The Joseon Prince Went To America And Didn’t Return – 77



< Lighthouse >

It’s quite a distance from Washington to San Francisco.

As I had to travel across the American continent from east to west I did not set foot on my home until the new year in 1908.

“Your Majesty the King!”

As soon as they saw my face the people working at home fell to the floor and bowed down.

Even though it’s been three years since I came to America some people still greet me in the Korean way.

I tried to dissuade them at first but they insisted that this was the least they could do for me.

So I took a step back and politely asked them to only do this in public places and not in normal times.

“Get up.”

At my command everyone stands up as one.

Step by step-

Yu Gil-jun who was at the forefront of the group approached me.

“Your Majesty is this your first time here?”

“Yes. I think it’s the first time since my hometown collapsed in the great earthquake.”

The place where I am standing now is not the annex in Sausalito.

When I first came to San Francisco.

It was my main home in the city center where I lived for about half a year.

“Do you like it? I decorated it to be as similar as possible to the previous one.”

I took a quick look around and gave my opinion on the newly built house.

“I like it. The atmosphere is similar but it feels more sophisticated than before.”

“Is that so? I’m glad you’re satisfied with the work you’ve done having spent a lot of money hiring good technicians.”

I patted Yu Gil-jun on the shoulder next to me and exchanged glances with the people working at my house.

“It must have been hard for you all to move here without me. Thank you all for your hard work.”

“No Your Majesty.”

“We are fine.”

I couldn’t end it like this so I made a promise.

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“I will give you a golden reward so please understand.”

“Huh huh?”

“Is that Geumilbong?”

“and!”

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

also.

When I just praised them verbally they just reacted indifferently but when I told them I would be giving them a golden salary their faces changed completely.

This is the kind of taste you spend money on.

“By the way it seems like this area has changed quite a bit.”

I took a car from Central Station to Nob Hill and looked around the surrounding area.

It was originally a wealthy neighborhood.

Old houses are being torn down everywhere and new buildings such as hotels and commercial buildings are being built in abundance.

It reminded me of the bustling downtown area of ​​San Francisco that I remember from long ago.

I recalled this and asked those in front of me:

“It seems like the scars of the great earthquake have almost all been repaired while I was away.”

“Of course. While His Majesty was staying in the East the people here did not just sit around idle either.”

“I guess so.”

I was away for 1 year and 2 months.

Given the dedication of Governor Pardee to the restoration of San Francisco it is understandable that he was able to achieve this level of restoration.

On the one hand I felt proud but on the other hand I felt a little disappointed.

Because the old San Francisco has completely disappeared.

“By the way I see quite a few Asians around here.”

Nob Hill was a wealthy neighborhood in the 1900s and 2000s.

This place was mostly populated by wealthy white people.

Asians used to live in Chinatown located right next door or in Japantown to the northeast.

I recalled this and asked about the changed landscape of Nob Hill.

Then Woo Hyeon-sik who was managing my barn took a half step forward and opened his mouth.

“Many Koreans have moved here.”

“The Korean residents?”

My head is full of question marks.

The area where my family grew up was one of the wealthiest areas in Nob Hill.

If you go a little to the east you will see a cluster of banks and if you turn slightly to the north you will see a dock.

Transportation is also convenient.

Above all it was the highest point so it had a panoramic view of San Francisco.

‘The Koreans settled here? With what money?’

Are there other people besides me who have benefited from taking out multiple fire insurance policies?

I tilted my head and asked.

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“The housing prices must be high. How can they settle here?”

“Recently wealthy people who used to live in Joseon have been coming over from the mainland one after another. It’s not just one or two people but there are quite a few cases where entire families are moving over.”

“ah….”

“Could it be that they are boldly investing here?”

Three of North Korea’s richest teenagers immigrated to the United States last year.

I’ve heard a lot about them but they’ve set up shop here.

I nodded and told Woo Hyun-sik to continue what he was saying.

“Some of them are renting houses in this area owned by His Majesty the King and they say they are preparing for a new life here.”

also….

Even though the rich cross the Pacific Ocean they still haven’t forgotten their instinct to smell money.

‘If you have a lot of money it’s not a bad thing. It’s a wise choice.’

This place has a great location but it’s also close to where I live.

That means if you live in the Nob Hill area you’re bound to run into me somehow.

Because I’m a local resident.

‘If you want to settle down in America you have no choice but to become friends with me.’

While some are lucky enough to inherit a large sum of money many wealthy people have been thoroughly educated from a young age.

This was especially true for the few who could be counted on one hand.

Unlike the nouveau riche.

‘We should meet sometime.’

I nodded and thought back to my list of properties in the area.

“So? Are many of the villas you built this time rented out to Koreans?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“But considering the size of the land I bought it won’t be easy to fill it all up…”

After Woo Hyun-sik coughed he explained to me in detail another story he had not told before.

“The rooms in poor locations…we lowered the rent a bit and rented them out to Koreans. Some of them were even converted into dormitories.”

“dormitory?”

“Yes. We established a Korean elementary school and technical school in this area. We thought this would be the best way to reduce the students’ commuting time… and the transportation is also good.”

Yu Gil-jun who was standing next to me let out an exclamation as if something had occurred to him and joined the conversation between Woo Hyeon-sik and me.

“Ah! I mean the establishment of a university that His Majesty instructed.”

“okay.”

“I looked into land to build a building on… but the land is too expensive to build in the city so I plan to build it near San Jose.”

He also added that Ahn Chang-ho is currently in charge of this work.

“Well done. Everyone has done a pretty good job of handling things while I was away.”

I signaled with my hand for the new people who had joined from Europe to come over.

“This is… my people who joined us in The Hague. You may recognize their faces.”

Yu Gil-jun looked at the three special envoys carefully then he remembered something and pretended to know them.

“Aren’t you… the former student council president?”

“Nice to meet you Mr. Gudang. It’s been a while.”

Yu Gil-jun made a surprised expression as he grabbed Lee Wi-jong’s hand.

“You are the second son of the former Minister of Justice.”

“Would you like to recognize me?”

“Yes. I’ve been watching you since you were little. You seemed like a good sprout so I advised your father to raise you well.”

Yu Gil-jun recognized the faces of the three Hague envoys.

The atmosphere suddenly brightened.

It was like seeing a comrade who shared the same views for the first time in a long time.

“We need some time to unwind. I’ll give you my seat so you can talk about things you haven’t been able to talk about.”

It doesn’t matter if I’m here but I’m still their boss.

There will be things you can say in front of me and things you can’t say.

I quickly went into the yard and got some air.

That was when.

“older brother.”

There’s only one person in America who is my close friend.

One who studied with this original body.

Kim Kyu-sik came to see me after hearing the news that I had returned.

* * *

“Woo-sa (Kim Gyu-sik’s nickname). How have you been?”

“This brother was managing the Korean residents here.”

Kim Kyu-sik looked at me with a proud expression on his face.

“I know a lot about you brother through newspapers and telegrams. Didn’t you go to The Hague and flatten the noses of the Japanese? You really are amazing.”

“With something like that. I just did what I had to do.”

Then Kim Kyu-sik came a little closer to me with a mischievous expression on his face.

“My brother you are too humble. The speech you gave in The Hague was not something that just anyone could give. Furthermore didn’t you go beyond The Hague and achieve results in Washington?”

Kim Kyu-sik worked hard to promote me praising the immigration law I had helped pass.

He also mentioned Ellis Roosevelt’s article.

“Brother there has been a lot of talk about this in the Korean community.”

Kim Kyu-sik came a little closer to me with a mischievous expression on his face.

I asked Kim Kyu-sik with a puzzled expression.

“Which one are you referring to The Hague or Washington?”

“Both.”

Kim Kyu-sik looked at me and told me a story I had never heard before.

“There was a lot of discussion among the Koreans. They were debating whether to continue calling him His Majesty the King or to change his title.”

The Joseon government stripped me of my title of Prince of Uiwang because I gave a speech at the Hague International Peace Conference.

Japan cunningly announced this in my brother’s name which seems to have caused a lot of controversy.

‘I don’t think that’s what you meant hyung.’

Japan must be behind all of this.

Didn’t your brother even miss the ceremony officially announcing his abdication?

I don’t think a person like that would have ordered me to be stripped of my title and arrested.

It seems that the Korean community was well aware of this and there was a discussion about it.

“So how did you conclude?”

“I decided to call it that.”

Kim Kyu-sik quickly added the reason.

“Even though His Majesty the newly enthroned Emperor has given the order isn’t it Japan behind it? Our people have resolved to ignore Japan’s cunning attempts at sowing discord and continue to support His Majesty the King.”

It’s a given.

They even recommended that I get fire insurance and now they are even offering me a job.

If you don’t support me you’re not human you’re a beast.

‘By the way….’

It seems clear that my brother’s influence is weaker than that of Gojong.

Although he is a puppet emperor he is also the true leader of Joseon.

Are you going to disobey your brother’s orders?

‘It seems that they don’t recognize the emperor who was established by Japan.’

Even without that talk about democracy was spreading throughout Joseon.

I felt that the authority of the Joseon royal family itself was shattered because of this abdication commotion.

“By the way please tell me how you beat up Ellis.”

“Are you really curious about that?”

“sure.”

Kim Kyu-sik beat his chest and made a proud expression.

“The Koreans here are all talking about that story. It’s because we haven’t escaped the dynasty era yet. Didn’t you guide Ellis the princess of this country and make her reflect on her past mistakes? This has great significance.”

It is said that news of Ellis’ misdeeds was just beginning to spread in Korean newspapers.

The evil deeds committed at the tomb were recorded in photographs which were leaked to the Korean community.

“umbrella.”

“Yes brother.”

I gave Kim Kyu-sik a request with a slightly worried expression.

“Don’t read too much into this.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

I lowered my voice and explained the following.

“It means don’t get excited and do something that will get you caught.”

“ah….”

The purpose of having Ellis write this article was to improve the image of Joseon itself.

It was not intended to seek personal revenge on her or to give pleasure to the Korean community.

“I will tell the people to let go and be careful.”

“okay.”

It would be really nice if it just ended with something you like.

There are definitely people who go further out there.

Especially when you drink alcohol.

‘I might go around saying strange things. I have to be careful with what I say in advance.’

I looked out over Nob Hill and asked Kim Kyu-sik.

“By the way… It seems like there are a lot of people I don’t know.”

Around me Asians I’ve never seen before glance at me and bow their heads.

They all looked like new immigrants.

“When my brother left for the east many new Koreans settled here. My brother also needed more help at home so he hired more people.”

“I see.”

“older brother.”

“Tell me.”

“It is said that by the end of this year as many as 100000 people may be living in Northern California alone.”

I squinted my eyes and turned my gaze towards Kim Kyu-sik.

“What? A hundred thousand?”

Before I left for the East around this time last year the total number of Koreans was around 30000.

Now the number has more than doubled to 80000.

The growth must be enormous with the minimum expected to reach 100000 next year.

“That speed is faster than I thought.”

“Yes that’s right.”

Kim Kyu-sik looked at me with a slightly worried expression and began to explain to me one by one the topics that the Korean community had been concerned about while I was away.

“So starting this year we plan to disperse people.”

“Well… we can’t all live here in San Francisco.”

“you’re right.”

Kim Kyu-sik nodded and agreed with what I said.

Soon he handed me a list of candidates the residents had discussed.

1. Hawaii Main Island (Hawaii/USA)

2. San Francisco (Northern California/USA)

3. Korean Valley (Northern California/USA)

4. Tijuana (Baja California/Mexico)

5. San Diego (Southern California/USA)

6. Los Angeles (Southern California/USA)

7. San Jose (Northern California/USA)

8. Seattle (Washington USA)

9. Portland (Oregon/USA)

10. Vancouver Canada

They want to consider ten of the western strongholds as candidates.

I pictured this in my head and then asked Kim Kyu-sik again.

“Here… what is Korean Valley?”

“This is Durham City which you visited last time.”

ah….

Are you talking about the Sacramento Plains where my farms were all over the place?

“People call it that these days. There are so many Koreans in that area.”

It can’t be helped.

The area was previously considered a wasteland that was not suitable for farming.

I bought all the land nearby and started farming so it became a place for people to live.

Koreans moved into a place where no one had lived before.

There must be only Koreans.

That’s why people call it Korean Valley.

“Some cities still don’t have a single Korean.”

“Yes. Because it’s still a candidate.”

Kim Kyu-sik spoke to me with an impatient expression.

“We have to hurry. Right now we are accepting people in San Francisco and Tijuana Mexico and soon we will run out of land and land to accommodate them.”

It’s now.

I also own land in the city.

We also have farmland on the outskirts so we can help them settle down.

As the number of Korean residents increases this may become a little more difficult.

‘Should I buy more land?’

A solution to this was needed.

“Ah… All of these plans I have given you will require your approval hyung.”

“Well. The intention is good. I’ll think about it.”

I continued to read the list that Kim Kyu-sik gave me and thought about it.

‘I need to meet some new Koreans.’

There are 50000 new immigrants.

Among these.

I need to meet those who need me first.

I started making an invitation list.

To invite the highest ranking visitors into our home.

< Lighthouse > End