Rediscovered letter gives new insight into Korea’s 19th century failed coup
An extremely rare letter – written by one of the leading figures of Korea’s 1884 coup – has been rediscovered after more than a century spent sitting among the archives of British diplomat Sir Harry Parkes at Cambridge University Library.
Written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet, the document was compiled on 15th April 1884 (the 20th day of March in the lunar calendar that year). Despite its age, the letter remains in exceptionally good condition.
Unassumingly described as a ‘Korean letter’ in the catalogue of the papers of Parkes, this document was, in fact, written by Kim Ok-kyun (1851-1894), a prominent political figure in the late Chosŏn dynasty who was assassinated in 1894 at the age of 43.
Kim Ok-kyun, a government official and member of the Kaehwa party, was well known for advocating for modernisation and political reform in Korea. The letter’s recipient was British diplomat Sir Harry Parkes, a controversial colonial figure, who served in Japan, China, and Korea in the late 19th Century and played a part in several significant historical events.
This letter holds value for scholars and historians of late Chosŏn Korea—not only because correspondence from Kim Ok-kyun written in Hangul is exceedingly rare, but also because this document offers a glimpse into a period of deep political unrest.
Professor Kim Jong-Hak from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Seoul National University, said: “Kim Ok-kyun wrote the letter after he obtained the news that Sir Harry Parkes would enter Korea to ratify the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce Between Great Britain and Corea, hinting at his plan for the Kapsin Coup, and he tried to explore whether Britain could provide aid for his plan.”
"Although this letter is relatively short, it contains significantly important content."
In December 1884, Kim Ok-kyun led the political uprising known as the Kapsin Coup. The coup failed after only three days, and he fled to Japan, where he remained in exile for years.
Kim Ok-kyun
Kim Ok-kyun
He was later assassinated in Shanghai in 1894. Despite the failure, the Kapsin Coup is a historically significant event that not only marks an early attempt at modernisation in Korea but also highlights a key moment in Korea’s growing entanglement with foreign powers, including Japan and China.
In essence, the letter from Kim Ok-kyun served as an interesting window into understanding the challenges of reform in late Chosŏn and how domestic and international forces collided in shaping Korea’s modern history.
The full letter with English translation
The full letter with English translation
The letter also contains an English translation, added in pencil, which reads as follows:
"Sorry that being in Japan, I was not able to see you on your departure for Corea.
It is a happy thing for Corea that you are appointed Minister there.
I don’t know what your views are, but I have been many times to Japan and know something of the state of things there and am well aware that 8/10th of their progress and material development is due to you.
You must learn thoroughly the state of my country. If not it will be difficult. What do you think of Corean matters
I know you will believe in my sincerity.
Mr Aston will tell you what else I have to say and I shall see you myself at Söul.
My compliments to Miss Parkes"
Based on handwriting, it is believed that William George Aston (1841-1911), the British diplomat who was active as Consul-General for Korea from 1884, personally translated and wrote this English text.
Professor Kim Jong-Hak, pointed out that given the phrase, 'Mr Aston will tell you what else I have to say’ and ‘I shall see you myself at Söul’, Kim Ok-kyun is believed to have already leaked some of his political plans to Aston in Japan and asked for help.
The letter was discovered by Jiyeon Wood, Head of Japanese and Korean Section in the University Library's World Collections division earlier this year and presented at the SOAS-OKCHF Workshop: Collecting Korea — Explorations of Korean Collections in the UK and Their Continued Relevance, an event supported by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF) and hosted by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in January 2025.
The letter has been digitised and will be available to all via the Cambridge Digital Library in July 2025.
"I was thrilled to encounter this remarkable letter written by Kim Ok-kyun among the archive of Korean books and works that the Library has collected since the early 20th century onwards.
“While the Library is best known for the first Korean-language Bible inscribed by John Ross, as well as both a woodblock print and a metal-type edition of the 1895 (first) edition of Ch'ŏllo yŏkchŏng (The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan), this significant letter adds a new dimension to the Library’s rich and diverse Korean collection.”
Jiyeon Wood, Head of Japanese and Korea Section, World Collections, Cambridge University Library
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