Prof. Lee Tae-Jin of SNU Found a Photo of `Queen Myeong-Seong`

Prof. Lee Tae-Jin, professor of Korean history at Seoul National University, found a photo entitled `Queen murdered by Japanese extremists` from Le Tour du Monde published in France, 1904, and opened it to the public yesterday.

The newly released photo prior to the 106th anniversary (Oct. 8th) of the Queen Myeong-Seong (1851-1895)`s assassination was published in the journal with the travel report from Korea by a French traveler who had a great concern about the assassination.

According to Prof. Lee, this newly released photo is exactly the same as the photo of Queen Myeong-Seong published in `Korea, Koreans` written by Italian diplomat Carlos Rosetti in 1903, except for the background of the picture.

The photo in the book of Rosetti has brought about controversies on its authenticity since the picture describes it as `a full dressed royal woman` without indicating her identification.

The picture looks almost identical to the caricature of Queen Myeong-Seong (reported by the Donga on Aug. 11) in the French book, ``Korea, Independent or Taken Over to Russia or Japan?`` published in France, 1898.

Professor Lee explained ``this new photo evidences that the picture in the Rosetti`s book is truly a photo of Queen Myeong-Seong. We haven`t had a photo affirming her identification even 100 years after her assassination. It is really fortunate to find a photo with an explanation of her identification.``

Queen Myeong-Seong, queen of Emperor KoJong, had accomplished the direct government by the King, her husband, abolishing the regency of her father-in-law, Taewongun, and had carried out her pro-Russian policies. A Japanese person assassinated her during the upheaval in the year of Eulmi, 1895.

skkim@donga.com