Around 100 years ago, there was a foreigner who loved Korea more than Koreans during the most difficult time in 5000 years of Korean history when Korea lost its sovereignty.

He is none other than Homer Bezaleel. Hulbert (1863-1949).

Homer Hulbert was born in Vermont, United States in 1863.

He first came to Korea as a teacher of Yukyeonggongwon, the first modern Korean public school, in 1886.

He fell in love with Korean history and culture including Hangeul and promoted Korea by writing a total of 23 books and 304 papers and contributions.

Homer Hulbert fought for Korean independence against Japan.

He acted as the U.S. special envoy to stop the Japanese invasion in 1905 and as a Hague secret emissary to publicize the injustice of the Protectorate Treaty in 1907.

After returning to the United States, he continued the independence movement for 38 years through lectures, interviews, and contributions.

Homer Hulbert loved Hangeul.

He recognized the excellence of Hangeul and published ≪Saminpilji≫ in Korean to use Hangeul firsthand and spread it to the world.

“Korean alphabet scarcely has its equal in the world for simplicity and phonetic power.”

-1889, first introduced Hangeul and the excellence of Korean in ≪New-York Tribune≫.

-1891, published ≪Saminpilji≫, the first Korean world geography textbook in Korean history.

-1903, first introduced the preface of Hunminjeongeum in English in ≪The Korea Review≫.

-1904, published thesis on revised Hangeul orthography in ≪The Korea Review≫.

Homer Hulbert highly appraised and loved Korean arts and cultures.

“Koreans become poets like William Wordsworth when they sing, and they are master of the imporisation.”

-1893, first introduced Korean fables at the ‘World’s Columbian Exposition’ academic conference.

-1895, presented 123 Korean proverbs in Korean and English.

-1896, first transcribed Arirang, previously only transmitted orally, on the Western scale.

-1899, introduced five major inventions of the Korean people in ≪Harper’s Magazine≫: metal movable types, the Turtle Ship, suspension bridge, Bomb Shell and Hangeul.

-1902, introduced Korean novels in ≪The Korea Review≫.

Homer Hulbert recognized and loved Korean history as an independent history.

“None of the Korean dynasties, since the beginning of the historical era, has been founded through the intervention of Chines influence.”

-1896, ‘Choson(Joseon)’ is not ‘calm’ but ‘radiant’ and means ‘Morning Radiance’.

-1902, criticized ‘Korea, the Pigmy Empire’, an article Griffis from the United States contributed: presented Korean as an uncivilized, less intelligent people.

-1905, published ≪The History of Korea≫, describing around 800 pages of complete Korean history from Dangun to King Gojong.

-1906, published ≪The Passing of Korea≫ to introduce the history and culture of the Korean people and claim the injustice of the Protectorate Treaty.

Above all, Homer Hulbert loved Korean people who will one day overcome hardship and rise again.

“…To the Korean people who are now witnessing the passing of old Korea to give place to a new, when the spirit of the nations, quickened by the touch of fire, shall have proved that though “Sleep is the image of death” it is not death itself.”

-Homer Hulbert, ≪The Passing of Korea≫ Preface-

In 1949, Homer Hulbert returned to Korea as the national guest for the first time in 40 years.

However, he passed away on August 5th, 1949, a week after his arrival, and was buried in Korean soil according to his life wish.

“I would rather be buried in Korea than in Westminster Abbey!”

Homer Bazaleel Hulbert, the foreign independence activist who loved Korean history and culture to spread them to the world, who participated in the Korean independence movement to the very last moment, who is now resting in the soil of Korea, is the true ‘Friend of Korea.’

Let’s carry on the dream of Homer Hulbert by promoting Korea to the world and changing the global society.