expenses respectively. Seo purchased a printer and printing types from Japan. He rented a government-owned building in the Jung-dong, Seoul, launched the Tongnip Sinmun newspaper company and published its first edition in April 1886. In short, Tongnip Sinmun was the joint work between Seo Jae-pil and governmental support both Kim and Park's cabinet.

Seo Jae-pil was the chief editor. for the editorial sections of both the Korean and English versions and Ju Si-gyeong acted as a assistant editor of this historic paper. At the time it was published, it was a tabloid newspaper (8.6 x 12.9) published three times a week (every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), comprising 4 pages in total. The first three pages were printed in Korean and the last page in English entitled “the Independent”. Unlike existing governmental bulletins, it covered practical contents. It generally covered editorial, local items, official gazette, digest of domestic and foreign news and miscellaneous information including advertisements.

[edit] Development and Discontinuance

The Tongnip Sinmun experienced four phases from its start to discontinuance. The first phase refers to the period from April 7 to July 2 in 1896, which was the interval period between the first publication of newspaper and the establishment of Tongnip Hyeophoe (독립협회 獨立協會, lit. "Independence Club"). The primary subject was national enlightenment. During this period, the Tongnip Sinmun was very cooperative with the government. It provided people with explanation of government policies. Articles were moderate, but it started to exert its influence on national consciousness and thoughts.

The second phase was from July 4 in 1896 to May 11 in 1898. This is the period from the establishment of Tongnip Hyeophoe to the point that Seo transferred the Tongnip Sinmun business to Yoon Chi-ho (윤치호 尹致昊). During this period, it supported for Tongnip Hyeophoe led projects (i.e., the construction of Independence Gate, Tongnip Park and Tongnipgwan) and focused more on grassroots’ enlightenment. There was a change in the newspaper format. The English edition was separately published and its size enlarged as twice as its original size.

It established branch offices in Jemulpo and Shanghai and stationed correspondents. In the midst of increasing conflicts between reformists and conservatives within the cabinet, the Tongnip Hyephoe was gradually suppressed by pro-Russia conservatives. In August 1897, the Russian government dispatched a military instructor and a financial adviser to Korea for the purpose of intervention and exploitation. In response to it, the Tongnip Sinmun started to criticize the government by reporting corrupted officials and unjustifiable Russian intervention. In December that year, the Tongnip Sinmun was faced with discontinuance due to its criticism against pro-Russia conservatives. Ultimately, the government decided to expel Seo from Korea and continued the publication of it under the Yoon Chi-ho.

The third phase began when Yoon ascended to chief editor until the point that that Tongnip Hyeophoe dismantled. (i.e., May to Dec. in 1898) During this period, the Tongnip Sinmun played a role in speaking for Tongnip Hyeophoe and enlightening the people. As of July in 1898, it developed into a daily newspaper.

The fourth phase was the period from the dissolution of Tongnip Hyeophoe to the discontinuance of the newspaper. After the breakup of the institution, Yoon Chi-ho, the chief editor of the paper and the president of Tongnip Hyuphoei, was appointed as a government official and left Seoul. Thus, the changes were inevitable. For the first several months, H.G. Appengeller assumed the job of a chief editor and H. Emberly took over it in June, 1899. The newspaper tried to maintain existing principles, however, toned down its criticism and focused more on education and enlightenment of grassroots.

Despite its continuous publication, such aforementioned changes as well as increasing government oppression against the Tongnip Sinmun naturally led it to lose its dignity as a newspaper. The authorities attempted searching its office building and arrested some journalists who covered corrupted officials. They even demanded return of office building in July, 1899 in a bid to purchase the Tongnip Sinmun. Considering it was operated while in debt, this was a serious percussion for the newspaper. In response to it, U.S. minister Allen, arranged for mediation between the government and Seo Jae-pil, a substantial leader behind the scene. As a result, Seo finally agreed to sell the newspaper to government for the price of 4,000 won on December 24th, 1899. The Tongnip Sinmun published its final issue on December 4th in 1899. After the government takeover it was discontinued permanently.

[edit] Contents

The Tongnip Sinmun had following focal points, as far as primary contents concerned.

• Independence, patriotism and national development
• The importance of education and enlightenment
• Democratic values (suffrage and legislature)
• Social reform through promoting public morality and eliminating evil practices
• The emphasis of industrial development
• Promoting social justice based on the law-abiding spirit.
• Arousing people’s attention to the international situations

[edit] Contribution to Korean society

The Tongnip Sinmun was historic in terms of its contribution and impact on Korea.

• The reform of Korean concepts and mindset by providing modern knowledge
• The protection of national interest through criticizing the foreign aggression.
• The promotion of Korean language and culture
• Representative of civil voice through reporting corrupted officials
• Supporting Tongnip Hyuphoei’s activities as its bulletin
• Awakening the significance of media as the first privately-managed newspaper
• Introducing Korea objectively to the international community

[edit] see also

• Korean Empire
• Philip Jaisohn
• Gabo Reform
• Yu Kil-chun

[edit] References

[edit] external links

• (Korean) 독립신문 獨立新聞 at the Naver / EncyKorea
• Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation